[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 191 (Wednesday, December 16, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13340-S13341]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED 
               STATES AND THE HASHEMITE KINGDOM OF JORDAN

  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. Res. 376, submitted earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 376) honoring the 60th anniversary of 
     the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United 
     States and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the 10th 
     anniversary of the accession to the throne of His Majesty 
     King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. INOUYE. Madam President, today, I am supporting this resolution 
to honor the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic 
relations between the U.S. and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, as well 
as to honor the 10th anniversary of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al 
Hussein's accession to the throne. I am pleased to be joined in this 
endeavor by Senator Gregg.
  Since establishing diplomatic relations, Jordan has worked together 
with the U.S. towards the mutual goal of peace in the Middle East. In 
1994, King Hussein and Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, signed 
the Jordan-Israel peace treaty, ending nearly 50 years of war between 
the two countries. The government of Jordan has been an instrumental 
partner in the fight against al-Qaida and terrorism. As a result, the 
people of Jordan have also suffered devastating losses at the hands of 
terrorists.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent to be added as a cosponsor to 
this legislation.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to,

[[Page S13341]]

the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, with no intervening action or debate, and any statements be 
printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 376) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 376

       Whereas the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan achieved 
     independence on May 25, 1946;
       Whereas the United States recognized Jordan as an 
     independent state in a White House announcement on January 
     31, 1949;
       Whereas diplomatic relations and the American Legation in 
     Jordan were established on February 18, 1949, when United 
     States diplomat Wells Stabler presented his credentials as 
     Charge d'Affaires in Amman;
       Whereas, for 60 years, the United States and Jordan have 
     enjoyed a close relationship and have worked together to 
     advance issues ranging from the promotion of Middle East 
     peace to advancing the socio-economic development of the 
     people of Jordan, as well as the threat to both posed by al 
     Qaeda and violent extremism;
       Whereas, from 1952 to 1999, King Hussein charted a moderate 
     path for his country;
       Whereas, for decades, the United States has been Jordan's 
     strongest international partner;
       Whereas, throughout his reign, King Hussein looked for 
     opportunities to realize his dream of a more peaceful Middle 
     East by working to solve intra-Arab disputes and engaging 
     successive Prime Ministers of Israel in the search for peace;
       Whereas King Hussein and Prime Minister of Israel Yitzhak 
     Rabin signed the historic Jordan-Israel peace treaty in 1994, 
     ending nearly 50 years of war between the neighboring 
     countries;
       Whereas the United States lost a close friend and a crucial 
     partner when King Hussein passed away in 1999;
       Whereas King Hussein was succeeded by his son, King 
     Abdullah II, who has continued his father's work to improve 
     the lives of the people of Jordan while also seeking to bring 
     peace to the region;
       Whereas, in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, 
     terrorist attacks, the Government of Jordan has been an 
     instrumental partner in the fight against al Qaeda, has 
     provided crucial assistance in Iraq, and has shouldered a 
     heavy burden in providing refuge to a significant portion of 
     the Iraqi refugee population;
       Whereas, through his 2004 Amman Message, King Abdullah II 
     has been a leading Arab voice in trying to reaffirm the true 
     path of Islam;
       Whereas, in November 2005, al Qaeda terrorists struck three 
     hotels in Amman, Jordan, thereby uniting the people of Jordan 
     and the United States in grief over the lives lost at this 
     act of terrorism; and
       Whereas King Abdullah II begins his second decade on the 
     Hashemite throne by redoubling his efforts for peace in the 
     region as the Jordan-United States partnership enters its 
     seventh decade: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 60th anniversary of the close 
     relationship between the United States and the Hashemite 
     Kingdom of Jordan;
       (2) expresses its profound admiration and gratitude for the 
     friendship of the people of Jordan;
       (3) congratulates His Majesty King Abdullah II on 10 years 
     of enlightened and progressive rule; and
       (4) shares the hope of His Majesty King Abdullah II and the 
     people of Jordan for a more peaceful Middle East.

                          ____________________