[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 185 (Monday, December 5, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S8187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 343--COMMEMORATING THE 84TH BIRTHDAY OF HIS MAJESTY 
              KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ ON DECEMBER 5, 2011

  Mr. KERRY (for himself, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Webb, and Mr. Inhofe) 
submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 343

       Whereas on June 9, 1946, His Majesty King Bhumibol 
     Adulyadej ascended to the throne and celebrated his 65th year 
     as King of Thailand earlier this year;
       Whereas King Bhumibol is the world's longest-serving 
     monarch;
       Whereas King Bhumibol has enjoyed a special relationship 
     with the United States, having been born in Cambridge, 
     Massachusetts in 1927, while his father was completing his 
     studies in the United States;
       Whereas on March 20, 1833, the United States and Thailand 
     (then known as Siam) signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, 
     making the Kingdom of Thailand the first treaty ally of the 
     United States in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas bilateral trade between Thailand and the United 
     States grew by 38 percent between 2002 and 2010;
       Whereas the United States and Thailand have remained strong 
     security allies for 57 years, as memorialized in the Manila 
     Pact in 1954, and later expanded under the Thanat-Rusk 
     Communique of 1962;
       Whereas President Bush designated Thailand as a major Non-
     NATO Ally on December 30, 2003;
       Whereas Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while in 
     Bangkok on November 16, 2011, stated ``Our nations are 
     connected through not only security cooperation and business 
     ties, but the democratic values we share and the bonds of 
     family and friendship that link our people.'';
       Whereas the Fulbright Program, which was established 
     between Thailand and the United States in 1950, and other 
     exchanges, provide graduate, undergraduate, and high school 
     students from each country the opportunity to study in the 
     other country;
       Whereas collaboration between Thailand and the United 
     States has resulted in significant public health 
     achievements;
       Whereas in response to the worst flooding in Thailand's 
     history--
       (1) the United States Government--
       (A) has provided humanitarian assistance and disaster 
     relief;
       (B) is working to help improve Thailand's capacity to 
     prepare and respond to such disasters in the future; and
       (C) has declared the United States will support Thailand's 
     long-term recovery; and
       (2) United States citizens and the private sector have 
     donated to reconstruction efforts; and
       Whereas more than 150,000 people of Thai descent live in 
     the United States.
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) sends warm wishes to the people of Thailand as they 
     celebrate the 84th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol 
     Adulyadej on December 5, 2011, and commemorate his 65-year 
     reign as King of Thailand;
       (2) celebrates the alliance and friendship between Thailand 
     and the United States that reflects common interests, a 178-
     year diplomatic history, and, most importantly, shared 
     values, including democracy, good governance, and the rule of 
     law; and
       (3) expresses its deepest sympathies for the recent 
     historic floods in Thailand, and supports continuing efforts 
     to provide civilian and military assistance to save lives, 
     restore health, and facilitate Thailand's economic recovery.

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