III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 685 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 14, 2024 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Rubio , Mr. Kaine , Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Merkley ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Welcoming President Santiago Peña of Paraguay and commemorating the bilateral relationship between the Republic of Paraguay and the United States.

Whereas 2024 marks 163 years of official bilateral relations between the United States and the Republic of Paraguay; Whereas the shared values of democracy and the rule of law have always underpinned the bilateral relationship starting with the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation of 1859, done at Washington March 12, 1860; Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed an especially strong partnership since Paraguay’s transition to a democratically elected civilian government in 1989; Whereas the United States and Paraguay have enjoyed bilateral economic cooperation, especially under the United States-Paraguay Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, done at Washington January 13, 2017; Whereas the Parana River accounts for 80 percent of Paraguay’s trade and is a lifeline to many communities; Whereas the United States Senate appreciates mutual collaboration with Paraguay across many sectors, including supporting United States businesses operating in Paraguay and $2,400,000,000 in trade in goods; Whereas the United States is the second largest foreign investor in Paraguay, with hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign direct investment in Paraguay; Whereas the United States has strongly supported and will continue to support democratic institutions, the rule of law, and economic opportunity in Paraguay, including working collaboratively to tackle corruption and support indigenous peoples, afro-descendants, and youth in Paraguay; Whereas the Governments of Paraguay and the United States have effectively partnered to address shared priorities across the hemisphere, including countering human trafficking, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, and other illicit cross-border activities, as well as increasing cooperation in security and defense, cybersecurity, and promoting exchange programs; Whereas Paraguay and the United States are aligned on key foreign policy priorities beyond the hemisphere; Whereas Paraguay joined the United States and other democratic-oriented countries in key multilateral fora, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States to condemn Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine; Whereas Paraguay has maintained a consistent and uninterrupted diplomatic relationship with Taiwan based on shared democratic values; Whereas, alongside the United States, the Government of Paraguay has consistently supported Israel’s right to self-defense; Whereas the people and the Government of the United States celebrates the bilateral relationship with Paraguay and encourage a continuing close relationship; Whereas Paraguayans in the United States have contributed and enriched American culture and have become an important part of United States society; and Whereas President Santiago Peña was elected President of Paraguay in April 2023 in free and fair elections: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) welcomes the visit of President Santiago Peña; (2) commemorates 163 years of official diplomatic relations between the United States and the Republic of Paraguay; (3) recognizes the historical partnership between the United States and Paraguay rooted in shared values of democracy and the rule of law; (4) reaffirms bilateral cooperation between the Governments of the United States and Paraguay to address pressing issues across the hemisphere; (5) calls on the Department of State, the United States International Development Corporation, and the United States Agency For International Development to support efforts to improve the navigability of the Parana River through dredging and port modernization; (6) expresses support for continuing to work towards shared foreign policy priorities; and (7) celebrates the contributions that Paraguayans and Paraguayan-Americans have made in the United States.