[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 142 (Saturday, August 7, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6012-S6013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 341--COMMEMORATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
 SIGNING OF THE SECURITY TREATY AMONG AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND, AND THE 
                        UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Blunt) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 341

       Whereas the United States and Australia signed the Security 
     Treaty among Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of 
     America (referred to in this resolution as the ``ANZUS 
     Treaty'') in San Francisco on September 1, 1951;
       Whereas the United States Senate provided advice and 
     consent for ratification of the ANZUS Treaty on March 20, 
     1952, and the ANZUS Treaty entered into force on April 29, 
     1952;
       Whereas the signing of the ANZUS Treaty formalized an 
     alliance that began when United States and Australian forces 
     fought together and won the Battle of Hamel on the Western 
     Front, France on July 4, 1918, under the command of 
     Australian General John Monash;
       Whereas since 1915, the United States, Australia, and New 
     Zealand have a longstanding history of supporting each other 
     in the realm of defense and security, fighting alongside each 
     other during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the 
     Vietnam War, and in Afghanistan and Iraq;
       Whereas more than 100,000 Australian and New Zealander 
     service members have paid the ultimate sacrifice alongside 
     their brothers and sisters in arms from the United States;
       Whereas Australia is the only party to the treaty to invoke 
     Article IV of the ANZUS Treaty, done so on September 14, 
     2001, in response to the terrorist attacks on the United 
     States on September 11, 2001, in a show of stalwart support 
     for the American people;
       Whereas the Force Posture Agreement between the Government 
     of Australia and the

[[Page S6013]]

     Government of the United States of America, done at Sydney 
     August 12, 2014, enables closer security and defense 
     cooperation between the two allies;
       Whereas the United States and Australia conduct diverse 
     joint military exercises and training to enhance capabilities 
     throughout the world, and Australia hosts United States 
     Marines at its bases in the Northern Territory;
       Whereas nearly 600 Australian defense personnel work 
     alongside the United States military in 31 states and the 
     District of Columbia;
       Whereas the United States and Australia continue to 
     strengthen their mutual security interests, including through 
     the biennial Talisman Sabre exercise, a joint bilateral 
     military exercise most recently concluded in July 2021, which 
     included forces from other important allies and partners, 
     such as New Zealand;
       Whereas in 2020, Australia committed to $438,000,000,000 in 
     defense funding over 10 years, including $206,000,000,000 to 
     grow the Australian Defense Force's self-reliance and to 
     enhance its combined deterrent capabilities with the United 
     States military;
       Whereas approximately 60 percent of Australia's defense 
     capability is sourced from the United States;
       Whereas the United States and Australia work closely in a 
     number of international fora, including the Group of Twenty;
       Whereas the United States and Australia address shared 
     strategic and security concerns through the Quad, the 
     Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-centered 
     regional architecture and emerging groupings, including the 
     East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, and the 
     Trilateral Strategic Dialogue;
       Whereas cooperation between the United States and Australia 
     is vital to the security of our digital information and 
     critical infrastructure from the malicious activities of 
     state and non-state actors, through deep operational 
     collaboration and policy innovation;
       Whereas the United States and Australia work to improve 
     outcomes for women and girls in conflict areas and to ensure 
     that the perspectives of women are included in peace and 
     security efforts, through the implementation of the Women, 
     Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-68; 131 Stat. 
     1202) and Australia's National Action Plan for Women, Peace, 
     and Security of 2021;
       Whereas the United States and Australia have further 
     integrated their economies since entering into the United 
     States-Australia Free Trade Agreement on January 1, 2005, 
     after which 2-way investment has tripled and 2-way trade has 
     doubled, benefitting both countries;
       Whereas the United States and Australia have remained 
     steadfast partners in space for more than 60 years, including 
     through collaboration between the Australian Space Agency and 
     the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
       Whereas the United States and Australia have maintained 
     strong bilateral research linkages, collaborating in key 
     areas such as astronomical and space sciences, materials 
     engineering, mathematics, biochemistry, psychology and 
     medicine, with over 80,000 co-authored publications during 
     the past 5 years;
       Whereas the United States and Australia share strong 
     people-to-people linkages, with the United States providing 
     the third largest number of tourists to Australia in 2019;
       Whereas on May 13, 2021, Secretary of State Antony Blinken 
     reaffirmed the United States' ``unshakeable commitment'' to 
     the United States-Australia alliance as ``an anchor for 
     peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific for 
     decades'';
       Whereas New Zealand and the United States have enjoyed 
     strong ties for decades, bolstered by shared cultural 
     traditions, values, and common interests;
       Whereas on November 5, 2010, the United States and New 
     Zealand signed the Wellington Declaration, which was then 
     enhanced in 2012 by the signing of the Washington 
     Declaration, strengthening the defense relationship by 
     providing a framework and strategic guidance for security 
     cooperation and defense dialogues;
       Whereas in November 2016, the destroyer USS Sampson visited 
     New Zealand at the request of the New Zealand Government, the 
     first bilateral ship visit in more than 30 years, providing 
     humanitarian assistance and disaster relief to affected 
     communities in the aftermath of the 7.8-magnitude Kaikoura 
     earthquake;
       Whereas the United States', Australia's, and New Zealand's 
     shared values of democracy, respect for human rights, and 
     adherence to the rule of law provide a strong foundation for 
     broad multilateral cooperation;
       Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand share 
     information essential for security and defense through the 
     Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council, a 
     partnership that has expanded to include collaboration on 
     economic and homeland security initiatives;
       Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand 
     remain resolute partners in addressing environmental issues;
       Whereas bilateral and multilateral cooperation among the 
     United States, Australia, and New Zealand has evolved to meet 
     contemporary challenges, including global health security and 
     pandemic preparedness and response, supply chain resilience, 
     environmental and climate-related challenges, and the 
     development, promotion and protection of emerging 
     technologies;
       Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand are 
     committed to free and fair trade and the international rules-
     based trading system by working in collaboration through 
     various mechanisms, including bilateral trade and investment 
     agreements, the World Trade Organization, and the Asia-
     Pacific Economic Cooperation, and by continuing to address 
     future challenges such as digital trade;
       Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have 
     worked together within the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS to 
     counter terrorism, restore regional stability and combat the 
     spread of violent extremist ideology;
       Whereas the United States, Australia, and New Zealand 
     strive for a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific, 
     unimpeded by economic coercion;
       Whereas on April 22, 2021, Secretary Blinken stated, 
     ``Since 1915, U.S., Australian, and New Zealand service 
     members have served alongside one another in many global 
     conflicts. Through our strong and deep interpersonal ties, 
     the partnership between our nations continues to grow each 
     year along with the realization that the kinship our armed 
     forces share is more important than ever in helping ensuring 
     a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.''; and
       Whereas September 1, 2021 marks 70 years since the signing 
     of the ANZUS Treaty: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 70th anniversary of the signing of the 
     ANZUS Treaty;
       (2) recognizes the value of the longstanding security 
     commitments between the United States and Australia, and 
     reaffirms the United States' commitments under the ANZUS 
     Treaty;
       (3) supports new opportunities to deepen and broaden 
     military and security relations among the United States, 
     Australia, and New Zealand;
       (4) supports continued diplomatic, security, and scientific 
     cooperation among the United States, Australia, and New 
     Zealand to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific region; and
       (5) supports new opportunities to deepen and broaden 
     economic ties among the United States, Australia, and New 
     Zealand to boost our respective competitiveness and to 
     respond to attempts at economic coercion through mutual 
     action and building resilience in the Indo-Pacific region.

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