H. Res. 152 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
March 30, 2009. 
Whereas for 60 years the North Atlantic Treaty Organization 
(NATO) has served as the preeminent organization to de-
fend the territories of its member states against all exter-
nal threats; 
Whereas NATO, founded on the principles of democracy, in-
dividual liberty, and the rule of law, has proved an indis-
pensable instrument for forging a transatlantic commu-
nity of nations working together to safeguard the free-
dom and common heritage of its peoples, and promoting 
stability in the North Atlantic area; 
Whereas NATO has acted to address new risks emerging 
from outside the treaty area in the interests of preserving 
peace and security in the Euro-Atlantic area, and main-
tains a unique collective capability to address these new 
challenges which may affect Allied interests and values; 
Whereas such challenges to NATO Allied interests and values 
include the potential for the re-emergence of unresolved 
historical disputes confronting Europe, rogue states and 
non-state actors possessing nuclear, biological, or chem-
ical weapons and their means of delivery, transnational 
terrorism and disruption of the flow of energy resources, 
and conflicts outside the treaty area that affect vital se-
curity interests;
•HRES 152 EH 
Whereas the security of NATO member states is inseparably 
linked to that of the whole of Europe, and the consolida-
tion and strengthening of democratic and free societies 
on the entire continent, in accordance with the principles 
and commitments of the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe, is of direct and material concern 
to the NATO Alliance and its partners; 
Whereas NATO enhances the security of the United States 
by providing an integrated military structure and a 
framework for consultations on political and security con-
cerns of any member state; 
Whereas NATO remains the embodiment of United States 
engagement in Europe and therefore membership in 
NATO remains a vital national security interest of the 
United States; 
Whereas the impending membership of Albania and Croatia 
will add to NATO’s ability to perform the full range of 
NATO missions and bolster its capability to integrate 
former communist countries into a community of democ-
racies; 
Whereas the organization of NATO national parliamentar-
ians, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), 
serves as a unique transatlantic forum for generating and 
maintaining legislative and public support for the Alli-
ance, and has played a key role in initiating constructive 
dialogue between NATO parliamentarians and parliamen-
tarians in associate and observer states; 
Whereas NATO PA activities, such as the Rose-Roth pro-
gram, have played a pioneering role in promoting demo-
cratic institutions and encouraging adherence with the 
principles of the rule of law; and
•HRES 152 EH 
Whereas the 60th anniversary NATO summit meeting, to be 
held on April 4, 2009, in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, 
Germany, offers the historic opportunity to chart a 
course for NATO for the next decade: Now, therefore, be 
it 
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Represent-
atives that— 
(1) 
the 
North 
Atlantic 
Treaty 
Organization 
(NATO) is to be commended for its pivotal role in pre-
serving transatlantic peace and stability; 
(2) NATO continues to be the premier institution 
that promotes a uniquely transatlantic perspective and 
approach to issues concerning the interests and security 
of North America and Europe; 
(3) the NATO allies, at the Summit meeting to be 
held in Strasbourg, France, and Kehl, Germany, in April 
2009, should articulate a concrete vision for the Alliance 
in the 21st century, clearly setting out the continued im-
portance of NATO for the citizens of the Allied nations; 
(4) the Alliance should begin considering a new 
strategic concept that takes into account the changing 
international security environment, reaffirms the Alli-
ance’s functional and symbolic purposes, and outlines 
how to develop its military capabilities accordingly; 
(5) the Alliance, while maintaining collective defense 
as its core function, should, as a fundamental Alliance