Title: Expressing support of independence and further development of the strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution expresses support for the bilateral relationship between the United States and Uzbekistan. The resolution commends Uzbekistan's political and economic reforms, as well as its efforts to promote stability in Central Asia.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 599 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 599

   Expressing support of independence and further development of the 
    strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 26, 2019

   Mr. Kelly of Mississippi (for himself and Mr. Gonzalez of Texas) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing support of independence and further development of the 
    strategic partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan.

Whereas the people of Uzbekistan are celebrating September 1, 1991, the 28th 
        anniversary of the independence of Uzbekistan from the Soviet Union;
Whereas the principles of the Declaration on the Strategic Partnership and 
        Cooperation Framework between the United States and the Republic of 
        Uzbekistan of July 2002 reaffirmed Uzbekistan's commitment to further 
        intensify the democratic transition of its society politically and 
        economically;
Whereas Uzbekistan's ongoing regional initiatives aimed at strengthening 
        stability and economic cooperation in Central Asia contribute greatly to 
        the stability of the region;
Whereas President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's ``Five Year Strategy of Action'' promotes 
        good governance, judicial reform and rule of law, economic 
        liberalization, social development, and an open and constructive foreign 
        policy;
Whereas the historic first visit of President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan to the 
        United States in May 2018 launched a new era of strategic partnership 
        between the United States and Uzbekistan;
Whereas during the visit of President Mirziyoyev to the United States business 
        deals valued at more than $4,800,000,000 were signed followed by 
        contracts valued at more than $2,500,000,000 at the bilateral business 
        forum in Tashkent in October 2018, and the first-ever Department of 
        Commerce-led Certified Trade Mission to Uzbekistan in June 2019;
Whereas the creation of the Congressional Uzbekistan Caucus in the House of 
        Representatives has led to unprecedented levels of dialogue between 
        American and Uzbek political leadership;
Whereas support provided to the United States by the Government of Uzbekistan in 
        the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States 
        was crucial to the expulsion of al-Qaida from Afghanistan;
Whereas the deepening of ties between the State of Mississippi and Uzbekistan 
        through the National Guard's State Partnership Program has led to 
        increased levels of military cooperation; and
Whereas the eagerness of Uzbekistan to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the 
        United States, share burdens, and address regional issues, including 
        stability in Afghanistan, has fostered an environment of political and 
        economic cooperation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) reaffirms the enduring commitment of the United States 
        to the independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of 
        Uzbekistan;
            (2) recognizes Uzbekistan's tremendous progress on 
        important political, economic, and social reforms under the 
        leadership of President Mirziyoyev;
            (3) resolves to strengthen the bilateral relationship 
        between the United States and Uzbekistan with a new dialogue to 
        reinvigorate, building on a broad range of mutual priorities;
            (4) applauds the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan to 
        strengthen cooperative dialogue, opening new possibilities for 
        intraregional commerce and cooperative approaches to all 
        challenges in Central Asia including by means of the ``Central 
        Asia: Shared Past and a Common Future, Cooperation for 
        Sustainable Development and Mutual Prosperity'' conference, 
        which took place in Samarkand on November 10-11, 2017, and the 
        ``Central Asian Connectivity: Challenges and New 
        Opportunities'' conference, held in Tashkent on February 19-20, 
        2019;
            (5) welcomes the ambitious reform program of President 
        Mirziyoyev aimed at a dramatic improvement of the human rights 
        situation in Uzbekistan, advancing anticorruption measures and 
        greater transparency in the judicial system, strengthening 
        accountability of public servants, providing freedom of 
        expression and press, ending systematic forced and child labor, 
        eliminating trafficking in persons, and ensuring religious 
        freedom;
            (6) supports deeper economic cooperation between the United 
        States and Uzbekistan that will increase trade and create new 
        business opportunities in the fields of agriculture, energy, 
        financial services, chemical, tourism, textile, health, and 
        digital innovation;
            (7) commends the launch of the first American university in 
        Uzbekistan, the Webster University Center in Tashkent, and 
        accreditation of the American Councils for International 
        Education in Uzbekistan, and encourages further broadening of 
        educational cooperation between the two countries, including 
        through fostering academic and research partnerships between 
        United States and Uzbekistan universities and expanding English 
        language training and STEM programs in public education in 
        Uzbekistan;
            (8) underscores important dialogue between the United 
        States and Uzbekistan in multilateral cooperation formats in 
        Central Asia, including the C5+1 regional format;
            (9) underlines the emerging role of Uzbekistan as an 
        economic leader in Central Asia as demonstrated by hosting the 
        Central Asia Trade Forum and the United States-Central Asia 
        Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA); and
            (10) emphasizes the efforts of the Government of Uzbekistan 
        to assume the burden of promoting the peace process, and social 
        and economic development in Afghanistan by means of assistance 
        to the Afghan-led peace and reconciliation process, support of 
        the railway and electricity infrastructure development in 
        Afghanistan, educating Afghan youth, partnering with the United 
        States to address drug production and trafficking and weapons 
        smuggling.
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