[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 53 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H4076-H4078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     MAINTAINING COMMITMENT TO NATO

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 152) expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives that the United States remains committed to 
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 152

       Whereas for 60 years the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     (NATO) has served as the preeminent organization to defend 
     the territories of its member states against all external 
     threats;
       Whereas NATO, founded on the principles of democracy, 
     individual liberty, and the rule of law, has proved an 
     indispensable instrument for forging a transatlantic 
     community of nations working together to safeguard the 
     freedom and common heritage of its peoples, and promoting 
     stability in the North Atlantic area;
       Whereas NATO has acted to address new risks emerging from 
     outside the treaty area in the interests of preserving peace 
     and security in the Euro-Atlantic area, and maintains a 
     unique collective capability to address these new challenges 
     which may affect Allied interests and values;
       Whereas such challenges to NATO Allied interests and values 
     include the potential for the re-emergence of unresolved 
     historical disputes confronting Europe, rogue states and non-
     state actors possessing nuclear, biological, or chemical 
     weapons and their means of delivery, transnational terrorism 
     and disruption of the flow of energy resources, and conflicts 
     outside the treaty area that affect vital security interests;
       Whereas the security of NATO member states is inseparably 
     linked to that of the whole of Europe, and the consolidation 
     and strengthening of democratic and free societies on the 
     entire continent, in accordance with the principles and 
     commitments of the Organization for Security and Cooperation 
     in Europe, is of direct and material concern to the NATO 
     Alliance and its partners;
       Whereas NATO enhances the security of the United States by 
     providing an integrated military structure and a framework 
     for consultations on political and security concerns of any 
     member state;
       Whereas NATO remains the embodiment of United States 
     engagement in Europe and therefore membership in NATO remains 
     a vital national security interest of the United States;
       Whereas the impending membership of Albania and Croatia 
     will add to NATO's ability to perform the full range of NATO 
     missions and bolster its capability to integrate former 
     communist countries into a community of democracies;
       Whereas the organization of NATO national parliamentarians, 
     the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), serves as a unique 
     transatlantic forum for generating and maintaining 
     legislative and public support for the Alliance, and has 
     played a key

[[Page H4077]]

     role in initiating constructive dialogue between NATO 
     parliamentarians and parliamentarians in associate and 
     observer states;
       Whereas NATO PA activities, such as the Rose-Roth program, 
     have played a pioneering role in promoting democratic 
     institutions and encouraging adherence with the principles of 
     the rule of law; and
       Whereas the 60th anniversary NATO summit meeting, to be 
     held on April 4, 2009, in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, 
     Germany, offers the historic opportunity to chart a course 
     for NATO for the next decade: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is to be 
     commended for its pivotal role in preserving transatlantic 
     peace and stability;
       (2) NATO continues to be the premier institution that 
     promotes a uniquely transatlantic perspective and approach to 
     issues concerning the interests and security of North America 
     and Europe;
       (3) the NATO allies, at the Summit meeting to be held in 
     Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in April 2009, should 
     articulate a concrete vision for the Alliance in the 21st 
     century, clearly setting out the continued importance of NATO 
     for the citizens of the Allied nations;
       (4) the Alliance should begin considering a new strategic 
     concept that takes into account the changing international 
     security environment, reaffirms the Alliance's functional and 
     symbolic purposes, and outlines how to develop its military 
     capabilities accordingly;
       (5) the Alliance, while maintaining collective defense as 
     its core function, should, as a fundamental Alliance task, 
     continue to identify and address new areas where it can 
     provide added value in tackling future threats outside the 
     NATO treaty area, based on case-by-case consensual Alliance 
     decision;
       (6) the Alliance should make clear commitments to remedy 
     shortfalls in areas such as logistics, command, control, 
     communications, intelligence, ground surveillance, readiness, 
     deployability, mobility, sustainability, survivability, 
     armaments cooperation, and effective engagement;
       (7) the Alliance must ensure equitable sharing of 
     contributions to the NATO operations, common budgets, and 
     overall defense expenditure and capability building;
       (8) the Alliance must recognize and act upon the threat 
     posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and 
     terrorism by intensifying consultations among political and 
     military leaders, and consider alternative capabilities to 
     counter these threats to the international community;
       (9) the Alliance should pace the process of NATO 
     enlargement and remain prepared to extend invitations for 
     accession negotiations to any appropriate European democracy 
     meeting the criteria for NATO membership as established in 
     the Alliance's 1995 Study on NATO Enlargement; and
       (10) the Alliance should fully support the NATO PA's 
     activities in continuing to deepen cooperation within the 
     Alliance to forge strong links with associate and observer 
     nations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Connolly) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Fortenberry) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 152 to reaffirm American 
commitment to the values and aspirations of the North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to particularly thank our colleague, John Tanner, 
our good friend from Tennessee and president of the NATO Parliamentary 
Assembly, for introducing this resolution. I commend him for his 
leadership in ensuring that the voices of legislators are heard in the 
decision-making process of the Alliance.
  The NATO PA serves as a unique transatlantic forum for generating 
public support for Alliance activities, as well as in facilitating 
dialogue between parliamentarians of member, associate and observer 
states.
  On April 3 and 4, NATO will hold its 60th anniversary summit in 
Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany. The joint hosting of this 
meeting by two former adversaries poignantly symbolizes NATO's 
successful role in contributing to the reconstruction and stabilization 
of Europe following the devastation of World War II.
  By serving as a reminder of the peaceful prosperity that has spread 
across the continent since the bloody battles of the earliest 20th 
century, this historic summit should bolster the Alliance's commitment 
to confronting the new challenges that affect NATO interests values.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, the world is a very different place than it 
was when the North Atlantic Treaty was signed in Washington, DC, on 
April 4, 1949, with the chief aim of deferring then-Soviet aggression. 
In the 20 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, NATO has sought to 
aid the democratization and Euro-Atlantic integration of former Warsaw 
Pact foes as well as to develop more cooperative relations with the 
Russian Federation.
  NATO looks forward to welcoming the newest members of the Alliance, 
Albania and Croatia, at the upcoming summit. While pacing the process 
of enlargement, NATO remains prepared to extend invitations for 
accession negotiations to other European democracies meeting membership 
criteria.
  In the last decade, NATO had increasingly sought to address new risks 
emerging from outside the treaty area itself that can threaten Euro-
Atlantic peace and security. Such challenges include terrorism, weapons 
of mass destruction, and disruption in the flow of emergency resources. 
The Alliance should begin considering a new strategic concept that 
takes into account the changing international security environment and 
outlines how to develop military capabilities accordingly.
  NATO's first and most significant out-of-area mission has been in 
Afghanistan, where the Alliance is engaged in stabilization and 
reconstruction efforts amidst ongoing combat operations against the 
Taliban. We are now embarking on a new chapter of the U.S. and NATO 
missions to Afghanistan, one centered around the national election for 
President and on defeating al Qaeda and its Taliban allies.
  NATO's role continues to be critical to the future success in 
Afghanistan, and achieving that success remains a considerable test, 
Mr. Speaker, of the Alliance's political will and military 
capabilities. It is crucial that allies remain committed to the 
mission, remedy shortfalls in all areas affecting successful 
engagement, and ensure equitable sharing of responsibilities.
  Mr. Speaker, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is to be 
commended for its pivotal role of preserving transatlantic peace and 
stability over the last 60 years. I strongly support this resolution 
and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I rise here today, Mr. Speaker, in support of House Resolution 152, 
which expresses the sense of the House that the United States remains 
committed to the NATO Alliance.
  For over half a century, NATO has played a vital role in preserving 
transatlantic peace and security and in safeguarding freedom and 
democracy. NATO has contributed to the security of the United States 
and continues to serve as an important component of our broader 
national security framework. Although the Cold War is over, the 
Alliance has and must continue to transform itself to better address 
new challenges confronting NATO member nations.
  The job of the Alliance is not over as the security of NATO member 
states continues to be threatened by those who seek to spread 
destruction, oppression and instability. Addressing these challenges 
will not be easy, and much needs to be done to strengthen the strategic 
capabilities of the Alliance.
  The upcoming summit in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in 
April serves as an opportunity not only to reaffirm NATO's fundamental 
purpose but also to articulate a concrete vision for the Alliance in 
the 21st century.
  I would like to thank our distinguished colleague, Congressman 
Tanner, for introducing this important resolution. I would also like to 
express particular support for the language in the resolution that 
states that NATO must ensure equitable sharing of contributions to NATO 
operations by its members, encourages the Alliance to

[[Page H4078]]

begin considering a new strategic concept that would take into account 
the challenging security environment, and calls on NATO to recognize 
and help address the threat posed by the proliferation of weapons of 
mass destruction and by terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to our 
friend from Kansas (Mr. Moore).
  Mr. MOORE of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong 
support for this very important resolution. The North Atlantic Treaty 
Organization's principal objective is to foster mutual understanding 
among Alliance parliamentarians of the key security challenges facing 
the transatlantic partnership. This organization provides a critical 
forum for international dialogue on an array of security, political and 
economic matters.
  I am honored to represent the United States as a member of the NATO 
Parliamentary Assembly, a group of bipartisan lawmakers representing 
all NATO countries who regularly meet to discuss matters of crucial 
importance, I believe it's crucial and critical to the United States' 
interests at home and abroad to maintain a solid line of communication 
with our neighbors in the global community.
  That's why, Mr. Speaker, I am honored to be part of our country's 
NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation, and I will continue to do my 
part to foster greater communications and cooperation. Now more than 
ever, we must support efforts to build relationships between nations so 
that we can work together to address the issues that affect our entire 
world.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield 
back the balance of my time
  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 152, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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