[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3688-S3689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 685--WELCOMING PRESIDENT SANTIAGO PENA OF PARAGUAY 
 AND COMMEMORATING THE BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF 
                     PARAGUAY AND THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. 
Merkley) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 685

       Whereas 2024 marks 163 years of official bilateral 
     relations between the United States and the Republic of 
     Paraguay;
       Whereas the shared values of democracy and the rule of law 
     have always underpinned the bilateral relationship starting 
     with the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation of 
     1859, done at Washington March 12, 1860;
       Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed an 
     especially strong partnership since Paraguay's transition to 
     a democratically elected civilian government in 1989;
       Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed 
     bilateral economic cooperation, especially under the United 
     States-Paraguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, 
     done at Washington January 13, 2017;
       Whereas the Parana River accounts for 80 percent of 
     Paraguay's trade and is a lifeline to many communities;
       Whereas the United States Senate appreciates mutual 
     collaboration with Paraguay across many sectors, including 
     supporting United States businesses operating in Paraguay and 
     $2,400,000,000 in trade in goods;
       Whereas the United States is the second largest foreign 
     investor in Paraguay, with hundreds of millions of dollars in 
     foreign direct investment in Paraguay;
       Whereas the United States has strongly supported and will 
     continue to support democratic institutions, the rule of law, 
     and economic opportunity in Paraguay, including working 
     collaboratively to tackle corruption and support indigenous 
     peoples, afro-descendants, and youth in Paraguay;
       Whereas the Governments of Paraguay and the United States 
     have effectively partnered to address shared priorities 
     across the hemisphere, including countering human 
     trafficking, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, and 
     other illicit cross-border activities, as well as increasing 
     cooperation in security and defense, cybersecurity, and 
     promoting exchange programs;
       Whereas Paraguay and the United States are aligned on key 
     foreign policy priorities beyond the hemisphere;
       Whereas Paraguay joined the United States and other 
     democratic-oriented countries in key multilateral fora, 
     including the United Nations and the Organization of American 
     States to condemn Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine;
       Whereas Paraguay has maintained a consistent and 
     uninterrupted diplomatic relationship with Taiwan based on 
     shared democratic values;
       Whereas, alongside the United States, the Government of 
     Paraguay has consistently supported Israel's right to self-
     defense;
       Whereas the people and the Government of the United States 
     celebrates the bilateral relationship with Paraguay and 
     encourage a continuing close relationship;
       Whereas Paraguayans in the United States have contributed 
     and enriched American culture and have become an important 
     part of United States society; and
       Whereas President Santiago Pena was elected President of 
     Paraguay in April 2023 in free and fair elections: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes the visit of President Santiago Pena;
       (2) commemorates 163 years of official diplomatic relations 
     between the United States and the Republic of Paraguay;
       (3) recognizes the historical partnership between the 
     United States and Paraguay rooted in shared values of 
     democracy and the rule of law;
       (4) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the Governments 
     of the United States and Paraguay to address pressing issues 
     across the hemisphere;
       (5) calls on the Department of State, the United States 
     International Development Corporation, and the United States 
     Agency For International Development to support efforts to 
     improve the navigability of the Parana River through dredging 
     and port modernization;
       (6) expresses support for continuing to work towards shared 
     foreign policy priorities; and

[[Page S3689]]

       (7) celebrates the contributions that Paraguayans and 
     Paraguayan-Americans have made in the United States.

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