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103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 225

Designating the third week of July 1993 as ‘‘Captive Nations Week’’, and

for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 1, 1993

Mr. GILMAN introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to

the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service

JOINT RESOLUTION

Designating the third week of July 1993 as ‘‘Captive Nations

Week’’, and for other purposes.

Whereas the greatness of the United States is in a large part

attributable to its having been able, through the democratic process, to achieve a harmonious national unity of

its people, even though they stem from the most diverse

of racial, religious, and ethnic backgrounds;

Whereas this harmonious unification of the diverse elements

of our free society has led the people of the United States

to possess a warm understanding and sympathy for the

aspirations of peoples everywhere for democracy and to

recognize the interdependency of the nations of the world;
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Whereas the continuing oppression of a substantial part of

the world’s population under Communism constitutes a

detriment to the natural bonds of understanding between

the people of the United States and other peoples;

Whereas Communist oppression and imperialism led to the

subjugation of the national independence of Russia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhastan, Turkmenistan,

Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Hungary,

Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, and

other states, and continues to oppress the peoples of

China, Tibet, Cuba, North Korea, Vietnam, and Laos;

Whereas nations oppressed by Communism look to the

United States as a citadel of democracy and freedom for

leadership in bringing about their liberation and restoring

to them the enjoyment of their religious freedoms and of

their individual liberties; and

Whereas it is fitting that we clearly manifest to such peoples

through an appropriate and official means the fact that

the people of the United States share with them their aspirations for the recovery of their freedom and independence: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL POLICY STATEMENTS.

4 The Congress—

5 (1) praises and commends the peoples of those

6 nations of Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia,

7 formerly held captive by the Soviet Union and its
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1 Warsaw Pact alliance, who have liberated themselves

2 from their captivity;

3 (2) encourages those newly liberated nations in

4 their efforts to build democracy and market-based

5 economies; and

6 (3) calls upon the peoples of those newly liber7 ated nations to refrain from following the leadership

8 of those who would seek to follow an aggressive or

9 authoritarian relationship with either the citizens of

10 those countries or with their neighboring states.

11 SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF CAPTIVE NATIONS WEEK.

12 The third week of July 1993 is designated as ‘‘Cap13 tive Nations Week’’, and the President is authorized and

14 requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people

15 of the United States to observe such week with appro16 priate ceremonies and activities. The President is further

17 authorized and requested to issue a similar proclamation

18 each year until such time as freedom and independence

19 shall have been achieved for all the captive nations of the

20 world.

21 SEC. 3. REPEAL.

22 Public Law 86–90 is repealed.

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