[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.

                          ____________________