IV
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 92
To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between the United
States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 5, 1997
Mr. GILMAN (for himself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, and Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA)
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
To recognize the value of continued friendly relations between
the United States and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, and for other purposes.
Whereas on November 3, 1986, President Reagan issued
Proclamation 5564, implementing a Compact of Free As-
sociation between the United States and the newly
formed governments of Pacific island areas which had
been administered by the United States since 1947 under
a United Nations trusteeship;
Whereas the Compact of Free Association was approved by
the United States Congress with overwhelming bipartisan
support on January 14, 1986, under the terms set forth
in the Compact of Free Association Act of 1985 (P.L.
99-239);
•HCON 92 IH
Whereas, in addition to providing the multilateral framework
for friendly political relations with the new Pacific island
nations, the Compact of Free Association established, on
a bilateral basis, a long-term military alliance and perma-
nent strategic partnership between the United States and
the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
Whereas for 50 years the Marshall Islands has played a
unique and indispensable role in maintaining inter-
national peace and security through activities of the
United States in the Marshall Islands which were essen-
tial to the feasibility and ultimate success of the United
States-led strategy of nuclear deterrence during the Cold
War era, as well as the United States Strategic Defense
Initiative which contributed significantly to the end of the
nuclear arms race;
Whereas, the Republic of the Marshall Islands includes Bikini
Atoll and Enewetak Atoll, which were the nuclear weap-
ons proving grounds for Operation Crossroads from 1946
to 1958, as well as Kwajalein Atoll, which was the site
of the mid-Pacific missile testing range for interconti-
nental ballistic missiles fired from the Vandenberg facil-
ity, a vital installation of the United States Army’s ballis-
tic missile systems command and a key support facility
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
and other programs critical to the promotion of vital na-
tional interests;
Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands and the United
States have a close and mutually beneficial relationship
which evolved from liberation and military occupation at
the end of World War II to United States administration
under the United Nations trusteeship from 1947 to 1986
•HCON 92 IH
and which is now maintained on a government-to-govern-
ment basis under the Compact of Free Association;
Whereas this relationship was forged through a process of
self-determination and democratization which reflects the
common values and cross-cultural respect that the people
of the Marshall Islands and the people of the United
States have developed since the middle of the last century
when American missionaries first came to the Marshall
Islands;
Whereas the people of the United States and its allies paid
a high price, including great loss of life and injuries in
the heroic battles for Kwajalein and Roi-Namur, to liber-
ate the Marshall Islands during World War II and again
made sacrifices as a result of the Cold War nuclear arms
race;
Whereas the people of the Marshall Islands suffered great in-
jury and hardship due to the exposure of individuals to
nuclear test radiation and the radiological contamination
of the Marshall Islands;
Whereas, in recognition of the unique role of the Republic of
the Marshall Islands in supporting the United States
during the Cold War, the 104th Congress provided addi-
tional assistance, pursuant to the Compact of Free Asso-
ciation Act of 1985, to meet the special need of the peo-
ple of the Marshall Islands arising from the nuclear test-
ing program, including funding for radiological monitor-
ing, island rehabilitation, and community resettlement
programs;
Whereas within the framework of the settlement of all legal
claims under section 177 of the Compact of Free Asso-
ciation Act of 1985, the Congress continues to monitor
•HCON 92 IH
and evaluate measures being taken to implement pro-
grams authorized under Federal law to promote the re-
covery, resettlement, health, and safety of individuals and
communities affected by the nuclear testing program in
the Marshall Islands;
Whereas the special relationship between our nations and our
peoples is a bond that has grown strong as a result of
our shared history and common struggle and sacrifices in
the cause, not of conquest, but to promote international
peace and security and secure liberty for future genera-
tions; and
Whereas, just as the extraordinary demands of world leader-
ship fell on the United States in this century, among this
Nation’s allies the Marshall Islands bore an immensely
disproportionate share of the burden of the Cold War,
and this remote island nation continues to play an impor-
tant strategic role in the preservation of global peace as
well as in the military and scientific programs which pro-
mote the United States, the Republic of the Marshall Is-
lands, and the other people of the world: Now, therefore,
be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes the value of continued friendly
relations between the United States and the Repub-
lic of the Marshall Islands;
(2) intends to maintain, through appropriate
mutually agreed political and economic measures,
the long-term military alliance and strategic partner-
ship defined by the Compact of Free Association as
•HCON 92 IH
a primary element of bilateral relations between the
United States and the Republic of the Marshall Is-
land in the future;
(3) recognizes the importance of ongoing meas-
ures to address, in accordance with the legal settle-
ment set forth in section 177 of the Compact of
Free Association of 1985, the impact on the Mar-
shall Islands of the nuclear testing program; and
(4) intends, through its oversight responsibil-
ities and the exercise of its Constitutional authority
regarding negotiation and approval of bilateral
agreements with respect to those provisions of the
Compact of Free Association which expire in 2001,
to exercise vigilance in preserving the strategic inter-
ests of the United States in ensuring that the friend-
ship between the United States and the Republic of
the Marshall Islands is sustained as mutually agreed
pursuant to their respective constitutional processes.
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