Bill Summary
This legislation, titled "Supporting 30 years of diplomatic relations between the United States and the independent Czech Republic and Slovak Republic," recognizes and celebrates the strong ties and democratic resiliency between the United States and these two countries. It highlights the historical significance of the Czech and Slovak people in the United States and their fight for independence, as well as their contributions to science, culture, and international affairs. The legislation also expresses support for the Czech and Slovak Republics' membership in NATO and their commitment to meeting defense obligations, as well as their support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. It calls for increased cooperation and modernization in the defense and energy sectors, as well as support for freedom of the press, civil society, and the rule of law in Central Europe.
Possible Impacts
1. The legislation highlights the contributions of Czech and Slovak immigrants to the United States, potentially fostering a sense of pride and recognition among the diaspora community in the US.
2. The resolution calls for increased cooperation through strategic dialogues and the support of democratic values and institutions in the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. This could lead to strengthened partnerships and mutual support between the US and these countries.
3. The legislation recognizes the Czech and Slovak Republics' efforts to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression, potentially highlighting the ongoing conflict and raising awareness about the situation in the region.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 749 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 749
Supporting 30 years of diplomatic relations between the United States
and the independent Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, highlighting
their assistance to Ukraine, and supporting continued democratic
resiliency.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 29, 2023
Mr. Keating (for himself and Mr. Wilson of South Carolina) submitted
the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Supporting 30 years of diplomatic relations between the United States
and the independent Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, highlighting
their assistance to Ukraine, and supporting continued democratic
resiliency.
Whereas the United States has been enriched by the Czechs, Slovaks, and others
who emigrated to the United States from the territories of what are
today the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, and continues to benefit
from the strong ties between and among the citizens of our countries;
Whereas Slovaks and Czechs in the United States called for a Czechoslovak state
to be established in the 1915 Cleveland Agreement and the 1918
Pittsburgh Agreement;
Whereas the United States profoundly contributed to the founding of an
independent Czech-Slovak state when, on January 8, 1918, President
Woodrow Wilson called for the free ``autonomous development'' of the
peoples of Austria-Hungary in the ``Fourteen Points'' address to a joint
session of Congress;
Whereas the people of the present-day Czech Republic and the people of the
present-day Slovak Republic proclaimed independence on October 28, 1918,
and October 30, 1918, respectively, forming the common state of the
Republic of Czechoslovakia;
Whereas, on November 12, 1918, the United States and an independent
Czechoslovakia established formal diplomatic relations;
Whereas Czechoslovakia maintained its democracy throughout the interwar period
until the Nazi invasion in 1938;
Whereas, in February 1948, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia seized power
from the postwar democratically elected Government of Czechoslovakia;
Whereas, on August 20, 1968, 20 Soviet-led Warsaw Pact military divisions
invaded Czechoslovakia to crush the ``Prague Spring'', a period of
greater political and economic liberty that followed the appointment of
Alexander Dubcek as First Secretary of the Czechoslovakian Communist
Party;
Whereas the independent civic initiative Charter 77 was established in 1977 and
called on the Czechoslovak Government to fulfill its human rights
commitments under the Helsinki Final Act, and many of its members played
decisive roles in the Velvet Revolution;
Whereas, in the nonviolent Velvet Revolution of November 1989, the peoples of
both nations overthrew 40 years of authoritarian communist rule and
ended two decades of Soviet occupation;
Whereas, on February 21, 1990, Czechoslovak President Vaclav Havel delivered his
historic address before a joint session of Congress saying, in part,
that Czechoslovakia is a country ``that has set out on the road to
democracy, a country where there is complete freedom of speech, which is
getting ready for free elections and which wants to create a prosperous
market economy and its own foreign policy'';
Whereas, on January 1, 1993, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic were
formally created as independent states after a peaceful dissolution of
Czechoslovakia;
Whereas the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic, with the robust support of
the United States, joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on
March 12, 1999, and March 29, 2004, respectively, and have made
significant contributions to collective defense and the operations of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as well as international
coalitions led by the United States around the world;
Whereas the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic continue to demonstrate their
strong commitment to advancing democratic values, peace, and security
through their membership in the European Union, the Organization for
Security and Co-operation in Europe, and other international
organizations;
Whereas the peoples of the United States, the Czech Republic, and the Slovak
Republic have forged a special relationship based on their shared
historic ties, mutual respect, close cooperation, and the shared values
of democracy, the rule of law, economic liberty, and individual rights
and responsibility;
Whereas vibrant Czech and Slovak diasporas have positively contributed to
society in the United States;
Whereas the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic celebrate the 30th
anniversary of the National Guard State Partnership Program with the
Texas, Nebraska, and Indiana National Guards, respectively, which has
contributed to military readiness and interoperability between the
United States and both the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic;
Whereas the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic have completed significant
democratic reforms enabling political systems and societies which
respect the rule of law, freedom of speech and assembly, free and fair
elections, and other democratic values; and
Whereas the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic have shown unity in their
support for Ukraine's fight against Russia's unjust and illegal war of
aggression, and both countries have contributed significant military,
humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine in support of a free
and democratic Ukraine: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports a democratic and independent Czech Republic
and Slovak Republic, both of whom, 30 years ago, emerged from
decades of communist rule through the peaceful, nonviolent
Velvet Revolution to affirm their human rights and democratic
aspirations;
(2) recognizes actions of the people of the Czech Republic
and the Slovak Republic for overthrowing totalitarian communist
rule in 1989 by waging a peaceful, nonviolent Velvet Revolution
to affirm human rights and democratic aspirations;
(3) celebrates the lasting contributions of the peoples of
Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic to science, the arts,
culture, music, literature, politics, trade, and international
affairs;
(4) applauds the achievements of the Czech Republic and the
Slovak Republic in building free, open, democratic, and
prosperous societies over the past 30 years;
(5) expresses strong support of the Czech Republic and
Slovak Republic's role in the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization alliance and calls on both countries to continue
their efforts to meet their 2 percent defense commitment and
recognizes the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic as strong
North Atlantic Treaty Organization partners on the alliance's
eastern flank;
(6) recognizes the efforts of the Czech Republic and the
Slovak Republic to stand with the people of Ukraine in their
fight for freedom against illegal Russian aggression and
provide significant military, humanitarian, and economic
support to Ukraine;
(7) recognizes the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic for
their constitutions within the European Union;
(8) reaffirms United States support for the freedom, human
rights, democracy, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and
prosperity of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic;
(9) supports municipal-level cooperation including through
organizations like the Pact of Free Cities, which highlights
the importance of cities in protecting and promoting democratic
values, sharing best practices, and finding practical solutions
to best serve citizens;
(10) supports increased cooperation through the United
States-Czech Strategic Dialogue and the United States-Slovak
Strategic Dialogue to address common threats and challenges
including in the defense and energy sectors, climate change,
regional security, cyber security, and resilience to
disinformation;
(11) supports modernization of the Czech and Slovak Armed
Forces in light of Russia's illegal aggression in Ukraine and
increased emerging threats in the region;
(12) commends the Czech Republic's and Slovak Republic's
strong support of democratic partners in the face of attempted
Chinese malign influence in Europe and ongoing hostile behavior
by the People's Republic of China; and
(13) reaffirms the United States commitment to
strengthening and supporting freedom of the press, civil
society, and rule of law in Central Europe.
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