A resolution reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations.

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 22 Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JANUARY 28, 2021 Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. KAINE, and Mr. CRUZ) submitted the following resolution; which was re- ferred to the Committee on Foreign Relations MARCH 24, 2021 Reported by Mr. MENENDEZ, without amendment APRIL 15, 2021 Considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Reaffirming the partnership between the United States and the Republic of Ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic relations, security, and development opportunities in both nations. Whereas the United States and Ecuador have enjoyed a his- tory of bilateral partnership and cooperation, and share the aims of promoting democratic values, economic pros- perity, and the security of both nations; Whereas the United States and Ecuador have taken impor- tant steps to restore the bilateral relationship between VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:36 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR22.ATS SR22 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 SRES 22 ATS the United States and Ecuador, including by signing var- ious agreements to strengthen economic ties, security co- operation, and development opportunities; Whereas President Moreno has signaled Ecuador’s commit- ment to promoting democratic values and has advocated for greater government transparency; Whereas, in February 2018, more than 64 percent of Ecua- dorians voted, in a constitutional referendum, to reinstate a 2-term presidential limit, an effort that was carried out by President Moreno’s administration and which is indic- ative of the Ecuadorian people’s support for presidential term limits as a reasonable check against a history of corruption and abuse of power; Whereas the United States-Ecuador bilateral relationship has been historically characterized by strong commercial and investment ties through the Generalized System of Pref- erences, the United States-Ecuador Trade and Invest- ment Council, and the Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of Ecuador Concerning the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment, done at Washington August 27, 1993, which was termi- nated by Ecuador’s previous government, effective May 18, 2018; Whereas President Moreno’s administration has committed to implement economic policies that will lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth, while protecting the poorest and most vulnerable people; Whereas, under President Moreno’s leadership, there have been significant advances in areas related to freedom of expression, including through the reform of the con- troversial Ecuadorian Communications Law; VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:36 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR22.ATS SR22 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 SRES 22 ATS Whereas the Government of Ecuador has called for the peace- ful restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Ven- ezuela and Ecuador has been a generous host of approxi- mately 385,000 Venezuelan refugees; Whereas, on May 15, 2019, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Ecuador’s Min- istry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to the return of the USAID Mission to Ecuador after the 53-year pro- gram was forced to close in 2014 due to tensions in the bilateral relationship; Whereas Ecuador has been one of the countries most affected by the COVID–19 pandemic in Latin America, which has overwhelmed the country’s health care system and aggra- vated the country’s already challenging economic situa- tion; Whereas in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, USAID is providing Ecuador with technical support and training in diagnostics, and technical assistance in clinical manage- ment, risk communication, and community engagement; and Whereas the United States and Ecuador have agreed to ad- vance security cooperation on law enforcement, counter- narcotics, anticorruption, and bilateral military training and assistance: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) reaffirms its commitment— 2 (A) to the historic partnership between the 3 United States and Ecuador; and 4 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:36 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR22.ATS SR22 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 SRES 22 ATS (B) to continue working to strengthen the 1 relationship between the United States and Ec- 2 uador based on mutual respect and shared 3 democratic values and principles; 4 (2) recognizes President Lenin Moreno and his 5 administration for recommitting Ecuador to demo- 6 cratic values, anti-corruption efforts, and the adop- 7 tion of economic policies that will benefit the people 8 of Ecuador; 9 (3) commends the important steps that Presi- 10 dent Moreno and his administration have taken to 11 protect freedom of expression and freedom of the 12 press in his country; 13 (4) encourages the Republic of Ecuador to en- 14 sure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers 15 are protected; and 16 (5) supports actions to strengthen the historic 17 bilateral relationship between the United States and 18 Ecuador, including— 19 (A) by strengthening economic relation- 20 ships with Ecuador to build mutual prosperity 21 through greater transparency, adherence to the 22 rule of law, and support for human rights; 23 (B) stronger law enforcement and security 24 cooperation between the 2 countries, including 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:36 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR22.ATS SR22 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 SRES 22 ATS in cybersecurity, border management, address- 1 ing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, 2 counternarcotics, anti-money laundering, mili- 3 tary and civilian security professionalization, 4 and criminal justice capabilities; 5 (C) the return of the United States Agency 6 for International Development and the exten- 7 sion of the Peace Corps Program in Ecuador; 8 (D) continued United States assistance for 9 Ecuador’s response to combat the COVID–19 10 pandemic; 11 (E) closer ties between Americans and 12 Ecuadoreans through English language learning 13 and teaching programs that foster greater pro- 14 fessional and educational opportunities; 15 (F) continued efforts to protect freedom of 16 expression and freedom of the press; and 17 (G) continued efforts to ensure that the 18 rights of refugees and asylum seekers are pro- 19 tected. 20 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:36 Apr 16, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR22.ATS SR22 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS