III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 395 

Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North Atlantic Treaty 

Organization and the NATO summit to be held in Chicago, Illinois, 

from May 20 through 21, 2012. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 13, 2012 

Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. KIRK, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the North 

Atlantic Treaty Organization and the NATO summit 

to be held in Chicago, Illinois, from May 20 through 

21, 2012. 

Whereas the North Atlantic Treaty, signed April 4, 1949, in 

Washington, District of Columbia, which created the 

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (referred to in this 

preamble as ‘‘NATO’’), proclaims: ‘‘[Members] are determined to safeguard the freedom, common heritage and 

civilisation of their peoples, founded on the principles of 

democracy, individual liberty and the rule of law. They 

seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area. They are resolved to unite their efforts for 


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•SRES 395 IS 

collective defence and for the preservation of peace and 

security.’’; 

Whereas NATO has been the cornerstone of transatlantic security cooperation and an enduring instrument for promoting stability in Europe and throughout the world for 

over 60 years; 

Whereas the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, is an opportunity to enhance and more deeply entrench those principles, which continue to bind the alliance together and 

guide our efforts today; 

Whereas the new Strategic Concept, approved in Lisbon, 

Spain in November 2010, affirms that all NATO members ‘‘are determined that NATO will continue to play its 

unique and essential role in ensuring our common 

defence and security’’ and that NATO ‘‘continues to be 

effective in a changing world, against new threats, with 

new capabilities and new partners’’; 

Whereas the Chicago Summit will mark a critical turning 

point for NATO and a chance to focus on current operations, future capabilities, and the relationship between 

NATO and partners around the world; 

Whereas the Chicago Summit will be the first NATO summit 

held in the United States since the 50th anniversary 

summit was held in Washington, District of Columbia, in 

1999 and the first NATO summit held outside of Washington, District of Columbia; 

Whereas NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen 

said, ‘‘Chicago is a city built upon diversity, and on determination. Those are values that underpin NATO too.’’; 

Whereas the Chicago Summit presents an opportunity to 

show to the world the Heartland of the United States— 


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•SRES 395 IS 

the site of the first elevated railway, the first skyscraper 

in the world, the busiest futures exchange in the world, 

and the starting point for historic Route 66; 

Whereas the thousands of visitors to the Chicago Summit will 

have the opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of the city 

of Chicago, the 77 distinct neighborhoods in Chicago, and 

the State of Illinois; and 

Whereas the contributions of generations of immigrants have 

made the city of Chicago and the State of Illinois what 

they are today and the ancestral homelands of the immigrants now contribute to making NATO the organization 

it is today: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the service of the brave men and 

3 women who have served to safeguard the freedom 

4 and security of the United States and the whole of 

5 the transatlantic alliance; 

6 (2) honors the sacrifices of United States per7 sonnel, allies of the North American Treaty Organi8 zation (referred to in this resolution as ‘‘NATO’’), 

9 and partners in Afghanistan; 

10 (3) remembers the 63 years NATO has served 

11 to ensure peace, security, and stability in Europe 

12 and throughout the world; 

13 (4) reaffirms that NATO, through the new 

14 Strategic Concept, is oriented for the changing inter15 national security environment and the challenges of 

16 the future; 


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•SRES 395 IS 

1 (5) urges all NATO members to take concrete 

2 steps to implement the Strategic Concept and to uti3 lize the NATO summit in Chicago, Illinois, to ad4 dress current NATO operations, future capabilities 

5 and burden-sharing issues, and the relationship be6 tween NATO and partners around the world; 

7 (6) conveys appreciation for the steadfast part8 nership between NATO and the United States; and 

9 (7) expresses support for the 2012 NATO sum10 mit in Chicago. 

Æ 


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