[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 196 (Wednesday, November 18, 2020)]
[House]
[Pages H5883-H5884]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING IMPORTANCE OF UNITED STATES ALLIANCE WITH REPUBLIC OF KOREA 
                 AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF KOREAN AMERICANS

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 809) expressing the importance of the United States 
alliance with the Republic of Korea and the contributions of Korean 
Americans in the United States, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 809

       Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea enjoy a 
     comprehensive alliance partnership, founded in shared 
     strategic interests and cemented by a commitment to 
     democratic values;
       Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea work 
     closely together to promote international peace and security, 
     economic prosperity, human rights, and the rule of law;
       Whereas the relationship between the United States and the 
     Republic of Korea goes as far back as Korea's Chosun Dynasty, 
     when the United States and Korea established diplomatic 
     relations under the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, 
     and Navigation;
       Whereas, on August 15, 1948, the Provisional Government of 
     the Republic of Korea, established on April 11, 1919, was 
     dissolved and transitioned to the First Republic of Korea, 
     the first independent government;
       Whereas regional peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific 
     promotes shared United States-Republic of Korea interests of 
     prosperity and economic well-being;
       Whereas United States military personnel have maintained a 
     continuous presence on the Korean Peninsula since the Mutual 
     Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of 
     Korea (5 UST 2368) was signed at Washington on October 1, 
     1953;
       Whereas, on May 7, 2013, the United States and the Republic 
     of Korea signed a Joint Declaration in Commemoration of the 
     60th Anniversary of the Alliance Between the Republic of 
     Korea and the United States;
       Whereas 63 years ago the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, 
     and Navigation between the United States and the Republic of 
     Korea, with Protocol (8 UST 2217) was signed at Seoul on 
     November 28, 1956;
       Whereas the alliance between the Republic of Korea and the 
     United States, our shared national security interests, the 
     9,000 South Korean civilians working to support the joint 
     mission of United States Forces Korea and the 28,500 United 
     States military service members currently stationed in South 
     Korea, are best served by the conclusion of mutually 
     agreeable, multi-year Special Measures Agreements;
       Whereas the economic relationship between the United States 
     and the Republic of Korea is deep and mutually beneficial to 
     both countries;
       Whereas the Republic of Korea is the United States sixth-
     largest trading partner;
       Whereas the Republic of Korea is one of the fastest growing 
     sources of foreign direct investment in the United States;
       Whereas the United States is the second largest source of 
     foreign direct investment in the Republic of Korea;
       Whereas, on January 13, 1903, 102 pioneer Korean immigrants 
     arrived in the United States, initiating the first chapter of 
     Korean immigration to America;
       Whereas the over 2,000,000 Korean Americans living in the 
     United States contribute to the diversity and prosperity of 
     our Nation, participate in all facets of American life, and 
     have made significant contributions to the economic vitality 
     of the United States;
       Whereas members of the Korean American community serve with 
     distinction in the United States Armed Forces;
       Whereas Korean Americans continue to build and strengthen 
     the alliance between the United States and the Republic of 
     Korea; and
       Whereas the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (Public Law 
     115-409), signed into law on December 31, 2018, states that 
     the United States Government--
       (1) is committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the 
     United States and the Republic of Korea and all related and 
     subsequent bilateral security agreements and arrangements 
     concluded on or before the date of the enactment of that Act;
       (2) recognizes the vital role of the alliance between the 
     United States and South Korea in promoting peace and security 
     in the Indo-Pacific region; and
       (3) calls for the strengthening and broadening of 
     diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United 
     States and the Republic of Korea: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the vital role the alliance of the United 
     States and the Republic of Korea plays in promoting peace and 
     security in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (2) calls for the strengthening and broadening of 
     diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United 
     States and the Republic of Korea, including through the 
     conclusion of mutually agreeable multi-year Special Measures 
     Agreements; and
       (3) reaffirms the United States alliance with the Republic 
     of Korea is central to advancing United States interests, 
     engagement, and influence in the region, based on shared 
     commitments to democracy, free-market economics, human 
     rights, and the rule of law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include in the Record extraneous material on H. Res. 809.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this good measure from Mr. 
Suozzi expressing the importance of the United States alliance with the 
Republic of Korea and the immense contributions of Korean Americans to 
the United States.
  The Republic of Korea is a linchpin of United States foreign policy 
in Northeast Asia. Our alliance, built upon our shared interests and 
commitment to human rights, good governance, and

[[Page H5884]]

other democratic values, has been crucial for promoting international 
peace and security, prosperity, rule of law, and freedom in the region 
and beyond.
  Here at home, we owe much of our success to the contributions of the 
millions of Koreans and Korean Americans living in the United States. 
Diversity has always been a source of America's strength, and the 
Korean-American community is an excellent example of that.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support this important resolution. I 
urge my colleagues to do the same, and I reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 809, expressing the 
importance of the alliance between the U.S. and the Republic of Korea.
  South Korea continues to be one of our most important strategic and 
economic partners in the Indo-Pacific region. While our alliance 
focuses heavily on our shared concern of a nuclearized North Korea, our 
two nations also cooperate in areas such as democracy, global health, 
and counterterrorism.
  Together, we have made it a priority to support and uphold rules-
based order in the Indo-Pacific region and protect the democratic 
values and freedoms that both of our people hold so dearly. As bad 
actors in the region continue their aggressive campaign against 
democracy and stability, it is critical that we reiterate the 
importance of our relationship with nations like South Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from my 
home State of New York (Mr. Suozzi), the author of this important 
resolution.
  Mr. SUOZZI. Mr. Speaker, I thank my dear friend, Chairman Engel.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 809, which, as the 
chairman mentioned, I authored. This resolution expresses the 
importance of our country's alliance with the Republic of Korea.
  Affirmation of this alliance during this time of transition to a new 
administration and a new Congress is being closely watched throughout 
the Indo-Pacific region, and it is encouraging to note that support for 
this resolution is bipartisan and was passed unanimously by the House 
Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  A little over 100 years ago, the Republic of Korea declared itself 
sovereign and formed a provisional government. Today, it is one of the 
most vibrant, prosperous, and free societies in the world.

                              {time}  1300

  The United States and South Korea have a special diplomatic, 
economic, and security relationship, strengthened by shared strategic 
interests and a commitment cemented by democratic values.
  Our alliance is central to advancing democracy, free markets, human 
rights, the rule of law, peace and security, and crushing COVID-19, not 
only in the Indo-Pacific region, but throughout the world.
  But this alliance is not limited to international cooperation. Korean 
Americans contribute so much to the fabric of our American communities, 
including the communities in my district in New York. Nearly 2 million 
Korean Americans live across our country, and I know from my personal 
experience that Korean Americans enrich all aspects of our society.
  I am proud to lead this resolution through the House of 
Representatives today and call on my colleagues to continue to 
strengthen diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the U.S. and 
our vital ally, South Korea.
  Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, for decades, our alliance with the Republic of Korea has 
served as a testament to the power of freedom and democracy. Our 
relationship is built upon strong ties and shared values, and more than 
1.7 million Korean Americans call the United States home.
  I look forward to many more years of close cooperation between our 
two nations as our alliance evolves and strengthens.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank Mr. Suozzi for 
authoring this measure. I know he has had a deep interest in this for 
many, many years. I urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the 
aisle to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 809, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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