[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 153 (Thursday, September 21, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S4660]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 357--RECOGNIZING THE FORMATION OF THE ALLIANCE FOR 
DEVELOPMENT IN DEMOCRACY AND URGING THE UNITED STATES TO PURSUE DEEPER 
                     TIES WITH ITS MEMBER COUNTRIES

  Mr. CRUZ (for himself, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Risch, 
and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 357

       Whereas, on September 22, 2021, Presidents Luis Abinader of 
     the Dominican Republic, Laurentino Cortizo of the Republic of 
     Panama, and Carlos Alvarado of the Republic of Costa Rica met 
     in New York during the opening of the 76th session of the 
     United Nations General Assembly to form the Alliance for 
     Development in Democracy (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``ADD'');
       Whereas the member countries of the ADD have committed to 
     work through the ADD to advance institutions that protect the 
     rule of law and individual freedoms;
       Whereas the ADD promotes regional integration by 
     strengthening cultural, commercial, and demographic ties in 
     the context of free, peaceful, and democratic societies;
       Whereas the Department of Defense and the Department of 
     State have repeatedly emphasized that the economic 
     encroachment of the Government of the People's Republic of 
     China into the Western Hemisphere is coercive and represents 
     an acute threat to the national security of the United States 
     and of allies of the United States in the Western Hemisphere;
       Whereas, during the years preceding the date of adoption of 
     this resolution, United States trade has doubled with the 
     Republic of Costa Rica and the Republic of Panama, and 
     tripled with the Dominican Republic;
       Whereas, combined, the three founding members of the ADD 
     represent the third-largest trading partner of the United 
     States in the Western Hemisphere;
       Whereas, on December 10, 2021, the ADD formed a business 
     council to promote the development of trade, investment, and 
     commerce between the ADD and the United States;
       Whereas, on June 10, 2022, Canada, a critical ally and 
     strategic partner of the United States, and the members of 
     the ADD issued a joint statement committing to working 
     together to address democratic challenges and to prevent the 
     erosion of democracy in the Western Hemisphere;
       Whereas, on June 16, 2022, the Republic of Ecuador formally 
     joined the ADD as the fourth member of the ADD;
       Whereas, on July 25, 2022, the United States and the 
     founding members of the ADD signed a memorandum of 
     understanding to advance the Consultative Dialogue on Supply 
     Chains and Economic Growth between the United States and the 
     ADD to strengthen supply chain resiliency; and
       Whereas the ADD has sought to comprehensively address the 
     migratory flows that transit though territories within the 
     jurisdiction of the member countries of the ADD: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the Dominican Republic, the Republic of 
     Panama, and the Republic of Costa Rica for forming the 
     Alliance for Development in Democracy (referred to in this 
     resolution as the ``ADD''), and the Republic of Ecuador for 
     ascending to the ADD;
       (2) affirms that the ADD provides a counterweight to the 
     growing influence of autocratic and anti-United States forces 
     in the Western Hemisphere;
       (3) calls on the President to--
       (A) pursue and prioritize engagement with the ADD regarding 
     the full spectrum of the national security and economic 
     interests of the United States in the Western Hemisphere; and
       (B) deepen regional integration on economic issues 
     including increasing trade, expanding market access, and 
     integrating investment markets throughout the Western 
     Hemisphere, including by pursuing nearshoring, reshoring, and 
     friendshoring initiatives; and
       (4) calls on the President to use the diplomatic capital of 
     the United States, including the voice and vote of the United 
     States in international organizations, to support member 
     countries of the ADD in promoting policies that--
       (A) enhance the regional integration specified in paragraph 
     (3)(B) by strengthening democratic institutions and promoting 
     economic prosperity;
       (B) strengthen the critical infrastructure of those 
     countries, such as ports, airports, and other logistical 
     assets to facilitate regional trade;
       (C) manage migrant flows across the Western Hemisphere and 
     within the jurisdiction of those countries;
       (D) counter corruption, organized crime, and illegal drug 
     trafficking across the Western Hemisphere and within the 
     jurisdiction of those countries; and
       (E) strengthen the resiliency of supply chains critical to 
     foreign investment and trade with those countries.

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