[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 114 (Friday, August 2, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H5361-H5362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED
STATES AND JORDAN
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on
Foreign Affairs be discharged from further consideration of the
resolution (H. Res. 222) recognizing the long-term partnership and
friendship between the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan, working together towards peace and security in the Middle East,
and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 222
Whereas the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan have maintained official diplomatic relations since
1949, and during this partnership spanning over 6 decades,
the United States and Jordan have developed a close
relationship in security, economic development, and
counterterrorism cooperation;
Whereas a United States-Jordanian Joint Military Commission
facilitates bilateral consultations between the United States
Department of Defense and Jordanian Armed Forces since 1974,
and has led to increased cooperation in regional and global
counterterrorism efforts;
Whereas Jordan has provided key security and humanitarian
support in both Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas Jordan hosted a United States-developed training
program for the Palestinian National Security Forces on human
rights, proper use of force, and civil disturbances to
further enhance peace and security in the West Bank;
Whereas in 1996, the United States designated Jordan as a
major non-NATO ally, recognizing Jordan as a close ally with
a strategic working relationship;
Whereas the Jordanian Armed Forces are a proven reliable
contributor to the international community, particularly as a
member of the United Nations, contributing 57,000 troops to
18 different United Nations peacekeeping missions, most
notably in Haiti where Jordan endured multiple casualties
during such missions;
Whereas Jordan signed the historic Jordan-Israel Peace
Treaty on October 26, 1994, normalizing relations between
Jordan and Israel by resolving territorial disputes and
establishing a partnership towards peaceful relations;
Whereas King Abdullah II has been a key advocate of peace
between the Israelis and Palestinians, often reiterating the
urgent need for peaceful reconciliation and offering to serve
as a mediator and host for peace negotiations;
Whereas Jordan is a leader for progress and tolerance in
the Arab world and recently held parliamentary elections, as
part of a political reform movement;
Whereas the economic partnership between the United States
and Jordan was further strengthened through the signing of
the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement by President
Bill Clinton and King Abdullah II on October 24, 2000, and
fully implemented on January 1, 2010;
Whereas in 2008, the United States and Jordan signed a 5-
year Memorandum of Understanding in the amount of
$360,000,000 in economic support funds and $300,000,000 per
year in foreign military financing to further bolster the
United States-Jordan strategic relationship;
Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the
continued development and progress of the Jordanian people,
civil society, and political institutions, specifically in
the areas of democracy assistance, water and energy
preservation, education services, and economic development;
Whereas the al-Assad regime continues to fuel a
humanitarian crisis within the region through attacks against
innocent civilians, resulting in the loss of approximately
70,000 Syrian lives and the displacement of approximately
5,500,000 civilians and over 1,300,000 women, children, and
men who have fled Syria;
Whereas the international community, led by the United
Nations, has issued dire warnings regarding the severity of
the growing humanitarian crisis, calling for the
international community to use all available resources to end
the crisis that is destroying families, homes, and cities;
Whereas the Government of Jordan has maintained open
borders with Syria, despite a heavy burden of hosting and
providing for the security and basic needs of approximately
500,000 refugees, with that number growing by 2,000 to 4,000
persons per day;
Whereas three-quarters of the refugees are women and
children, and 1 in 5 refugees is under the age of 4; and
Whereas the Government of Jordan has worked in partnership
with the international community, particularly the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to provide for the
needs of vulnerable refugee populations, including clean
water, food, shelter, health care, and education: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the people and Government of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan for their continued friendship with the
United States and commitment to peace, security, and
stability in the Middle East;
(2) commends the Government of Jordan for its response to
the Syrian humanitarian crisis by hosting and caring for
refugees fleeing violence from the conflict with the al-Assad
regime; and
(3) expresses a firm commitment to support the Government
of Jordan as it faces regional challenges and works toward a
more peaceful and stable Middle East.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Royce
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the text of the
resolution at the desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:
That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the people and Government of the Hashemite
Kingdom of Jordan for their continued friendship with the
United States and commitment to peace, security, and
stability in the Middle East;
(2) commends the Government of Jordan for its response to
the Syrian humanitarian crisis and encourages its continued
hosting and caring for refugees fleeing violence from the
conflict with the al-Assad regime; and
(3) expresses a firm commitment to support the Government
of Jordan as it faces regional challenges and works toward a
more peaceful and stable Middle East.
Mr. ROYCE (during the reading). I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Royce
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I have an amendment to the preamble at the
desk.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas the United States and the Hashemite Kingdom of
Jordan have maintained official diplomatic relations since
1949, and during this partnership spanning over 6 decades,
the United States and Jordan have developed a close
relationship in security, economic development, and
counterterrorism cooperation;
Whereas a United States-Jordanian Joint Military Commission
facilitates bilateral consultations between the United States
Department of Defense and Jordanian Armed
[[Page H5362]]
Forces since 1974, and has led to increased cooperation in
regional and global counterterrorism efforts;
Whereas Jordan has provided key security and humanitarian
support in both Afghanistan and Iraq;
Whereas Jordan hosted a United States-developed training
program on human rights, proper use of force, and civil
disturbances to further enhance peace and security in the
West Bank;
Whereas in 1996, the United States designated Jordan as a
major non-NATO ally, recognizing Jordan as a close ally with
a strategic working relationship;
Whereas the Jordanian Armed Forces are proven reliable
contributors to the international community, particularly as
a member of the United Nations, contributing 57,000 troops to
18 different United Nations peacekeeping missions, most
notably in Haiti where Jordan endured multiple casualties
during such missions;
Whereas Jordan signed the historic Jordan-Israel Peace
Treaty on October 26, 1994, normalizing relations between
Jordan and Israel by resolving territorial disputes and
establishing a partnership towards peaceful relations;
Whereas King Abdullah II has been a key advocate of peace
between the Israelis and Palestinians, often reiterating the
urgent need for peaceful reconciliation and offering to serve
as a mediator and host for peace negotiations;
Whereas Jordan is a leader for progress, tolerance, and
moderation in the Arab and Muslim worlds;
Whereas the economic partnership between the United States
and Jordan was further strengthened through the signing of
the United States-Jordan Free Trade Agreement by President
Bill Clinton and King Abdullah II on October 24, 2000, and
fully implemented on January 1, 2010;
Whereas in 2008, the United States and Jordan signed a 5-
year Memorandum of Understanding in the amount of
$360,000,000 in economic support funds and $300,000,000 per
year in foreign military financing to further bolster the
United States-Jordan strategic relationship;
Whereas the United States is strongly committed to the
continued development and progress of the Jordanian people,
civil society, and political institutions, specifically in
the areas of democracy assistance, water and energy
preservation, education services, and economic development;
Whereas the al-Assad regime, backed by Iran and Hizballah,
has brutally suppressed dissent, conducting a campaign of
violence that has fueled sectarian tensions and sparked a
civil war in Syria;
Whereas the conflict in Syria has resulted in the loss of
nearly 100,000 Syrian lives and the displacement of
approximately 4,250,000 civilians, including nearly 1,800,000
who have fled Syria;
Whereas the Syrian conflict has contributed to sectarian
conflict, extremism, and instability throughout the region;
Whereas the Government of Jordan has accepted a heavy
burden of hosting and providing for the security and basic
needs of approximately 500,000 refugees, with that number
growing every day;
Whereas three-quarters of the refugees are women and
children, and 1 in 5 refugees is under the age of 4;
Whereas the severity of the humanitarian crisis and the
large number of refugees in Jordan places significant
economic and social hardships on the country; and
Whereas the Government of Jordan has worked in partnership
with the international community to provide for the needs of
vulnerable refugee populations, including clean water, food,
shelter, health care, and education: Now, therefore, be it
Mr. ROYCE (during the reading). I ask unanimous consent to dispense
with the reading.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________