Congratulating the people of the Republic of Turkey and Turkish Americans nationwide on the 98th anniversary of Turkish Republic Day.

Whereas, every year on October 29, the people of Turkey and Turkish Americans celebrate Turkish Republic Day, commemorating the day when Turkey became a republic; Whereas, on October 29, 1923, the Republic of Turkey was formally established, and Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the visionary leader of modern Turkey, became its first President; Whereas Anatolia, home of the Republic of Turkey, has been a cradle of civilizations for millennia; Whereas James Madison and the Founding Fathers of the United States appealed to Patara, Turkey, the city-state of the Lycian Confederation, in drafting the Constitution; Whereas, in 2020, United States trade in goods with Turkey exceeded $11,500,000,000 in exports and $10,100,000,000 in imports; Whereas Turkey, located in a critical region of the world between East and West with a population of 83,600,000, commands the second largest military in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and is allied with the United States on regional developments in the fields of counterterrorism, energy diversification, securing the global supply chains, and drug and human trafficking prevention; Whereas Turkey is actively contributing to the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) (also known as Daesh), the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, and all other forms and manifestation of terrorism; Whereas the conflict in neighboring Syria has especially burdened Turkey, which has taken in and provided shelter, relief, and social services to more than 9,000,000 refugees and internally displaced persons fleeing the horrors of the Assad regime; Whereas, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Turkey continues to host more refugees than any other country in the world; Whereas Turkey has been a strong and reliable ally in Afghanistan over 20 years, most recently during the evacuation operation supported by more than 600 Turkish troops based in the Kabul International Airport; Whereas Turkish Americans are an important part of the fabric of the United States, as evidenced by their contributions to the arts, science, academia, law, business, and political life of this country; and Whereas Turkish Americans serve as goodwill ambassadors, promoting greater understanding between the United States and Turkey by informing the people in the United States about their rich Turkish cultural heritage, and the importance of the strategic partnership to advance mutual interests between the United States and Turkey: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) recognizes the Republic of Turkey as an important ally of the United States; (2) expresses appreciation for Turkey’s contribution to global efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (also known as Daesh), the Kurdistan Workers’ Party and other terrorist organizations; (3) acknowledges the unique political, economic, and social challenges confronting the people of Turkey from the influx of refugees that the conflicts and instability in the region have caused; (4) commends the productive contributions of the Turkish-American community to America; and (5) congratulates the people of Turkey, and Turkish Americans nationwide, as they celebrate Turkish Republic Day.

Summary: This resolution recognizes the Republic of Turkey as an important ally of the United States. The resolution expresses appreciation for Turkey's contribution to global efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (also known as ISIS or Daesh), the Kurdistan Workers' Party, and other terrorist organizations. The resolution acknowledges the unique political, economic, and social challenges confronting the people of Turkey from the influx of refugees caused by the conflicts and instability in the region. The resolution commends the contributions of the Turkish-American community to America. This resolution congratulates the people of Turkey, and Turkish Americans nationwide, as they celebrate Turkish Republic Day.