```

[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 297 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 297

 Congratulating the State of Qatar on the ascension of their new amir, 
 Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on June 25, 2013, and recognizing the 
 special relationship between the United States and the State of Qatar.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 11, 2013

     Mr. Grimm (for himself and Mr. Meeks) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Congratulating the State of Qatar on the ascension of their new amir, 
 Sheik Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on June 25, 2013, and recognizing the 
 special relationship between the United States and the State of Qatar.

Whereas since the signing of the Defense Cooperation Agreement in 1991 and joint 
        military coordination in Operation Desert Storm, Qatar has been one of 
        the United States strongest and most valued allies in the Middle East;
Whereas the 18-year reign of Sheik Tamim's father, His Highness Sheik Hamad bin 
        Khalifa Al Thani marked a pivotal period of political modernization and 
        reform in the small Gulf nation, and commenced a series of diplomatic, 
        cultural, and economic engagement between Qatar and the West;
Whereas Qatar has been a staunch partner of the United States in promoting peace 
        and stability in the Arab world, and has been a driving force in 
        opposing extremism and authoritarian oppression;
Whereas Al Udeid Air Base and As Saliyah Army Base south of Doha have served as 
        major operations and basing hubs for United States Central Command 
        (CENTCOM) strategic central facilities in the War on Terror in Iraq and 
        Afghanistan;
Whereas in 2011, Qatar deployed fighter jets and transport planes to support the 
        joint United States-North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military 
        intervention against Muammar Qaddafi in Libya, and has also been one of 
        the staunchest advocates in pressuring the international community to 
        liberate the Syrian people from the oppressive Bashar al-Assad regime;
Whereas Qatar has fostered invaluable, international academic exchange in the 
        arts and sciences by hosting satellite campuses of major United States 
        universities and medical institutions including Georgetown University 
        School of Foreign Service, Cornell University, Northwestern University, 
        Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts, Texas A&M 
        University, and Carnegie Mellon University;
Whereas the Al Thani royal family has earnestly promoted good will and 
        friendship between the United States and Qatar, and in 2005 Amir Hamad 
        bin Khalifa donated $100,000,000 to help rebuild housing, hospitals, and 
        schools in the Gulf region following Hurricane Katrina;
Whereas His Highness Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani's background as a British-
        educated businessman, deputy head of Qatar's armed forces, and 
        membership on the International Olympic Committee perfectly suit him to 
        continue his country's legacy as a positive force for peace, stability, 
        investment, and modernization in the Arab world and beyond; and
Whereas the 33-year-old amir's resonance with the young people in the Middle 
        East uniquely qualify him to build upon the call among the youth of the 
        Arab world to implement the ``Arab Spring's'' promises of liberty and 
        political reform: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) congratulates His Highness Amir Tamim bin Hamad Al 
        Thani on his ascension to the throne;
            (2) expresses thanks and appreciation to the departing 
        amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani; and
            (3) recognizes the continued friendship between the United 
        States and the people of the State of Qatar.
                                 <all>
```