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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 648 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 648

  Reaffirming the close partnership between the United States and the 
                          Republic of Kosovo.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 4, 2023

  Mr. Torres of New York (for himself, Ms. Slotkin, and Mrs. McClain) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Reaffirming the close partnership between the United States and the 
                          Republic of Kosovo.

Whereas the United States has enduring national interests in the peace and 
        security of the Western Balkans and the greater integration of the 
        region into the Euro-Atlantic community of democratic states;
Whereas the United States recognized the Republic of Kosovo's independence on 
        February 18, 2008, and pledged ``to continue to be its close friend and 
        partner'';
Whereas the United States-Kosovo relationship is based on shared democratic 
        values and institutions, people-to-people relations, human rights, 
        policies toward international peace and security, and economic growth;
Whereas the United States-Kosovo partnership has fostered meaningful cooperation 
        in various fields, including security education and economic 
        development;
Whereas the Iowa National Guard, through the State Partnership Program, 
        coordinates with the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) in addition to American 
        forces participating with the NATO-backed Kosovo Force (KFOR) to promote 
        regional security and cooperation;
Whereas, in 2022, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the Republic of 
        Kosovo signed a 5-year, $202 million compact aimed to expand and improve 
        Kosovo's energy sector to become more sustainable, inclusive, and 
        affordable;
Whereas, since the Republic of Kosovo's independence, the United States has 
        provided nearly $1 billion in foreign assistance;
Whereas the Republic of Kosovo was one of the first countries who assisted 
        accepting Afghan refugees in 2021;
Whereas popular support for the United States in Kosovo remains at 81 percent, 
        the highest among European countries;
Whereas the United States has played an essential role in supporting the 
        Republic of Kosovo's aspirations to join international institutions such 
        as the United Nations, European Union, and North Atlantic Treaty 
        Organization, among other international institutions; and
Whereas it has been and shall remain the policy of the United States to assist 
        and promote the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as an independent 
        state as well as toward the integration of Kosovo into international 
        institutions: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the United States remains a close partner of the 
        Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Kosovo remains a close 
        partner of the United States; and
            (2) it should remain the policy of the United States to 
        promote the recognition of the Republic of Kosovo as a 
        sovereign, independent, democratic, multiethnic state within 
        its recognized borders.
                                 <all>
```