Title: Recognizing Bahrain on the 50th anniversary of its independence.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution extends warm congratulations and best wishes to the people of Bahrain as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bahrain.
The resolution also expresses support for the principles and freedoms upon which the nation of Bahrain is founded, as protected by its Constitution.
Finally, the resolution recognizes the importance of the alliance between the United States and Bahrain to the stability of the region and the prosperity of both countries.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 841 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 841

    Recognizing Bahrain on the 50th anniversary of its independence.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 7, 2021

Ms. Malliotakis (for herself, Mr. Gottheimer, Mr. Crenshaw, Mr. Meuser, 
Mr. Cole, Mr. Jackson, Mr. Issa, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and Mrs. 
 Rodgers of Washington) submitted the following resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Recognizing Bahrain on the 50th anniversary of its independence.

Whereas five decades ago, the people of Bahrain voted ``to gain recognition of 
        their identity in a full independent and sovereign State free to decide 
        for itself its relations with other States'' in the United Nations 
        independence survey;
Whereas, on May 11, 1970, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed 
        Resolution 278, ending the British Protectorate in Bahrain;
Whereas, on August 15, 1971, the independent state of Bahrain was established;
Whereas, on December 16 of each year, the people of Bahrain celebrate their 
        National Day to honor the anniversary of Emir Isa bin Salman al 
        Khalifa's coronation on December 16, 1961;
Whereas the Constitution of Bahrain, promulgated in 2002, establishes a 
        government with powers divided among the executive, legislative, and 
        judicial branches;
Whereas the Constitution establishes a bicameral National Assembly elected by 
        the people through universal suffrage;
Whereas the Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, expression, and the 
        press;
Whereas Article 22 of the Constitution provides that ``freedom of conscience is 
        absolute'' and guarantees ``the inviolability of worship, and the 
        freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and 
        meetings in accordance with the customs observed in the country'';
Whereas King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa wrote: ``Ignorance is the enemy of peace, 
        it is, therefore, our duty to learn, to share, and to live together, by 
        the tenets of faith in the spirit of mutual respect and love'';
Whereas King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa authored the Kingdom of Bahrain 
        Declaration on July 3, 2017, which offered ``the centuries-old 
        traditional Bahraini way of life as an example to inspire others around 
        these principles''--

    (1) that ``religious faith and expression are basic inalienable rights 
. . . We declare that when extremist clergy preach hatred, violence and 
seek to sow the seeds of discord, that they are inciting the desecration of 
the name of God'';

    (2) that ``God instructs us to exercise the divine gift of freedom of 
choice . . . Therefore, we unequivocally reject compelled observance'' and 
``declare that every individual has the freedom to practice their 
religion'';

    (3) that ``all enlightened religions reject invoking His name to 
legitimize violence against innocent people'' and therefore ``call upon all 
good people of Faith to disown practices such as sowing the seeds of 
terror, the encouragement of extremism and radicalization, suicide bombing, 
promotion of sexual slavery, and the abuse of women and children'';

    (4) that ``people of all faiths should be accorded the right to 
congregate to worship, educate, celebrate, and practice the requirements of 
their respective faiths'' and that ``it is the responsibility of 
governments to respect and protect equally, both religious minorities and 
majorities''; and

    (5) that the Kingdom of Bahrain will ``do all within our power to 
ensure that religious faith is a blessing to all mankind and the foundation 
for peace in the world'';

Whereas the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 
        participated in the 200th anniversary celebration of Bahrain's Hindu 
        community in March 2019;
Whereas Bahrain is home to a thriving Jewish community, descended from Jewish 
        Iraqi traders who settled in Bahrain in the late 19th century;
Whereas the Jewish community in Bahrain lives openly and practices their faith 
        freely;
Whereas the Jewish community has integrated into Bahraini society and is 
        represented in high offices of the state;
Whereas Bahrain has promoted peace in the region by recognizing the State of 
        Israel's right to exist in May 2018 and establishing full diplomatic 
        relations with Israel on September 11, 2020;
Whereas Bahrain's Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdullatif Al Zayani and Israeli 
        Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Declaration of Peace, 
        Cooperation, and Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations Between 
        Israel and Bahrain on September 15, 2020;
Whereas Bahrain has served as a strategic partner and ally of the United States 
        since the United States diplomatic recognition of Bahrain as a sovereign 
        state in 1971;
Whereas the United States designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally on March 
        14, 2002;
Whereas Bahrain has contributed to bringing political stability to the Middle 
        East and North Africa, providing a United States naval base in the Gulf 
        since 1947;
Whereas Naval Support Activity Bahrain served as the primary base in the region 
        for United States Armed Forces naval and marine activities during 
        Operation Enduring Freedom and continues to provide operation support to 
        United States Armed Forces and Coalition Forces and home to United 
        States Naval Forces Central Command and the United States 5th Fleet;
Whereas Patrol Forces Southwest Asia, based in Bahrain, serves as a critical 
        duty station for the United States Coast Guard in the Gulf;
Whereas Bahrain, as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and the Gulf 
        Cooperation Council, has worked with the United States to increase 
        cooperation on border security, maritime security, military 
        preparedness, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism;
Whereas Bahrain provided critical assistance to the United States in a time of 
        need by helping evacuate United States citizens from Afghanistan in the 
        final days of the withdrawal and accepting to host United States-bound 
        Afghan refugees for processing;
Whereas Bahrain is a significant partner in free trade, with bilateral trade 
        reaching $1,900,000,000 in 2017;
Whereas Bahrain has made significant advancement towards gender equality by 
        acceding to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of 
        Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 2002;
Whereas women in Bahrain have the right to vote and stand for election, the 
        right to inheritance, freedom of movement, access to financial credit, 
        and protection from child marriage;
Whereas Bahrain established the Supreme Council for Women on August 22, 2001, to 
        ``empower Bahraini women'', ``to consolidate the principle of equal 
        opportunities'', and ``to enhance the status of women''; and
Whereas the Bahraini Shura Council is comprised of 27.5 percent women while 
        women comprise only 15.2 percent of parliaments in the larger Arab 
        region, indicative of the Bahraini Government's effort to encourage 
        women's political participation: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) extends warm congratulations and best wishes to the 
        people of Bahrain as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 
        independence of Bahrain;
            (2) expresses support for the principles and freedoms upon 
        which the nation of Bahrain is founded, as protected by the 
        Constitution; and
            (3) recognizes the importance of the alliance between the 
        United States and Bahrain to the stability of the region and 
        the prosperity of both countries.
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