[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 53 (Monday, March 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S4005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 90--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
   FIFTH SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS, HELD IN PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND 
                   TOBAGO, APRIL 17, 18, AND 19, 2009

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. 
Nelson of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 90

       Whereas the First Summit of the Americas, held in December 
     1994 in Miami, Florida, resulted in a comprehensive Plan of 
     Action, issued by the region's democracies, which included 
     initiatives on strengthening democracy, promoting human 
     rights, combating corruption, furthering sustainable economic 
     development, encouraging environmental conservation, and 
     committing to access to universal basic education and health 
     care throughout the Americas;
       Whereas 3 Summits of the Americas and 2 Special Summits of 
     the Americas have been convened since 1994, resulting in 
     additional initiatives on sustainable development, 
     strengthening democratic practices and good governance, the 
     environment, economic relations, combating HIV/AIDS and other 
     diseases, and numerous other areas of mutual interest and 
     shared responsibility throughout the Western Hemisphere;
       Whereas on July 21, 2008, the Draft Declaration of 
     Commitment by the Summit Implementation Review Group proposed 
     an agenda for the Fifth Summit of the Americas to discuss 
     promoting human prosperity, energy security, environmental 
     sustainability, public security, democratic governance, and 
     the Summit's implementation and review process; and
       Whereas on February 10, 2009, President Barack Obama stated 
     that he would attend the Fifth Summit of the Americas to 
     ``create the kind of partnership based on respect that the 
     people of Latin America are looking for and that will be 
     beneficial to the United States'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate--
       (1) to express support for the Fifth Summit of the Americas 
     as an effective multilateral forum, convened in the spirit of 
     cooperation and partnership for the 34 democratically elected 
     heads of state of the region to address shared challenges and 
     foster collaboration throughout the Western Hemisphere;
       (2) that the Fifth Summit provides the United States with 
     an early opportunity to reinvigorate and strengthen its 
     engagement with the countries of the Western Hemisphere, 
     especially in--
       (A) finding common solutions to the global economic crisis;
       (B) promoting energy security; and
       (C) combating threats to public and personal security, 
     including threats from terrorism, international narcotics 
     cartels, and organized criminal groups;
       (3) that the United States is prepared to work with the 
     countries of the Western Hemisphere on advancing an agenda of 
     human prosperity, including--
       (A) encouraging multilateral development institutions to 
     invest in micro- to medium-sized enterprises;
       (B) continuing the fight against HIV/AIDS, vector-borne, 
     and noncommunicable diseases;
       (C) raising the standard of living of the people in the 
     region who currently live in poverty;
       (D) eradicating child labor;
       (E) recommitting to the Millennium Development Goals; and
       (F) supporting investment in public health and education 
     throughout the Western Hemisphere;
       (4) that the United States should use the Fifth Summit of 
     the Americas to strengthen cooperation by working with other 
     nations to formulate and implement a regional energy strategy 
     to promote--
       (A) increased technology and information sharing;
       (B) regulatory harmonization;
       (C) integration; and
       (D) renewable and alternative energy sources;
       (5) to welcome civil society and nongovernmental 
     organizations at the Fifth Summit, and to encourage their 
     observation and active participation in the Summit's 
     decision-making process to strengthen democratic governance, 
     the rule of law, freedom of the press, and civil society in 
     the Western Hemisphere; and
       (6) to set achievable and measurable goals, based on areas 
     of consensus, and to strengthen followup mechanisms to review 
     the implementation, reporting, and progress of Summit 
     initiatives.

                          ____________________