[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 113 (Thursday, June 18, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S3106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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    SENATE RESOLUTION 628--CELEBRATING THE 140TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
  ESTABLISHMENT OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND 
                                ROMANIA

  Mr. JOHNSON (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 628

       Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations 
     with Romania in June 1880;
       Whereas, in 1997, the United States and Romania established 
     a long-term partnership based on the United States' 
     recognition of Romania's strategic importance, the commitment 
     to shared values, and a common interest in stability and 
     democratic progress;
       Whereas Romania joined the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO) in 2004 and hosts NATO's Multi-national 
     Division Headquarters South East, a NATO Force Integration 
     Unit, the Multi-national Brigade South East, and the Aegis 
     Ashore Missile Defense System, a key element of the United 
     States European Phased Adaptive Approach missile defense 
     system;
       Whereas, in 2011, the United States and Romania issued the 
     ``Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership for the 21st 
     Century Between the United States of America and Romania'', 
     reflecting increasing cooperation between the countries and 
     throughout the Black Sea region to promote security, 
     democracy, free market opportunities, and cultural exchange;
       Whereas Romania continues to modernize its armed forces and 
     is 1 of 7 NATO members to have met its 2014 Wales Summit 
     commitment to allocate at least 2 percent of gross domestic 
     product for defense spending;
       Whereas the Romanian Armed Forces have supported NATO and 
     United States operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other 
     theaters for almost 2 decades, contributing more than 30,000 
     total combat and support personnel to those missions, some of 
     whom have made the ultimate sacrifice;
       Whereas Romania is a member of the Global Coalition to 
     Defeat ISIS, provided humanitarian assistance to the people 
     of Iraq and Syria, and is making significant contributions to 
     the fight against international terrorism;
       Whereas, on August 20, 2019, the United States and Romania 
     signed a memorandum of understanding outlining a shared 
     commitment to developing a secure and vibrant fifth-
     generation wireless infrastructure based on free and fair 
     competition, transparency, and the rule of law--including a 
     rigorous evaluation of vendors.
       Whereas Romania has played a leading role in the 
     establishment of the Three Seas Initiative and was one of the 
     first countries to invest in the Three Seas Initiative 
     Investment Fund, which aims to increase energy independence 
     and infrastructure connectivity across Central and Eastern 
     Europe;
       Whereas the United States and Romania have been deepening 
     their economic relationship through increased bilateral trade 
     and investment, and in 2017, Romania hosted the tenth annual 
     United States Commercial Service Trade Winds Forum and Trade 
     Mission, helping United States companies boost exports across 
     Southeast Europe;
       Whereas, in 2018, as Romania celebrated its Unification 
     Centennial, Governors from across the United States issued 
     Proclamations to congratulate Romanians and Romanian-
     Americans on that historic milestone, illustrating the close 
     ties and friendship that exist between the United States and 
     Romania;
       Whereas, in 2019, Romanians all across the United States 
     commemorated 30 years since Romania's liberation from the 
     former communist regime, a powerful reminder of the fall of 
     the Iron Curtain in 1989 and a celebration of the triumphant 
     call of freedom, liberty, and dignity;
       Whereas the Romanian people have made progress in their 
     efforts to hold their institutions and leadership accountable 
     in the continued fight against high-level corruption;
       Whereas Romania resides in the strategically important and 
     increasingly militarized Black Sea region, and has proven 
     itself a critical security ally in the region, including by 
     hosting the annual NATO Sea Shield exercise;
       Whereas, during these times of unprecedented challenge 
     caused by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, the United States and 
     Romania are strengthening their partnership, such as through 
     United States assistance with targeted funds, strategic 
     military airlift and medical emergency equipment, and 
     Romanian support for the swift repatriation of United States 
     nationals overseas;
       Whereas, as a sign of solidarity and friendship between the 
     people of Romania and the United States, Romania sent its 
     first medical and expert support and advisory mission to 
     Alabama, assigning 15 Romanian doctors, medical staff, and 
     chemical and biological risk experts to exchange best 
     practices and assist local COVID-19 efforts in care 
     facilities, nursing homes, and hospitals across the State; 
     and
       Whereas 2020 marks the 140th anniversary of the 
     establishment of diplomatic relations between the United 
     States and Romania: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 140th anniversary of the establishment 
     of diplomatic relations between the United States and 
     Romania;
       (2) applauds the Government and the people of Romania for 
     the significant strides they have made in governance, anti-
     corruption, rule of law, economic reforms, and their 
     continuing pursuit of democratic, social, and economic 
     progress;
       (3) encourages the United States Government to use its 
     leadership in NATO to advocate for an upgraded NATO presence 
     in Romania, in order to better accommodate the evolving 
     threat environment in and around the Black Sea region; and
       (4) reaffirms the enduring alliance between the United 
     States and Romania, based upon shared democratic values, 
     security partnership, and increasing economic ties.

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