Bill Summary
This resolution highlights the strong relationship between Papua New Guinea and the United States, which has been built over 45 years based on shared goals of stability, prosperity, and peace in the Pacific region. It acknowledges Papua New Guinea's independence in 1975 and its role as a valued security partner of the United States, participating in military education programs. The United States has also partnered with Papua New Guinea and Australia to modernize Papua New Guinea's Naval Base on Manus Island to help protect its sovereignty and maritime rights. The resolution also supports cooperative activities between the two countries in areas such as fisheries management, HIV/AIDS prevention, and care. It recognizes the inclusion of Papua New Guinea in the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative, as well as its hosting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in 2018. The resolution also supports Papua New Guinea's efforts towards democracy and transparency, and encourages the full implementation of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act to deepen their cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. Lastly, it recognizes Papua New Guinea's participation in various multilateral institutions and forums.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation could affect people in Papua New Guinea by recognizing and commending their efforts towards maintaining a parliamentary democracy since independence and promoting transparency and accountability in government. This recognition could also lead to increased support and assistance from the United States, which could benefit the people of Papua New Guinea.
2. The legislation could also affect people in the United States by reaffirming the country's commitment to remaining a strong and active partner in the Pacific region. This could potentially lead to increased involvement and resources being dedicated to cooperative activities with Papua New Guinea in areas such as sustainable fisheries management, HIV/AIDS prevention, and care.
3. The legislation could impact people in both countries through the Papua New Guinea Electrification Partnership, a project aimed at connecting 70% of the population to electricity by 2030. By committing to principles-based and sustainable infrastructure development, the partnership could improve the standard of living for the people of Papua New Guinea and promote fair and open competition for American businesses.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1020 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1020
Recognizing that for 45 years, Papua New Guinea and the United States
have shared a close friendship based on shared goals of stability,
prosperity, and peace in the region, and expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that the United States will continue to remain
a strong, reliable, and active partner in the Pacific.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 24, 2020
Mr. Yoho (for himself, Mr. Case, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Bera, Mr. Young, Ms.
Gabbard, Mr. Sablan, Mr. Gonzalez of Texas, and Mrs. Radewagen)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing that for 45 years, Papua New Guinea and the United States
have shared a close friendship based on shared goals of stability,
prosperity, and peace in the region, and expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that the United States will continue to remain
a strong, reliable, and active partner in the Pacific.
Whereas Papua New Guinea became independent on September 16, 1975;
Whereas Papua New Guinea is a valued security partner of the United States,
participating in the International Military Education and Training
(IMET) program, which sends members of the Papua New Guinea Defence
Force to professional military education courses in the United States;
Whereas the United States has partnered with Papua New Guinea and Australia to
modernize Papua New Guinea Defence Force's Lombrum Naval Base on Manus
Island to assist Papua New Guinea in defending its sovereignty and
maritime rights;
Whereas the United States Government supports cooperative activities with Papua
New Guinea, including sustainable fisheries management, HIV/AIDS
prevention, and care, and those authorized by the Asia Reassurance
Initiative Act;
Whereas section 1252 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2020 (Public Law 116-92) expands the number of countries that receive
assistance under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative,
including Papua New Guinea;
Whereas Papua New Guinea hosted the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Summit in November 2018; and
Whereas Palm Desert, California, and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, are sister
cities, a broad-based, long-term partnership to promote peace through
mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation centered on people-to-
people exchanges: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends Papua New Guinea on successfully maintaining a
parliamentary democracy since independence, and its ongoing
efforts to deliver greater transparency in infrastructure
development and accountability in government;
(2) supports and affirms the full implementation of
provisions of the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018
(Public Law 115-409) with regard to deepening its cooperation
with Papua New Guinea in areas of mutual interest, including
fisheries and marine resource conservation, environmental
challenges and resilience, global health, development and
trade, people-to-people ties, and continuing United States
assistance, as appropriate, to support the rule of law, good
governance, and economic development;
(3) supports the Papua New Guinea Electrification
Partnership in cooperation with Australia, Japan, and New
Zealand, a project to connect 70 percent of the population to
electricity by 2030, and the executive branch's commitment to
principles-based, sustainable infrastructure development that
is transparent, non-discriminatory, environmentally
responsible, promotes fair and open competition, upholds robust
standards, meets the genuine needs of the people of Papua New
Guinea, and avoids unsustainable debt burdens; and
(4) recognizes Papua New Guinea's participation in
multilateral institutions, including the United Nations,
International Monetary Fund, World Bank, Asian Development
Bank, International Atomic Energy Agency, the World Trade
Organization, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional
Environmental Programme, as well as the Pacific Islands Forum,
Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum (ARF), the
Pacific Community, and the South Pacific Regional Environmental
Program.
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