[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 12 (Monday, January 23, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S403-S404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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     SENATE RESOLUTION 18--REAFFIRMING THE UNITED STATES-ARGENTINA 
        PARTNERSHIP AND RECOGNIZING ARGENTINA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS

  Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Lankford) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

[[Page S404]]

  


                               S. Res. 18

       Whereas, on November 22, 2015, the citizens of the 
     Argentine Republic elected Mauricio Macri as their President;
       Whereas President Macri has pledged to promote greater 
     national unity, rebuild the economy, combat domestic 
     corruption, strengthen freedom of the press, defend human 
     rights abroad, attract foreign direct investment, return to 
     international credit markets, and reassert Argentina's 
     leadership globally;
       Whereas President Macri has emphasized his intention to 
     seek closer ties with the United States and restore the 
     bilateral partnership previously enjoyed by both countries;
       Whereas the Argentine Republic is a major non-NATO ally of 
     the United States;
       Whereas United States-Argentina relations are historically 
     characterized by comprehensive commercial ties and strong 
     bilateral cooperation on human rights, peacekeeping, science 
     and technology, non-proliferation, and education, as well as 
     on regional and global issues;
       Whereas President Obama traveled to Argentina in March 2016 
     to strengthen engagement on issues of bilateral interest, 
     such as trade, investment, energy, security, and peacekeeping
       Whereas, in an appearance with President Macri at the Casa 
     Rosada in Buenos Aires, President Obama said that ``our 
     countries share profound values in common--respect for human 
     rights, for individual freedoms, for democracy, for justice, 
     and for peace'';
       Whereas the United States Department of the Treasury no 
     longer opposes multilateral development banks lending to 
     Argentina because of the Government of Argentina's ``progress 
     on key issues and positive economic policy trajectory'';
       Whereas President Macri prioritized Argentina resolving its 
     15-year standoff with private creditors stemming from the 
     2001-2002 economic crisis;
       Whereas the Macri Administration lifted controls on trade, 
     currency, and poultry, enhanced the quality and transparency 
     of government data, and eliminated subsidies on electricity, 
     water, and gas;
       Whereas, in April 2016, the Government of Argentina issued 
     $16,500,000,000 in new government bonds and paid 
     $9,300,000,000 to holdout creditors to resolve its default 
     settlements, which facilitated Argentina's return to 
     international financial markets;
       Whereas Argentina is Latin America's third largest economy 
     and the International Monetary Fund, in April 2016, claimed 
     the Macri Administration ``embarked on an ambitious, much 
     needed transition to remove domestic imbalances and 
     distortions and correct relative prices'';
       Whereas Secretary of State John Kerry visited Argentina in 
     August 2016 to launch a High-Level Dialogue to develop and 
     sustain cooperation on bilateral, regional, and global 
     challenges, including democratic development and protection 
     of human rights in Latin America; and
       Whereas Secretary Kerry, during his visit, stated that 
     ``the United States strongly supports President Macri's 
     effort to deepen Argentina's integration with the global 
     economy'' and that ``our governments will be supporting 
     policies that are aimed at strong, sustainable, and balanced 
     economic growth'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) upholds its commitment to the partnership between the 
     United States and Argentina and reaffirms that the Argentine 
     Republic is a major non-NATO ally of the United States;
       (2) encourages the Department of State to coordinate an 
     interagency strategy to increase cooperation with the 
     Government of Argentina on areas of bilateral, regional, and 
     global concern;
       (3) commends President Mauricio Macri and his 
     Administration for making far-reaching economic reforms that 
     will benefit the people of Argentina, stimulate economic 
     growth, and deepen Argentina's integration with the global 
     economy;
       (4) praises the Government of Argentina for resolving its 
     dispute with international creditors;
       (5) encourages the Government of Argentina to continue to 
     investigate and prosecute those responsible for the 1994 
     bombing of the Argentine-Israeli Mutual Association (AMIA) in 
     Buenos Aires, as well as the January 2015 death of AMIA 
     special prosecutor Alberto Nisman; and
       (6) expresses its desire that the growing partnership 
     between the United States and Argentina will result in 
     greater cooperation at multilateral institutions, such as the 
     United Nations.

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