[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 25, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3526-S3527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 308--RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF THE 
  30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STATE 
                          PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

  Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. Graham, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
Blumenthal, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Coons, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Duckworth, 
Mr. Durbin, Ms. Ernst, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Hirono, Mr. 
Hoeven, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. McConnell, Mr. 
Merkley, Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Risch, Ms. Smith, 
Mr. Tester, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Young) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 308

       Whereas the Department of Defense State Partnership Program 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``State Partnership 
     Program'') has evolved from a program designed to assist 
     countries emerging from behind the Iron Curtain to one that 
     now involves 100 nations and the National Guard of every 
     State and territory of the United States;
       Whereas members of the National Guard work with partner 
     militaries to bolster capabilities, improve interoperability, 
     and enhance principles of responsible governance;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program delivers a 
     significant return on investment by broadening the pool of 
     security partners who are willing and able to support defense 
     and security cooperation objectives of the United States 
     around the world;
       Whereas most of the earliest State Partnership Program 
     partner countries in Europe have gone on to become United 
     States allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and 
     many of them credit the State Partnership Program and their 
     National Guard State partners with helping to make that 
     possible;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program helps ensure that the 
     Department of Defense has capable, trusted, and interoperable 
     partners;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program has created 88 
     enduring, cost-effective partnerships with 100 nations 
     encompassing over \1/2\ of the countries in the world;

[[Page S3527]]

       Whereas members of the National Guard typically engage in 
     more than 1,000 State Partnership Program events per year;
       Whereas the National Guard Bureau is working with the 
     commanders of the combatant commands and the Department of 
     State to increase State Partnership Program partnerships by 2 
     nations per year for the next 15 years; and
       Whereas commanders of the combatant commands and United 
     States ambassadors strongly endorse the State Partnership 
     Program for cultivating long-term relationships with 
     partners: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 30th 
     anniversary of the founding of the Department of Defense 
     State Partnership Program;
       (2) expresses deep gratitude for the continuing service by 
     members of the National Guard in support of the Department of 
     Defense State Partnership Program;
       (3) recognizes the outsized influence of the Department of 
     Defense State Partnership Program in developing and 
     supporting enduring relationships around the world that serve 
     both the interests of the partner nations and the United 
     States;
       (4) supports the continued expansion of the Department of 
     Defense State Partnership Program in furtherance of global 
     security cooperation; and
       (5) designates July 17, 2023, as State Partnership Program 
     Day to recognize the 30th anniversary of the historic 
     Department of Defense State Partnership Program.

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