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[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 949 Introduced in House (IH)]

109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 949

Commending the people and Government of Romania, on the occasion of the 
 visit of Romanian President Traian Basescu to the United States, for 
     the strong relationship between Romania and the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 26, 2006

Mr. Hyde submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Commending the people and Government of Romania, on the occasion of the 
 visit of Romanian President Traian Basescu to the United States, for 
     the strong relationship between Romania and the United States.

Whereas, following the terrorist attacks upon the United States in September 
        2001, the Government of Romania immediately expressed its sympathy for 
        Americans and others killed in the attacks and pledged its full support 
        in fighting the war on terror;
Whereas, on September 19, 2001, the Romanian Parliament voted to open Romanian 
        territory and airspace to United States Armed Forces involved in 
        Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan;
Whereas, beginning in June 2002, Romanian aircraft flew Romanian soldiers to 
        serve in Afghanistan as part of the forces involved in Operation 
        Enduring Freedom and the International Security Assistance Force, and 
        over 700 elite Romanian soldiers are currently stationed in Afghanistan;
Whereas Romania stood with the United States as a vital member of the 
        international coalition in Operation Iraqi Freedom by offering 
        diplomatic, political, and military support;
Whereas, on February 12, 2003, the Romanian Parliament voted to open Romanian 
        territory and airspace to United States Armed Forces carrying out 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas hundreds of American aircraft flew through Romanian airspace and landed 
        at Romanian airfields during the combat phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
        from May to July 2003;
Whereas thousands of United States soldiers were stationed and transported into 
        the Iraq theatre of operations from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, and 
        the neighboring Black Sea port of Constantza was also used in the fall 
        of 2002 and spring of 2003 for rotating United States Armed Forces and 
        equipment in and out of the Balkans;
Whereas, beginning on March 12, 2003, Romania began deploying military forces to 
        Iraq to assist in building security, peace, and democracy, and over 890 
        Romanian soldiers are currently stationed in Iraq;
Whereas recently President Basescu reaffirmed Romania's intention to continue to 
        deploy Romanian armed forces in Iraq;
Whereas in recognition of the close U.S.-Romanian security and political 
        relationship, in December 2005 Romania signed a bilateral agreement with 
        the United States to allow U.S. forces to use Romania military bases;
Whereas, together with Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and 
        Slovenia, Romania successfully achieved the military, economic, and 
        political reforms necessary to be invited, at the November 2002 summit 
        meeting in Prague of the North Atlantic Council, to join the NATO 
        alliance;
Whereas Romania became a member of the NATO alliance on March 29, 2004;
Whereas Romania has made important progress with respect to economic reform and 
        democratic development;
Whereas in recognition of these and other developments Romania is slated to 
        accede to the European Union during 2007;
Whereas, however, necessary progress has not been made with respect to rule of 
        law issues including judicial reform and ongoing cases such as Romania's 
        actions against Rompetrol Group NV underscores Romania's lack of a truly 
        independent, professional, and non-political justice system;
Whereas, on June 21, 2004, the Parliament of Romania enacted Law 273/2004 on 
        adoption, which prohibits intercountry adoption except by a child's 
        biological grandparent or grandparents; and
Whereas in his historic address at Piata Revolutiei on November 23, 2002, 
        President Bush told the Romanian people that ``Romania has made a 
        historic journey. Instead of hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead 
        of destructive rivalry with your neighbors, you have chosen 
        reconciliation. Instead of state control, you have chosen free markets 
        and the rule of law. And instead of dictatorship, you have built a proud 
        and working democracy.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the strong and vibrant relations between the 
        United States and Romania;
            (2) recognizes the steps the Government of Romania has 
        taken and continues to take in economic, political, and social 
        reforms, and urges the Government to take additional steps to 
        establish an independent, professional, and non-political 
        justice system, in part by taking action to end all politically 
        inspired legal cases;
            (3) values the participation of a significant number of 
        Romanian troops and civilian experts in Operation Enduring 
        Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, the permission granted by 
        the Government of Romania for the United States to use Romanian 
        airspace and territory, and the deployment of Romanian military 
        forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation 
        Iraqi Freedom, all of which have been important contributions 
        to the global war on terror and serve as a tangible and ongoing 
        demonstration of Romania's commitment as an ally of the United 
        States;
            (4) urges the Government of Romania to complete the 
        processing of intercountry adoption cases which were pending 
        when Law 273/2004 was enacted and to amend its child welfare 
        and adoption laws to decrease barriers to adoption, both 
        domestic and intercountry, including by allowing intercountry 
        adoption by persons other than biological grandparents; and
            (5) welcomes Romanian President Traian Basescu to the 
        United States and looks forward to expanded political, 
        diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between Romania 
        and the United States.
                                 <all>
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