[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 120 (Tuesday, August 2, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5268-S5269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 252--CELEBRATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED 
                STATES-PHILIPPINES MUTUAL DEFENSE TREATY

  Mr. LUGAR (for himself, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
Relations:

                              S. Res. 252

       Whereas Filipinos and Americans fought together in World 
     War II, and an estimated 1,000,000 Filipinos gave their lives 
     to defend freedom;
       Whereas the United States and the Republic of the 
     Philippines signed the United States-Philippines Mutual 
     Defense Treaty in 1951;
       Whereas the Philippines and the United States are 
     longstanding allies, as demonstrated by the Mutual Defense 
     Treaty, cooperation in conflicts since World War II, and the 
     United States' designation of the Philippines as a Major Non-
     NATO Ally;
       Whereas the United States Government seeks to maintain an 
     alliance with the Government of the Philippines that promotes 
     peace and stability in Southeast and East Asia, rule of law 
     and human rights, economic growth, counter-terrorism efforts, 
     and maritime security;
       Whereas United States naval ships visit Philippines ports, 
     and the United States and Philippines military forces 
     participate in combined military exercises under the Visiting 
     Forces Agreement established in 1998;
       Whereas the United States Government and the Government of 
     the Philippines work closely together in the struggle against 
     terrorism to make local communities safer and help establish 
     an environment conducive to good governance and development;
       Whereas the navy of the Government of the Philippines has 
     received a United States Coast Guard cutter and assistance in 
     establishing a coastal radar system to enhance its monitoring 
     of its waters;
       Whereas the United States Government works closely with the 
     Government of the Philippines on humanitarian and disaster 
     relief activities, and in the past has provided prompt 
     assistance to make United States troops, equipment, assets, 
     and disaster relief assistance available;
       Whereas the Mutual Defense Board and the Security 
     Engagement Board serve as important platforms for the 
     continuing stability of the long-standing alliance between 
     the Philippines and the United States in a rapidly changing 
     global and regional environment;
       Whereas Philippines military forces have supported over the 
     years many United Nations peacekeeping operations worldwide;
       Whereas the United States ranks as one of the Philippines' 
     top trading partners, with 11 percent of the Philippines' 
     imports coming from the United States and 15 percent of 
     exports from the Philippines delivered to the United States 
     in 2010;
       Whereas total United States foreign direct investment in 
     the Philippines was almost $6,000,000,000 at the end of 2009;
       Whereas the Philippines is one of four countries that has 
     been invited to participate in the new Partnership for Growth 
     Initiative, which promotes broad-based economic growth in 
     emerging markets;
       Whereas many Americans and Filipinos have participated in 
     people-to-people programs such as the Peace Corps, the 
     International Visitor Leadership Programs, the Aquino 
     Fellowship, Eisenhower Fellowships, and the Fulbright Scholar 
     Program;
       Whereas an estimated 4,000,000 people living in the United 
     States are of Filipino ancestry, over 300,000 United States 
     citizens live in the Philippines, and an estimated 600,000 
     United States citizens travel to the Philippines each year;
       Whereas the alliance between the United States and the 
     Philippines is founded on core values that aim to promote and 
     preserve democracy, freedom, peace, and justice, and is 
     fortified by the two nations' partnerships in defending these 
     values;
       Whereas the Government of the Philippines seeks to improve 
     governance, strengthen the rule of law, and further develop 
     accountable, democratic institutions that can better 
     safeguard human rights, secure justice, and promote equitable 
     economic development; and
       Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with Foreign 
     Secretary of the Philippines, Albert del Rosario, on June 23, 
     2011, in Washington, D.C., and reaffirmed that the United 
     States and the Philippines are longstanding allies that are 
     committed to honoring mutual obligations, and strengthening 
     the alliance: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate--
       (A) celebrates the 60th Anniversary of the United States-
     Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty;
       (B) confirms the alliance's enduring value as one of the 
     key pillars of peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-
     Pacific region; and
       (C) encourages both countries to mark this important 
     occasion with continued high-level exchanges; and
       (2) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) the United States Government should propose to the 
     Government of the Philippines that a joint commission be 
     established to review the potential for enhancing security 
     ties between the United States Armed Forces and the Armed 
     Forces of the Philippines, including facilities access, 
     expanded joint training opportunities, and humanitarian and 
     disaster relief preparedness activities;
       (B) the United States Government should redouble efforts to 
     expand and deepen the economic relationship with the 
     Government of the Philippines toward achieving broad-based 
     economic development in that country, including by working on 
     new bilateral initiatives that support the efforts of the 
     Government of the Philippines to reform its economy and 
     enhance its competitiveness, and through trade-capacity 
     building;
       (C) the private sectors of the United States and the 
     Philippines should be urged to establish a United States-
     Philippines organization with a mission to promote actively 
     and

[[Page S5269]]

     expand closer bilateral ties across key sectors, including 
     security, trade and investment, education, and people-to-
     people programs;
       (D) the Government of the Philippines should continue its 
     efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions to fight 
     corruption, curtail politically-motivated violence and 
     extrajudicial killings, expand economic opportunity, and 
     tackle internal security challenges; and
       (E) the United States Government should continue efforts to 
     assist the Government of the Philippines in the areas of 
     maritime security, related communications infrastructure to 
     enable enhanced information-sharing, and overall military 
     professionalization.

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