III 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 632 

Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic 

of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic 

relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JUNE 18, 2020 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. 

KAINE, and Mr. CRUZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and 

the Republic of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration 

and advancement of economic relations, security, and 

development opportunities in both nations. 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have enjoyed a history of bilateral partnership and cooperation, and share 

the aims of promoting democratic values, economic prosperity, and the security of both nations; 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have taken important steps to restore the bilateral relationship between 

the United States and Ecuador, including by signing various agreements to strengthen economic ties, security cooperation, and development opportunities; 


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•SRES 632 IS 

Whereas President Moreno has signaled Ecuador’s commitment to promoting democratic values and has advocated 

for greater government transparency; 

Whereas in February 2018, more than 64 percent of Ecuadorians voted, in a constitutional referendum, to reinstate 

a 2-term presidential limit, an effort that was carried out 

by President Moreno’s administration and which is indicative of the Ecuadorian people’s support for presidential 

term limits as a reasonable check against a history of 

corruption and abuse of power; 

Whereas the United States-Ecuador bilateral relationship has 

been historically characterized by strong commercial and 

investment ties through the Generalized System of Preferences, the United States-Ecuador Trade and Investment Council, and the Treaty between the United States 

of America and the Republic of Ecuador Concerning the 

Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, 

done at Washington August 27, 1993, which was terminated by Ecuador’s previous government, effective May 

18, 2018; 

Whereas President Moreno’s administration has committed to 

implement economic policies that will lay the groundwork 

for sustainable economic growth, while protecting the 

poorest and most vulnerable people; 

Whereas, under President Moreno’s leadership, there have 

been significant advances in areas related to freedom of 

expression, including through the reform of the controversial Ecuadorian Communications Law; 

Whereas the Government of Ecuador has called for the peaceful restoration of democracy and the rule of law in VenVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632

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•SRES 632 IS 

ezuela and Ecuador has been a generous host of approximately 385,000 Venezuelan refugees; 

Whereas, on May 15, 2019, the United States Agency for 

International Development (USAID) and Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to the return of 

the USAID Mission to Ecuador after the 53-year program was forced to close in 2014 due to tensions in the 

bilateral relationship; 

Whereas Ecuador has been one of the countries most affected 

by the COVID–19 pandemic in Latin America, with more 

than 42,000 confirmed cases and approximately 3,500 

deaths as of June 5, 2020, which has overwhelmed the 

country’s health care system and aggravated the country’s already challenging economic situation; 

Whereas in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, USAID is 

providing Ecuador with technical support and training in 

diagnostics, and technical assistance in clinical management, risk communication, and community engagement; 

and 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have agreed to advance security cooperation on law enforcement, counternarcotics, anticorruption, and bilateral military training 

and assistance: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms its commitment— 

3 (A) to the historic partnership between the 

4 United States and Ecuador; and 

5 (B) to continue working to strengthen the 

6 relationship between the United States and EcVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632

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1 uador based on mutual respect and shared 

2 democratic values and principles; 

3 (2) recognizes President Lenin Moreno and his 

4 administration for recommitting Ecuador to demo5 cratic values, anti-corruption efforts, and the adop6 tion of economic policies that will benefit the people 

7 of Ecuador; 

8 (3) commends the important steps that Presi9 dent Moreno and his administration have taken to 

10 protect freedom of expression and freedom of the 

11 press in his country; 

12 (4) encourages the Republic of Ecuador to en13 sure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers 

14 are protected; and 

15 (5) supports actions to strengthen the historic 

16 bilateral relationship between the United States and 

17 Ecuador, including— 

18 (A) the establishment of robust bilateral 

19 trade and investment frameworks with Ecuador 

20 to build mutual prosperity through greater 

21 transparency and competitiveness; 

22 (B) stronger law enforcement and security 

23 cooperation between the two countries, includ24 ing in cybersecurity, border management, coun25 ternarcotics, anti-money laundering, military 


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•SRES 632 IS 

1 and civilian security professionalization, and 

2 criminal justice capabilities; 

3 (C) the return of the United States Agency 

4 for International Development and the exten5 sion of the Peace Corps Program in Ecuador; 

6 (D) continued United States assistance for 

7 Ecuador’s response to combat the COVID–19 

8 pandemic; 

9 (E) closer ties between Americans and 

10 Ecuadoreans through English language learning 

11 and teaching programs that foster greater pro12 fessional and educational opportunities; 

13 (F) continued efforts to protect freedom of 

14 expression and freedom of the press; and 

15 (G) continued efforts to ensure that the 

16 rights of refugees and asylum seekers are pro17 tected. 

Æ 


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