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[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 14 Referred in House (RFH)]

104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 14

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 9, 1996

          Referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 
Urging the President to negotiate a new base rights agreement with the 
Government of Panama to permit United States Armed Forces to remain in 
                    Panama beyond December 31, 1999.

Whereas the Panama Canal is a vital strategic asset to the United States, its 
        allies, and the world;
Whereas the Treaty on the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal 
        signed on September 7, 1977, provides that Panama and the United States 
        have the responsibility to assure that the Panama Canal will remain open 
        and secure;
Whereas such Treaty also provides that each of the two countries shall, in 
        accordance with their respective constitutional processes, defend the 
        Canal against any threat to the regime of neutrality, and consequently 
        shall have the right to act against any aggression or threat directed 
        against the Canal or against the peaceful transit of vessels through the 
        Canal;
Whereas the United States instrument of ratification of such Treaty includes 
        specific language that the two countries should consider negotiating 
        future arrangements or agreements to maintain military forces necessary 
        to fulfill the responsibility of the two countries of maintaining the 
        neutrality of the Canal after 1999;
Whereas the Government of Panama, in the bilateral Protocol of Exchange of 
        instruments of ratification, expressly ``agreed upon'' such arrangements 
        or agreements;
Whereas the Navy depends upon the Panama Canal for rapid transit in times of 
        emergency, as demonstrated during World War II, the Korean War, the 
        Vietnam conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Persian Gulf 
        conflict;
Whereas drug trafficking and money laundering has proliferated in the Western 
        Hemisphere since the Treaty on the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of 
        the Panama Canal was signed on September 7, 1977, and such trafficking 
        and laundering poses a grave threat to peace and security in the region;
Whereas certain facilities now utilized by the United States Armed Forces in 
        Panama are critical to combat the trade in illegal drugs;
Whereas the United States and Panama share common policy goals such as 
        strengthening democracy, expanding economic trade, and combating illegal 
        narcotics throughout Latin America;
Whereas the Government of Panama has dissolved its military forces and has 
        maintained only a civilian police organization to defend the Panama 
        Canal against aggression; and
Whereas certain public opinion polls in Panama suggest that many Panamanians 
        desire a continued United States military presence in Panama: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the President should negotiate a new base rights 
        agreement with the Government of Panama--
                    (A) taking into account the foregoing findings; and
                    (B) consulting with the Congress regarding any 
                bilateral negotiations that take place.
    Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this 
concurrent resolution to the President.

            Passed the Senate September 5, 1996.

            Attest:

                                             KELLY D. JOHNSTON,

                                                             Secretary.
```