[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S7123]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING IN PRAISE AND REMEMBRANCE THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE, STEADY 
LEADERSHIP, AND REMARKABLE, 70-YEAR REIGN OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ OF 
                                THAILAND

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, we have our work cut out for us this 
morning.
  I start by asking unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
consideration of Calendar No. 710, S. Con. Res. 57.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 57) honoring in 
     praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady 
     leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol 
     Adulyadej of Thailand.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
concurrent resolution be agreed to, the Hatch amendment to the preamble 
be agreed to, the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, and the motions 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no 
intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 57) was agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 5174) was agreed to, as follows:

                    (Purpose: To make a correction)

       In the 8th whereas clause, strike ``2006'' and insert 
     ``2009''.

                            S. Con. Res. 57

       Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej enjoyed a 
     special relationship with the United States, having been born 
     in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1927 while his father was 
     completing his medical studies at Harvard University;
       Whereas King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended to the throne on 
     June 9, 1946, and celebrated his 70th year as King of 
     Thailand in 2016;
       Whereas at the time of his death, King Bhumibol Adulyadej 
     was the longest-serving head of state in the world and the 
     longest-reigning monarch in the history of Thailand;
       Whereas His Majesty dedicated his life to the well-being of 
     the Thai people and the sustainable development of Thailand;
       Whereas His Majesty led by example and virtue with the 
     interest of the people at heart, earning His Majesty the deep 
     reverence of the Thai people and the respect of people around 
     the world;
       Whereas His Majesty reached out to the poorest and most 
     vulnerable people of Thailand, regardless of their status, 
     ethnicity, or religion, listened to their problems, and 
     empowered them to take their lives into their own hands;
       Whereas in 2006, His Majesty received the first United 
     Nations Human Development Award, recognizing him as the 
     ``Development King'' for the extraordinary contribution of 
     His Majesty to human development;
       Whereas His Majesty was recognized internationally in the 
     areas of intellectual property, innovation, and creativity, 
     and in 2009, the World Intellectual Property Organization 
     presented His Majesty with the Global Leadership Award;
       Whereas His Majesty was an anchor of peace and stability 
     for Thailand during the turbulent decades of the Cold War;
       Whereas His Majesty was always a trusted friend of the 
     United States in advancing a strong and enduring alliance and 
     partnership between the United States and Thailand;
       Whereas His Majesty addressed a joint session of Congress 
     on June 29, 1960, during which His Majesty reaffirmed the 
     strong friendship and goodwill between the United States and 
     Thailand;
       Whereas the United States and Thailand remain strong 
     security allies, as memorialized in the Southeast Asia 
     Collective Defense Treaty (commonly known as the ``Manila 
     Pact of 1954'') and later expanded under the Thanat-Rusk 
     Communique of 1962;
       Whereas for decades, Thailand has hosted the annual Cobra 
     Gold military exercises, the largest multilateral exercises 
     in Asia, to improve regional defense cooperation;
       Whereas Thailand has allowed the Armed Forces of the United 
     States to use the Utapao Air Base to coordinate international 
     humanitarian relief efforts;
       Whereas President George W. Bush designated Thailand as a 
     major non-NATO ally on December 30, 2003;
       Whereas close cooperation and mutual sacrifices in the face 
     of common threats have bound the United States and Thailand 
     together and established a firm foundation for the 
     advancement of a mutually beneficial relationship; and
       Whereas, on October 13, 2016, at the age of 88, His Majesty 
     King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away, leaving behind a lasting 
     legacy for Thailand: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) honors the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and 
     remarkable, 70-year reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol 
     Adulyadej of Thailand;
       (2) extends our deepest sympathies to the members of the 
     Royal Family and to the people of Thailand in their 
     bereavement; and
       (3) celebrates the alliance and friendship between Thailand 
     and the United States that reflects common interests, a 183-
     year diplomatic history, and a multifaceted partnership that 
     has contributed to peace, stability, and prosperity in the 
     Asia-Pacific region.

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