[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 495--HONORING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PARTNERSHIP 
 BETWEEN THE STATE OF NEBRASKA AND THE CZECH REPUBLIC UNDER THE STATE 
                          PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM

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

                              S. Res. 495

       Whereas Nebraska has the highest percentage of citizens 
     with Czech ancestry of any State in the United States;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program was created in 1993 
     to link a State's National Guard with a partner nation's 
     military, security forces, and disaster response 
     organizations in a cooperative, mutually beneficial 
     relationship;
       Whereas, in July 1993, the partnership between the State of 
     Nebraska and the Czech Republic under the State Partnership 
     Program was established;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program has fostered 
     military-to-military cooperation and enhanced 
     interoperability between units of the Nebraska National Guard 
     and the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic;
       Whereas that cooperation has included joint training 
     exercises, exchanges of personnel, and sharing of military 
     expertise and practices;
       Whereas, since 1993, the Nebraska National Guard has 
     executed more than 300 engagements with the Armed Forces of 
     the Czech Republic and has engaged with more than 2,500 
     members of those forces;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program has been mutually 
     beneficial for the Nebraska National Guard and the Armed 
     Forces of the Czech Republic, strengthening diplomatic, 
     military, and cultural ties and contributing to regional and 
     international security and cooperation;
       Whereas the State Partnership Program has better prepared 
     the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic for North Atlantic 
     Treaty Organization (NATO) exercises, integration in NATO air 
     mobility operations, cyber defense, and combined exercises 
     with other State Partnership Program partners;
       Whereas the Czech Republic has been a trusted and valuable 
     member of the NATO alliance since the Czech Republic joined 
     the alliance in 1999;
       Whereas the Czech Republic has contributed to various NATO-
     led missions, including in Afghanistan, where 11,500 Czech 
     soldiers were deployed and 14 were killed in action fighting 
     the Taliban;
       Whereas the Czech Republic has provided significant 
     military and humanitarian support to Ukraine and Ukrainian 
     refugees in response to Russia's unprovoked and illegal 
     invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; and
       Whereas the Czech Republic has been recognized with awards 
     for joint military operations carried out in cooperation with 
     the United States, NATO achievements, and acts of heroism and 
     service: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the cooperation and beneficial relationship 
     between the Czech Republic and the State of Nebraska and the 
     steadfast partnership between the Czech Republic and the 
     United States over the past 30 years;
       (2) expresses appreciation for the commitment of the Armed 
     Forces of the Czech Republic to the Nebraska National Guard 
     in advancing peace, stability, and mutual understanding;
       (3) expresses continued support for the State Partnership 
     Program between the State of Nebraska and the Czech Republic;
       (4) commends the Czech Republic for committing to meet the 
     NATO target of spending at least two percent of its Gross 
     Domestic Product on defense in 2024; and
       (5) commends the Czech Republic for increasing its 
     cooperation with Taiwan, including collaboration that may 
     enhance Taiwan's defense posture.

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