IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 92

To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between the United

States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 5, 1997

Mr. GILMAN (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, and Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA)

submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between

the United States and the Republic of the Marshall

Islands, and for other purposes.

Whereas on November 3, 1986, President Reagan issued

Proclamation 5564, implementing a Compact of Free Association between the United States and the newly

formed governments of Pacific island areas which had

been administered by the United States since 1947 under

a United Nations trusteeship;

Whereas the Compact of Free Association was approved by

the United States Congress with overwhelming bipartisan

support on January 14, 1986, under the terms set forth

in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (P.L.

99-239);
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Whereas, in addition to providing the multilateral framework

for friendly political relations with the new Pacific island

nations, the Compact of Free Association established, on

a bilateral basis, a long-term military alliance and permanent strategic partnership between the United States and

the Republic of the Marshall Islands;

Whereas for 50 years the Marshall Islands has played a

unique and indispensable role in maintaining international peace and security through activities of the

United States in the Marshall Islands which were essential to the feasibility and ultimate success of the United

States-led strategy of nuclear deterrence during the Cold

War era, as well as the United States Strategic Defense

Initiative which contributed significantly to the end of the

nuclear arms race;

Whereas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands includes Bikini

Atoll and Enewetak Atoll, which were the nuclear weapons proving grounds for Operation Crossroads from 1946

to 1958, as well as Kwajalein Atoll, which was the site

of the mid-Pacific missile testing range for intercontinental ballistic missiles fired from the Vandenberg facility, a vital installation of the United States Army’s ballistic missile systems command and a key support facility

for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

and other programs critical to the promotion of vital national interests;

Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands and the United

States have a close and mutually beneficial relationship

which evolved from liberation and military occupation at

the end of World War II to United States administration

under the United Nations trusteeship from 1947 to 1986
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and which is now maintained on a government-to-government basis under the Compact of Free Association;

Whereas this relationship was forged through a process of

self-determination and democratization which reflects the

common values and cross-cultural respect that the people

of the Marshall Islands and the people of the United

States have developed since the middle of the last century

when American missionaries first came to the Marshall

Islands;

Whereas the people of the United States and its allies paid

a high price, including great loss of life and injuries in

the heroic battles for Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, to liberate the Marshall Islands during World War II and again

made sacrifices as a result of the Cold War nuclear arms

race;

Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands suffered great injury and hardship due to the exposure of individuals to

nuclear test radiation and the radiological contamination

of the Marshall Islands;

Whereas, in recognition of the unique role of the Republic of

the Marshall Islands in supporting the United States

during the Cold War, the 104th Congress provided additional assistance, pursuant to the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, to meet the special need of the people of the Marshall Islands arising from the nuclear testing program, including funding for radiological monitoring, island rehabilitation, and community resettlement

programs;

Whereas within the framework of the settlement of all legal

claims under section 177 of the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985, the Congress continues to monitor
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and evaluate measures being taken to implement programs authorized under Federal law to promote the recovery, resettlement, health, and safety of individuals and

communities affected by the nuclear testing program in

the Marshall Islands;

Whereas the special relationship between our nations and our

peoples is a bond that has grown strong as a result of

our shared history and common struggle and sacrifices in

the cause, not of conquest, but to promote international

peace and security and secure liberty for future generations; and

Whereas, just as the extraordinary demands of world leadership fell on the United States in this century, among this

Nation’s allies the Marshall Islands bore an immensely

disproportionate share of the burden of the Cold War,

and this remote island nation continues to play an important strategic role in the preservation of global peace as

well as in the military and scientific programs which promote the United States, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the other people of the world: Now, therefore,

be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress—

3 (1) recognizes the value of continued friendly

4 relations between the United States and the Repub5 lic of the Marshall Islands;

6 (2) intends to maintain, through appropriate

7 mutually agreed political and economic measures,

8 the long-term military alliance and strategic partner9 ship defined by the Compact of Free Association as
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1 a primary element of bilateral relations between the

2 United States and the Republic of the Marshall Is3 land in the future;

4 (3) recognizes the importance of ongoing meas5 ures to address, in accordance with the legal settle6 ment set forth in section 177 of the Compact of

7 Free Association of 1985, the impact on the Mar8 shall Islands of the nuclear testing program; and

9 (4) intends, through its oversight responsibil10 ities and the exercise of its Constitutional authority

11 regarding negotiation and approval of bilateral

12 agreements with respect to those provisions of the

13 Compact of Free Association which expire in 2001,

14 to exercise vigilance in preserving the strategic inter15 ests of the United States in ensuring that the friend16 ship between the United States and the Republic of

17 the Marshall Islands is sustained as mutually agreed

18 pursuant to their respective constitutional processes.

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