[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2279-S2280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF SENATE IN SUPPORT OF NATO AND NATO SUMMIT BEING 
                      HELD MAY 20 THROUGH 21, 2012

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 349, S. Res. 
395.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 395) expressing the sense of the 
     Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
     and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 
     20 through 21, 2012.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution which had been reported by the Committee on Foreign 
Relations without amendment and an amendment to the preamble, as 
follows:
  [Omit the part printed in boldface brackets and insert the part 
printed in italic.]

                              S. Res. 395

       Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty, signed April 4, 1949, in 
     Washington, District of Columbia, which created the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``NATO''), proclaims: ``[Members] are determined to safeguard 
     the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their 
     peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual 
     liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability 
     and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved 
     to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the 
     preservation of peace and security.'';
       Whereas NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic 
     security cooperation and an enduring instrument for promoting 
     stability in Europe and throughout the world for over 60 
     years;
       Whereas the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, is an 
     opportunity to enhance and more deeply entrench those 
     principles, which continue to bind the alliance together and 
     guide our efforts today;
       Whereas the new Strategic Concept, approved in Lisbon, 
     [Spain] Portugal in November 2010, affirms that all NATO 
     members ``are determined that NATO will continue to play its 
     unique and essential role in ensuring our common defence and 
     security'' and that NATO ``continues to be effective in a 
     changing world, against new threats, with new capabilities 
     and new partners'';
       Whereas the Chicago Summit will mark a critical turning 
     point for NATO and a chance to focus on current operations, 
     future capabilities, and the relationship between NATO and 
     partners around the world;
       Whereas the Chicago Summit will be the first NATO summit 
     held in the United States since the 50th anniversary summit 
     was held in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1999 and the 
     first NATO summit held outside of Washington, District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, 
     ``Chicago is a city built upon diversity, and on 
     determination. Those are values that underpin NATO too.'';
       Whereas the Chicago Summit presents an opportunity to show 
     to the world the Heartland of the United States--the site of 
     the first elevated railway, the first skyscraper in the 
     world, the busiest futures exchange in the world, and the 
     starting point for historic Route 66;
       Whereas the thousands of visitors to the Chicago Summit 
     will have the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the 
     city of Chicago, the 77 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, 
     and the State of Illinois; and
       Whereas the contributions of generations of immigrants have 
     made the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois what they 
     are today and the ancestral homelands of the immigrants now 
     contribute to making NATO the organization it is today:

  Mr. REID. I ask that we now have a vote on this matter, Mr. 
President.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the resolution.
  The resolution (No. 395) was agreed to.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
amendment to the preamble be agreed to; the preamble, as amended, be 
agreed to; the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate; and any statements relating to the 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendment was agreed to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, as amended, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 395

       Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty, signed April 4, 1949, in 
     Washington, District of Columbia, which created the North 
     Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this preamble as 
     ``NATO''), proclaims: ``[Members] are determined to safeguard 
     the freedom, common heritage and civilisation of their 
     peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual 
     liberty and the rule of law. They seek to promote stability 
     and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved 
     to unite their efforts for collective defence and for the 
     preservation of peace and security.'';
       Whereas NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic 
     security cooperation and an enduring instrument for promoting 
     stability in Europe and throughout the world for over 60 
     years;
       Whereas the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, is an 
     opportunity to enhance and more deeply entrench those 
     principles, which continue to bind the alliance together and 
     guide our efforts today;
       Whereas the new Strategic Concept, approved in Lisbon, 
     Portugal in November 2010, affirms that all NATO members 
     ``are determined that NATO will continue to play its unique 
     and essential role in ensuring our common defence and 
     security'' and that NATO ``continues to be effective in a 
     changing world, against new threats, with new capabilities 
     and new partners'';
       Whereas the Chicago Summit will mark a critical turning 
     point for NATO and a chance to focus on current operations, 
     future capabilities, and the relationship between NATO and 
     partners around the world;
       Whereas the Chicago Summit will be the first NATO summit 
     held in the United States since the 50th anniversary summit 
     was held in Washington, District of Columbia, in 1999 and the 
     first NATO summit held outside of Washington, District of 
     Columbia;
       Whereas NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said, 
     ``Chicago is a city built upon diversity, and on 
     determination. Those are values that underpin NATO too.'';
       Whereas the Chicago Summit presents an opportunity to show 
     to the world the Heartland of the United States--the site of 
     the first elevated railway, the first skyscraper in the 
     world, the busiest futures exchange in the world, and the 
     starting point for historic Route 66;
       Whereas the thousands of visitors to the Chicago Summit 
     will have the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the 
     city of Chicago, the 77 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, 
     and the State of Illinois; and
       Whereas the contributions of generations of immigrants have 
     made the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois what they 
     are today and the ancestral homelands of the immigrants now 
     contribute to making NATO the organization it is today: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the service of the brave men and women who 
     have served to safeguard the freedom and security of the 
     United States and the whole of the transatlantic alliance;
       (2) honors the sacrifices of United States personnel, 
     allies of the North American

[[Page S2280]]

     Treaty Organization (referred to in this resolution as 
     ``NATO''), and partners in Afghanistan;
       (3) remembers the 63 years NATO has served to ensure peace, 
     security, and stability in Europe and throughout the world;
       (4) reaffirms that NATO, through the new Strategic Concept, 
     is oriented for the changing international security 
     environment and the challenges of the future;
       (5) urges all NATO members to take concrete steps to 
     implement the Strategic Concept and to utilize the NATO 
     summit in Chicago, Illinois, to address current NATO 
     operations, future capabilities and burden-sharing issues, 
     and the relationship between NATO and partners around the 
     world;
       (6) conveys appreciation for the steadfast partnership 
     between NATO and the United States; and
       (7) expresses support for the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago.

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