[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
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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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