Bill Summary
This legislation is a resolution passed by the House of Representatives congratulating the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic on the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, which marked the end of communist dictatorship and the establishment of free, democratic societies. It also recognizes the 26th anniversary of their countries' independence and the 101st anniversary of Czechoslovakia's declaration of independence. The resolution highlights the historical and cultural ties between the Czech, Slovak, and American peoples, as well as the United States' commitment to a free, peaceful, and prosperous Europe. It also expresses gratitude for the sacrifices of the Czech and Slovak peoples in support of NATO operations and commends their achievements in building democratic and prosperous societies over the past 30 years.
Possible Impacts
1) The legislation could affect citizens of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic by recognizing and celebrating their country's history and achievements, boosting national pride and sense of unity within the country.
2) The legislation could also affect the United States' relationship with the two countries, reaffirming their strong ties and commitment to a shared vision of a free and prosperous Europe.
3) The legislation could also serve as a reminder of the impact of past events, such as the Velvet Revolution and the Prague Spring, on the political and cultural landscape of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, and the importance of protecting democratic values and individual rights.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 618 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 618
Congratulating the peoples of the Czech Republic and the Slovak
Republic on the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, on the 26th
anniversary of their countries' independence, and on the 101st
anniversary of Czechoslovakia's declaration of independence.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 4, 2019
Mr. Visclosky (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mrs. Dingell, Ms. Schakowsky,
and Mr. Wright) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Congratulating the peoples of the Czech Republic and the Slovak
Republic on the 30th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, on the 26th
anniversary of their countries' independence, and on the 101st
anniversary of Czechoslovakia's declaration of independence.
Whereas, on January 8, 1918, President Woodrow Wilson's ``Fourteen Points''
address to a joint session of Congress called for the free ``autonomous
development'' of the peoples of Austria-Hungary and became the basis for
the founding of an independent Czech-Slovak nation-state;
Whereas, on September 3, 1918, the United States recognized the Czecho-Slovak
National Council in Paris as a de facto government at war with the
German and Austro-Hungarian Empires;
Whereas, on October 14, 1918, the Czecho-Slovak National Council formed a
provisional government, which declared its independence from Austria-
Hungary on October 18, 1918;
Whereas the peoples of the present-day Czech Republic and the present-day Slovak
Republic proclaimed their independence in the common state of the
Republic of Czechoslovakia on October 28 and October 30, 1918;
Whereas, on November 12, 1918, the United States and Czechoslovakia established
formal diplomatic relations;
Whereas the United States never recognized Nazi Germany's annexation of the
Czech Sudetenland in October 1938, the subsequent establishment of a
German protectorate over Bohemia and Moravia, or the creation of the
German puppet Slovak state in March 1939;
Whereas the Slovak and Czech resistance movements against the Nazi occupation,
with the support of the Czechoslovak government-in-exile, launched the
Slovak National Uprising in August 1944 and the Prague uprising in May
1945, accelerating the collapse of the Third Reich and demonstrating the
courage, patriotism, and freedom-loving spirit of the Czech and Slovak
peoples;
Whereas the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized power from the
democratically elected Government of Czechoslovakia in February 1948;
Whereas, on August 20, 1968, twenty Soviet and Warsaw Pact divisions invaded
Czechoslovakia in order to crush the ``Prague Spring'', a peaceful
popular movement calling for greater political and economic liberty that
followed the appointment of Alexander Dubcek as First Secretary of the
Czechoslovakian Communist Party;
Whereas in the nonviolent Velvet Revolution of November 1989, the peoples of
Czechoslovakia overthrew 40 years of totalitarian communist rule and
have since established vibrant, pluralistic, democratic political
systems based upon freedom of speech, a free press, free and fair
elections, the rule of law, and individual rights, values embodied by
Czechoslovakia's first post-communist President Vaclav Havel;
Whereas, on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic were
formally created as independent nation-states after a peaceful
dissolution of Czechoslovakia;
Whereas the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic joined the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization on March 12, 1999, and March 29, 2004, respectively,
and have made significant contributions to NATO operations around the
world; and
Whereas the peoples of the United States, the Czech Republic, and the Slovak
Republic have forged a special relationship based on mutual respect,
close cooperation, and shared values of democracy, the rule of law,
economic liberty, and individual rights and responsibility: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) commends the peoples of the Czech Republic and the
Slovak Republic for their considerable achievements over the
past 30 years since the fall of communist dictatorship in
building free, democratic, and prosperous societies;
(2) congratulates the peoples of the Czech Republic and the
Slovak Republic on the 26th anniversary of their independence
and on the 101st anniversary of Czechoslovakia's independence;
(3) expresses profound gratitude for the sacrifices of the
Czech and Slovak peoples in support of NATO operations in
Afghanistan and elsewhere; and
(4) reaffirms the strong historical and cultural ties that
bind the Czech, Slovak, and American peoples together, and
expresses the United States continued commitment to a free,
peaceful, and prosperous Europe.
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