Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement and Korea's declaration of independence from the Empire of Japan.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 159 Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement and Korea’s declaration of independence from the Empire of Japan. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 28, 2019 Mr. WOODALL submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the March First Move- ment and Korea’s declaration of independence from the Empire of Japan. Whereas, on March 1, 1919, the people of Korea gathered in Seoul, the capital of Korea, to proclaim they would no longer be subject to Japan’s imperial rule and to demand independence, peace, democracy, human rights, and a free and equal democratic republic; Whereas the Korean Declaration of Independence, inspired by President Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points, calls for national self-determination, justice, humanity, survival, and dignity; Whereas approximately 2,000,000 Koreans participated in demonstrations for Korean independence and over 7,000 Koreans lost their lives in the process; VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:58 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR159.IH HR159 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 159 IH Whereas the March First Movement directly led to the estab- lishment of the Korean Provisional Government in Shanghai and brought worldwide attention to their ef- forts for independence; Whereas the people of Korea fought for 36 years under the oppression of Imperialist Japan for independence; Whereas the Republic of Korea has been a proud partner both militarily and economically with the United States since its inception over 70 years ago; Whereas the United States fought side by side with the Ko- rean people to repel the Soviet Union-supported Demo- cratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (North Korea) at- tacks during the Korean war; Whereas the Republic of Korea and the United States are committed to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula and a peaceful end to the Korean war; Whereas in both the Republic of Korea and North Korea, March 1st is designated as a national holiday; Whereas the Republic of Korea’s President Moon Jae-in in- vited the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to a joint celebration of the 100th anniversary of the March First Movement in the spirit of unity; Whereas both President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea and President Donald Trump of the United States have participated in summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the pursuit of peace on the Korean Pe- ninsula; and Whereas the United States Congress has consistently dem- onstrated strong bipartisan support for its ally the Re- public of Korea: Now, therefore, be it VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:58 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR159.IH HR159 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 159 IH Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) observes and congratulates the people of 2 Korea on the 100th anniversary of Korea’s March 3 First Movement and path to independence; 4 (2) recognizes the importance of the alliance be- 5 tween the United States and the Republic of Korea 6 to the stability of the region and the prosperity of 7 both countries; 8 (3) commends the steps for a unified and 9 denuclearized Korean Peninsula that have been ac- 10 complished and efforts that still must be made; and 11 (4) reaffirms the United States commitment to 12 the Republic of Korea’s independence, sovereignty, 13 and safety. 14 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:58 Feb 28, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR159.IH HR159 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS