[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 101 (Tuesday, June 14, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S2944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 674--CELEBRATING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARSHALL 
PLAN AND RECOGNIZING THE ROLE OF THE MARSHALL PLAN AS THE FOUNDATION OF 
   A TRANSATLANTIC COMMUNITY COMMITTED TO THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE, 
                       PROSPERITY, AND DEMOCRACY

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

                              S. Res. 674

       Whereas, after World War II, the infrastructure, factories, 
     and cities of Europe were in ruins and the people of Europe 
     were in danger of famine and destitution;
       Whereas, in a commencement address on June 5, 1947, at 
     Harvard University, then-Secretary of State George C. 
     Marshall proposed the framework of the Economic Recovery 
     Program (commonly known as the ``Marshall Plan'');
       Whereas, in his address, Secretary Marshall declared that 
     the Marshall Plan would be successful only with ``foresight, 
     and a willingness on the part of our people to face up to the 
     vast responsibility which history has clearly placed upon our 
     country'';
       Whereas a bipartisan coalition of Congress overwhelmingly 
     approved the Marshall Plan through the passage of the 
     Economic Cooperation Act of 1948, which was signed by 
     President Harry Truman on April 3, 1948;
       Whereas, in that Act, Congress acknowledged that the 
     ``intimate economic and other relationships between the 
     United States and the nations of Europe'' and recognized that 
     peace and general welfare on the European continent are in 
     the national interest of the United States;
       Whereas the Marshall Plan helped rebuild a battered Europe, 
     restore peace and political stability, and reinforce 
     democracy across the continent;
       Whereas, under the Marshall Plan, the United States 
     extended an offer of aid to all countries in Europe, without 
     prejudice, including to the then-Union of Soviet Socialist 
     Republics;
       Whereas the Marshall Pan served as the foundation for 
     transatlantic engagement and cooperation, which led to the 
     establishment of the Organization for Economic Cooperation 
     and Development (OECD) and the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization (NATO);
       Whereas continued Euro-Atlantic integration and cooperation 
     are key to the protection of peace and transatlantic values;
       Whereas the brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by 
     Vladimir Putin, launched on February 24, 2022, threatens the 
     peace and principles at the core of the transatlantic 
     community;
       Whereas continued transatlantic cooperation is vital to 
     holding Vladimir Putin to account for his war of choice 
     against the Ukrainian people, and supporting Ukraine as it 
     defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity amidst 
     unconscionable war crimes committed by the Armed Forces of 
     the Russian Federation;
       Whereas the United States, in cooperation with its allies 
     and partners, is committed to helping rebuild and protect the 
     democratic Government of Ukraine;
       Whereas direct investment in the United States by European 
     countries exceeds trillions of dollars annually, which is a 
     direct result of the prosperous economy in Europe that was 
     aided by investments of the United States; and
       Whereas the German Marshall Fund of the United States, 
     which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022, was 
     established with a gift from Germany to express appreciation 
     for the support the United States provided to Europe in the 
     aftermath of World War II: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) celebrates the 75th anniversary of the Economic 
     Recovery Program (commonly known as the ``Marshall Plan'');
       (2) recognizes the role of the Marshall Plan in founding a 
     transatlantic community committed to the preservation of 
     peace, prosperity, and democracy;
       (3) reaffirms that cooperation with allies and partners in 
     the transatlantic community to protect shared values and 
     principles is in the national interest of the United States; 
     and
       (4) congratulates the German Marshall Fund of the United 
     States on its 50th anniversary and expresses appreciation for 
     its work to champion cooperation between the United States 
     and allies and partners in Europe.

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