III 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 22 

Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic 

of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic 

relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 28, 2021 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. 

KAINE, and Mr. CRUZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

MARCH 24, 2021 

Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, without amendment 

APRIL 15, 2021 

Considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and 

the Republic of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration 

and advancement of economic relations, security, and 

development opportunities in both nations. 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have enjoyed a history of bilateral partnership and cooperation, and share 

the aims of promoting democratic values, economic prosperity, and the security of both nations; 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have taken important steps to restore the bilateral relationship between 


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the United States and Ecuador, including by signing various agreements to strengthen economic ties, security cooperation, and development opportunities; 

Whereas President Moreno has signaled Ecuador’s commitment to promoting democratic values and has advocated 

for greater government transparency; 

Whereas, in February 2018, more than 64 percent of Ecuadorians voted, in a constitutional referendum, to reinstate 

a 2-term presidential limit, an effort that was carried out 

by President Moreno’s administration and which is indicative of the Ecuadorian people’s support for presidential 

term limits as a reasonable check against a history of 

corruption and abuse of power; 

Whereas the United States-Ecuador bilateral relationship has 

been historically characterized by strong commercial and 

investment ties through the Generalized System of Preferences, the United States-Ecuador Trade and Investment Council, and the Treaty between the United States 

of America and the Republic of Ecuador Concerning the 

Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, 

done at Washington August 27, 1993, which was terminated by Ecuador’s previous government, effective May 

18, 2018; 

Whereas President Moreno’s administration has committed to 

implement economic policies that will lay the groundwork 

for sustainable economic growth, while protecting the 

poorest and most vulnerable people; 

Whereas, under President Moreno’s leadership, there have 

been significant advances in areas related to freedom of 

expression, including through the reform of the controversial Ecuadorian Communications Law; 


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Whereas the Government of Ecuador has called for the peaceful restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela and Ecuador has been a generous host of approximately 385,000 Venezuelan refugees; 

Whereas, on May 15, 2019, the United States Agency for 

International Development (USAID) and Ecuador’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility signed a 

Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to the return of 

the USAID Mission to Ecuador after the 53-year program was forced to close in 2014 due to tensions in the 

bilateral relationship; 

Whereas Ecuador has been one of the countries most affected 

by the COVID–19 pandemic in Latin America, which has 

overwhelmed the country’s health care system and aggravated the country’s already challenging economic situation; 

Whereas in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, USAID is 

providing Ecuador with technical support and training in 

diagnostics, and technical assistance in clinical management, risk communication, and community engagement; 

and 

Whereas the United States and Ecuador have agreed to advance security cooperation on law enforcement, counternarcotics, anticorruption, and bilateral military training 

and assistance: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) reaffirms its commitment— 

3 (A) to the historic partnership between the 

4 United States and Ecuador; and 


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1 (B) to continue working to strengthen the 

2 relationship between the United States and Ec3 uador based on mutual respect and shared 

4 democratic values and principles; 

5 (2) recognizes President Lenin Moreno and his 

6 administration for recommitting Ecuador to demo7 cratic values, anti-corruption efforts, and the adop8 tion of economic policies that will benefit the people 

9 of Ecuador; 

10 (3) commends the important steps that Presi11 dent Moreno and his administration have taken to 

12 protect freedom of expression and freedom of the 

13 press in his country; 

14 (4) encourages the Republic of Ecuador to en15 sure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers 

16 are protected; and 

17 (5) supports actions to strengthen the historic 

18 bilateral relationship between the United States and 

19 Ecuador, including— 

20 (A) by strengthening economic relation21 ships with Ecuador to build mutual prosperity 

22 through greater transparency, adherence to the 

23 rule of law, and support for human rights; 

24 (B) stronger law enforcement and security 

25 cooperation between the 2 countries, including 


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1 in cybersecurity, border management, address2 ing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, 

3 counternarcotics, anti-money laundering, mili4 tary and civilian security professionalization, 

5 and criminal justice capabilities; 

6 (C) the return of the United States Agency 

7 for International Development and the exten8 sion of the Peace Corps Program in Ecuador; 

9 (D) continued United States assistance for 

10 Ecuador’s response to combat the COVID–19 

11 pandemic; 

12 (E) closer ties between Americans and 

13 Ecuadoreans through English language learning 

14 and teaching programs that foster greater pro15 fessional and educational opportunities; 

16 (F) continued efforts to protect freedom of 

17 expression and freedom of the press; and 

18 (G) continued efforts to ensure that the 

19 rights of refugees and asylum seekers are pro20 tected. 

Æ 


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