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[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 21 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 21

Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Australia alliance 
                             relationship.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 6, 2017

   Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. Issa, Mr. Sherman, Mr. Keating, Mrs. 
    Napolitano, Ms. Gabbard, Mr. Deutch, Mr. Bera, Mr. Ted Lieu of 
California, Mr. Castro of Texas, Ms. Kelly of Illinois, Mr. Suozzi, Mr. 
 Meeks, Mrs. Torres, Mr. Sires, Mr. Brendan F. Boyle of Pennsylvania, 
Ms. Speier, Mr. Connolly, Ms. Hanabusa, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Hastings, Mr. 
   Evans, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Espaillat, Mr. Courtney, Mr. 
   Crowley, Mr. Himes, Mr. Schneider, Ms. Titus, Mr. Cohen, and Mr. 
  McGovern) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Reaffirming a strong commitment to the United States-Australia alliance 
                             relationship.

Whereas Australia is a vital partner of the United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia share core values as well as deep 
        cultural, security, and people-to-people ties;
Whereas Australia has been a treaty ally of the United States since the signing 
        of the Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) Treaty in 1951;
Whereas an alliance bond is a sacred vow of friendship and trust, and Australia 
        has always been a faithful and reliable partner to the United States;
Whereas United States-Australia defense and intelligence ties and cooperation 
        are exceptionally close, and Australian forces have fought together with 
        the United States military in every significant conflict since World War 
        I and over 100,000 Australian servicemembers have paid the highest price 
        in the course of their service alongside American allies;
Whereas Australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to United 
        States military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq after September 11, 
        2001;
Whereas Australia is a close partner of the United States, sharing information 
        essential to the defense and security of the two countries, including 
        through the Five Eyes intelligence community;
Whereas the United States-Australia alliance is an anchor for peace and 
        stability in the Indo-Asia Pacific region and around the world;
Whereas Australia has welcomed proposals to reposition United States Marines to 
        maintain Marine forces in the western Pacific and improve the United 
        States strategic posture in the Indo-Asia Pacific region;
Whereas the United States Air Force and the Australian Air Force have expanded 
        cooperation and training to enhance the interoperability of the 
        militaries of the two countries;
Whereas Australia has led peacekeeping efforts in the Indo-Asia Pacific region, 
        including in Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands;
Whereas Australia and the United States share strategic interests in the Indo-
        Asia Pacific region and globally, and have worked together to promote 
        these shared goals and objectives;
Whereas the United States and Australia have been free trade agreement partners 
        since 2005, and the United States has a positive trade balance with 
        Australia;
Whereas robust United States-Australia defense cooperation contributes not only 
        to the mutual defense of the two countries but also to American jobs;
Whereas more than 300,000 U.S. jobs are supported by United States exports to 
        Australia and nearly 9,000 Australian companies sell or operate in the 
        United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia work closely in the numerous global and 
        regional fora, including the World Trade Organization and the Asia-
        Pacific Economic Cooperation forum;
Whereas Australia shares many of the United States concerns in the struggle 
        against Islamist militancy in Southeast Asia and beyond, and is part of 
        the global coalition to defeat the ``so-called Islamic State (IS)''; and
Whereas the United States and Australia have enjoyed a close relationship over 
        many successive Republican and Democratic administrations: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the strong alliance relationship between 
        Australia and the United States;
            (2) supports continued diplomatic, military, and economic 
        cooperation between Australia and the United States; and
            (3) reaffirms the importance of a United States-Australia 
        relationship based on mutual respect and befitting a close and 
        longstanding United States alliance partner crucial to the 
        preservation of United States national interests in the Indo-
        Asia Pacific region and around the world.
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