IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 159 

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement and Korea’s 

declaration of independence from the Empire of Japan. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 28, 2019 

Mr. WOODALL submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement and Korea’s declaration of independence from the 

Empire of Japan. 

Whereas, on March 1, 1919, the people of Korea gathered in 

Seoul, the capital of Korea, to proclaim they would no 

longer be subject to Japan’s imperial rule and to demand 

independence, peace, democracy, human rights, and a 

free and equal democratic republic; 

Whereas the Korean Declaration of Independence, inspired by 

President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, calls for 

national self-determination, justice, humanity, survival, 

and dignity; 

Whereas approximately 2,000,000 Koreans participated in 

demonstrations for Korean independence and over 7,000 

Koreans lost their lives in the process; 


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•HRES 159 IH 

Whereas the March First Movement directly led to the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government in 

Shanghai and brought worldwide attention to their efforts for independence; 

Whereas the people of Korea fought for 36 years under the 

oppression of Imperialist Japan for independence; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea has been a proud partner 

both militarily and economically with the United States 

since its inception over 70 years ago; 

Whereas the United States fought side by side with the Korean people to repel the Soviet Union-supported Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (North Korea) attacks during the Korean war; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea and the United States are 

committed to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a 

peaceful end to the Korean war; 

Whereas in both the Republic of Korea and North Korea, 

March 1st is designated as a national holiday; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea’s President Moon Jae-in invited the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to a joint 

celebration of the 100th anniversary of the March First 

Movement in the spirit of unity; 

Whereas both President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of 

Korea and President Donald Trump of the United States 

have participated in summits with North Korean leader 

Kim Jong Un in the pursuit of peace on the Korean Peninsula; and 

Whereas the United States Congress has consistently demonstrated strong bipartisan support for its ally the Republic of Korea: Now, therefore, be it 


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•HRES 159 IH 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) observes and congratulates the people of 

3 Korea on the 100th anniversary of Korea’s March 

4 First Movement and path to independence; 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of the alliance be6 tween the United States and the Republic of Korea 

7 to the stability of the region and the prosperity of 

8 both countries; 

9 (3) commends the steps for a unified and 

10 denuclearized Korean Peninsula that have been ac11 complished and efforts that still must be made; and 

12 (4) reaffirms the United States commitment to 

13 the Republic of Korea’s independence, sovereignty, 

14 and safety. 

Æ 


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