[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 58 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1096-S1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 140--COMMEMORATING 200 YEARS OF OFFICIAL RELATIONS 
     BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHILE

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

                              S. Res. 140

       Whereas January 2023 marked two centuries of bilateral 
     relations between the United States of America and the 
     Republic of Chile;
       Whereas the United States established official relations 
     with Chile on January 27, 1823, when the Senate confirmed the 
     appointment of Heman Allen as the first United States 
     Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Chile;
       Whereas the United States legation in Santiago, Chile, was 
     elevated to embassy status on October 1, 1914;
       Whereas Chile is one of the strongest partners of the 
     United States in Latin America, with a partnership grounded 
     in mutual respect, shared democratic values, the defense of 
     human rights, and the pursuit of economic prosperity and 
     shared security interests;
       Whereas the United States and Chile have historically 
     enjoyed strong commercial and investment ties, and, on 
     January 1, 2004, the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement 
     entered into force and further contributed to economic growth 
     for the people of the United States and Chile;
       Whereas, in 1955, Chile was the first country in Latin 
     America to establish a bilateral Fulbright Commission for 
     academic exchange of knowledge and expertise;
       Whereas Chile was the first South American country to join 
     the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 
     2010;
       Whereas the bilateral relationship between the United 
     States and Chile has contributed to tourism in both 
     countries, including through the visa waiver program under 
     section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1187), of which Chile is the only Latin American participant;
       Whereas the United States and Chile collaborate regularly 
     on efforts to promote democracy, human rights, security, and 
     development, including through the High-Level Bilateral 
     Political Consultative Mechanism, and the U.S.-Chile Defense 
     Consultative Committee;
       Whereas Chile and the United States have a long history of 
     strong cooperation on science and technology, including the 
     more than $800,000,000 in funding contributed by the National 
     Science Foundation to the Atacama Large Millimeter/
     submillimeter Array;
       Whereas the National Science Foundation has collaborated 
     with the Government of Chile toward the advancement of 
     research in the Antarctic region through the United States 
     Antarctica Program and the Chilean Antarctic Institute;
       Whereas the United States and Chile have strong cooperation 
     on the development of critical minerals and renewable energy, 
     and Chile stands out as a global leader in renewable energy, 
     with renewable energy accounting for approximately 59 percent 
     of the installed electricity capacity in Chile;
       Whereas the United States and Chile collaborate on 
     environmental stewardship and conservation matters, and the 
     Government of Chile led the establishment of the Americas for 
     the Protection of the Ocean coalition

[[Page S1097]]

     at the Ninth Summit of the Americas in June 2022, which has 
     strengthened efforts to advance marine conservation in South 
     America; and
       Whereas Chileans in the United States have enriched and 
     added to the way of life of the United States and become an 
     integral part of the cultural history of the United States: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commemorates the 200th anniversary of the establishment 
     of the official relationship between the United States of 
     America and the Republic of Chile;
       (2) recognizes the historical partnership between the 
     United States and Chile, and reaffirms long-lasting 
     collaboration with Chile to address mutual challenges and 
     enhance the prosperity and security of the people of the 
     United States and Chile;
       (3) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the United 
     States and Chile to promote the advancement of science and 
     technology and environmental sustainability;
       (4) expresses support for the shared principles of 
     democratic governance, human rights, and rule of law 
     underpinning the relationship between the United States and 
     Chile; and
       (5) celebrates the contributions that Chileans and Chilean 
     Americans have made in the United States.

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