[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 4, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1478-S1479]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 527--RECOGNIZING THE LONGSTANDING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN 
    THE UNITED STATES AND AUSTRALIA TO SHARE CRITICAL FIREFIGHTING 
                    RESOURCES DURING TIMES OF CRISIS

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Boozman, 
Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Cruz, Mr. Daines, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Gardner, Ms. Harris, 
Mrs. Loeffler, Ms. McSally, Mr. Perdue, Mr. Risch, Mr. Romney, Mr. 
Rounds, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Sinema, Mr. 
Sullivan, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Rosen) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 527

       Whereas Australia and the United States have long held a 
     unique relationship, marked by close diplomatic, security, 
     and economic cooperation;
       Whereas Australia and the United States celebrated 100 
     years of mateship on July 4, 2018, marking the 100-year 
     anniversary of the Battle of Hamel, which helped turn the 
     tide of World War I;
       Whereas the United States and Australia are entering the 
     seventieth anniversary of the Australia, New Zealand, United 
     States Security Treaty (ANZUS Treaty), the 1951 collective 
     security non-binding agreement between Australia and New 
     Zealand and, separately, Australia and the United States, to 
     cooperate on military matters;
       Whereas the United States and Australia have shared 
     firefighting resources, including specialist firefighters, 
     for over 15 years;
       Whereas the United States and Australia are experiencing 
     some of the hottest and driest weather conditions on record, 
     exacerbating the threat of wildfires and contributing to 
     longer wildfire seasons in both nations;
       Whereas over 100 Australian firefighters traveled to the 
     United States in August 2018, to assist with efforts to 
     contain wildfires that threatened communities in California, 
     Oregon, and Washington;
       Whereas over 300 American firefighters have been mobilized 
     to Australia since December 2019 to help combat and contain 
     devastating bushfires that have burned over 30,000,000 acres 
     of land; and
       Whereas multiple United States agencies, including the 
     Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, National Park 
     Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Fish and Wildlife 
     Services, have provided American firefighters to help combat 
     Australia's bushfires: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the value of the longstanding partnership 
     between the United States and Australia to share critical 
     firefighting resources during times of crisis;
       (2) recognizes the efforts and bravery of Australian 
     firefighters who have not only risked their lives to fight 
     wildfires in their own country but also helped contain 
     several dangerous wildfires in North America;
       (3) recognizes the efforts and bravery of American 
     firefighters who have not only risked their lives to fight 
     wildfires in their own country but have also provided their 
     services to combat the bushfires currently ravaging the 
     Australian continent;

[[Page S1479]]

       (4) honors the ultimate sacrifice of the three American 
     firefighters who lost their lives assisting in fighting 
     Australia's bushfires in the crash of the Large Air Tanker in 
     the Snowy Monaro area of Australia on January 23, 2020, and 
     extends deepest condolences to their families, friends, and 
     colleagues;
       (5) expresses full support for the people of Australia as 
     they focus on recovery and rebuilding affected areas and 
     communities;
       (6) supports continued partnership between the Commonwealth 
     Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation and United 
     States Federal agencies to share research, technology, and 
     best practices related to wildfire mitigation and 
     suppression; and
       (7) supports continued cooperation and greater 
     collaboration between Australia and the United States to 
     mitigate the underlying factors driving extended and more 
     intense wildfire years in both countries.

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