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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1267 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1267

 Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the independence of the Republic 
                              of Colombia.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2010

Mr. Sires (for himself, Mr. Engel, Mr. Meeks of New York, and Mr. Mack) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the 200th anniversary of the independence of the Republic 
                              of Colombia.

Whereas July 20, Colombia's Independence Day, is a national holiday in Colombia;
Whereas, July 20, 2010, will mark the 200th anniversary, the bicentennial, of 
        the day Colombia declared its independence from Spain;
Whereas, on July 20, 1810, citizens of Bogota expressed their sovereignty by 
        creating their first representative council;
Whereas the Colombian Constitution of 1886 officially created the Republic of 
        Colombia;
Whereas Colombia is recognized as Latin America's oldest democracy and as one of 
        the region's most stable governments, where citizens elect government 
        representatives in free, fair, and frequent elections;
Whereas Colombia has created a climate of democratic security resulting in 
        increases of investments, exports, tourism, and business with the United 
        States;
Whereas poverty and unemployment rates have been declining since 2002, and 
        social indicators in Colombia have improved dramatically;
Whereas Colombia's annual gross domestic product has been growing, and despite 
        the global economic downturn, in 2009, Colombia saw a high rate of 
        investment and foreign direct investment;
Whereas approximately 250 United States companies are present in Colombia and 
        have become allies in the country's development;
Whereas Colombia is the United States fourth-largest trading partner and the 
        United States is Colombia's largest trading partner;
Whereas Colombia and the United States are cooperating partners in the Andean 
        Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act, which develops economic 
        alternatives to help fight against drug production and trafficking;
Whereas Colombia and the United States are cooperating partners in Plan 
        Colombia, which aims at interdicting and eradicating drugs and expanding 
        the capacity of Colombian military, police, and judicial institutions;
Whereas Colombia has pursued policies that have led to collective 
        demobilization, voluntary surrendering of weapons, and overall reduced 
        membership among armed groups, such as the United Self-Defense Forces of 
        Colombia (AUC), the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and 
        the National Liberation Army (ELN);
Whereas Colombia has seen a reduction in crime and declines in homicides since 
        2002, creating a safer, more prosperous country; and
Whereas Colombia and the United States have a strong ongoing partnership 
        regarding the promotion of democratic values, economic collaboration, 
        and combating international crime: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) extends best wishes to the people of Colombia as they 
        celebrate the 200th anniversary of Colombia's independence from 
        Spain;
            (2) looks forward to ongoing friendship with Colombia and 
        continuing partnership in matters of mutual concern; and
            (3) applauds the Government of Colombia's efforts to 
        enhance democratic security.
                                 <all>
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