IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 222 

Emphasizing the importance of alliances and partnerships. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 13, 2019 

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mr. MCCAUL, Ms. SLOTKIN, and Mr. WALTZ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 

Foreign Affairs 

RESOLUTION 

Emphasizing the importance of alliances and partnerships. 

Whereas from the American Revolution, through two World 

Wars, the Cold War, and the fight against international 

terrorist organizations, the United States has successfully 

relied on alliances and partnerships with like-minded 

countries to further its vital security, political, and economic interests, starting with the Treaty of Alliance with 

France in 1778 and continuing to the present day; 

Whereas the United States alliances and partnerships are 

among America’s most precious geopolitical assets, 

strengthening the United States military power, 

geostrategic influence, global legitimacy, diplomatic leverage, and economic influence by establishing enduring cooperation among like-minded countries and deterring potential aggressors; 


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Whereas alliances and partnerships strengthen the ability of 

the United States to advance the universal values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law; 

Whereas the United States has maintained alliances since 

1945 to protect its security and long-term interests and 

which often resulted in substantial diplomatic, political, 

and military support for bilateral or multilateral action 

that advanced United States interests, including major 

humanitarian missions and the use of military force; 

Whereas the United States has built a global network of mutually beneficial alliances and partnerships with countries 

across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East, and 

the Western Hemisphere, which allows the United States 

to extend its influence, conduct military operations, and 

reduce the impact that adversary countries might have in 

these regions; 

Whereas, since 1945, successive generations of United States 

leaders have learned to successfully manage the challenges and constraints inherent in alliances, thus ensuring that the benefits of alliances outweigh the costs; 

Whereas the United States was a founding member and leader of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), a 

bastion of democratic allies, which continues to be the 

bedrock of transatlantic security and stability after nearly 

70 years; 

Whereas allies have greatly enhanced the United States military power by contributing significant forces to many 

American military actions for more than 100 years, thus 

placing more combat power on the battlefield while reducing the burden borne by the United States; 


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Whereas the United States military alliances and partnerships allow the United States to leverage allies’ specialized capabilities, including unique technologies, 

warfighting skills, and specific intelligence assets; 

Whereas longstanding alliances have allowed the United 

States and its allies to implement the training, equipment, and interoperability standards necessary to quickly 

mobilize and respond to any threat across the world; 

Whereas the United States alliances reduce weapons of mass 

destruction proliferation by enabling better global cooperation against the spread of nuclear weapons and 

other threats; and 

Whereas alliances and partnerships support the United 

States diplomatic interests by providing the United 

States with the ability to leverage a multinational global 

response to issues through a variety of means and contribute to a global rules-based order: Now, therefore, be 

it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the many contributions that alli3 ances and partnerships have made to support and 

4 advance the interests of the United States; 

5 (2) underscores that alliances have enhanced 

6 mutual security by jointly sharing in common de7 fense, including the defense of the United States; 

8 (3) recognizes that American-led alliances and 

9 partnerships played a vital role in establishing the 

10 post-World War II international order, which genVerDate Sep 11 2014 23:19 Mar 13, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR222.IH HR222

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1 erated unprecedented prosperity and peace around 

2 the world; 

3 (4) reaffirms the United States enduring com4 mitment to our treaty allies and partners; 

5 (5) recognizes that robust alliances and part6 nerships require many years to develop and, if ne7 glected, may not be readily rebuilt in moments of 

8 crisis; 

9 (6) asserts that alliances and partnerships have 

10 solidified beneficial international norms and agree11 ments that undergird the political strength of the 

12 United States; 

13 (7) supports the assessment in the 2018 Na14 tional Defense Strategy that ‘‘strong alliances and 

15 partnerships’’ are necessary to help ‘‘generate deci16 sive and sustained United States military advan17 tages’’ and that the United States must focus on 

18 ‘‘strengthening alliances [to] attract new partners’’; 

19 and 

20 (8) urges the President to reaffirm America’s 

21 commitment to alliances and partnerships. 

Æ 


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