Recognizing the 202d anniversary of the War of Greek Independence.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 251 Recognizing the 202d anniversary of the War of Greek Independence. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 24, 2023 Mr. BILIRAKIS (for himself, Mr. PAPPAS, Ms. MALLIOTAKIS, Ms. TITUS, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. SARBANES, Mr. MAGAZINER, and Mr. SMITH of New Jer- sey) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Recognizing the 202d anniversary of the War of Greek Independence. Whereas the concept of democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people, was developed in ancient Greece; Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States were in- spired by ancient Greek political philosophy when form- ing the political system of the United States; Whereas the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independ- ence inspired the uprising of the Greek people against the Ottoman Empire and were reflected in the revolutionary Greek Constitutions; VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:39 Mar 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR251.IH HR251 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HRES 251 IH Whereas the War of Greek Independence initiated the strug- gle for self-determination of all the occupied nations of the Ottoman Empire; Whereas American philhellenes, including future abolitionist Dr. Samuel Gridley Howe, future abolitionist Jonathan Peckham Miller, and George Jarvis, traveled to Greece to fight alongside and provide aid to the Greek people in their struggle for independence; Whereas the people of the United States generously sent hu- manitarian assistance to the people of Greece during their struggle for independence, often through philhellene committees; Whereas the United States and Greece have been allies in all international conflicts throughout modern history; Whereas the Greek-American community has positively con- tributed to American society and has helped forge the ties between the United States and Greece; Whereas the United States has greatly contributed to the re- construction of Greece after World War II; Whereas North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) mem- bership has further tightened the cooperation between the United States and Greece; Whereas Greece is an integral part of the European Union; Whereas Greece is a strategic partner of the United States in bringing political stability and economic development to the Balkan region, having actively contributed to the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the region and having been 1 of the major investors in southeastern Europe, including in critical infrastructure; VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:39 Mar 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR251.IH HR251 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HRES 251 IH Whereas the address of the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, to a joint session of Congress in May 2022 consolidated the strong ties between the 2 countries, based on shared values, as well as the impor- tance of the Greek-American community for the United States; Whereas Greece participates in and actively promotes several schemes of regional partnership in the Eastern Medi- terranean; Whereas the United States has demonstrated its support for the trilateral partnership of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus by enacting into law the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019, and through joint engagement with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in the ‘‘3+1’’ format; Whereas this support was reiterated in the United States- Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act, included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, establishing a 3+1 Interparliamentary Group to discuss the expansion of cooperation in other areas of common concern; Whereas the United States and Greece’s commitment to secu- rity cooperation led to the conclusion of a Mutual De- fense Cooperation Agreement, which was updated in 2021, in order to enhance defense ties between the 2 countries and promote stability in the broader region; Whereas the ongoing United States-Greece Strategic Dia- logue reflects Greece’s importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner, namely in the Eastern Medi- terranean and Balkans and as an important NATO ally; VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:39 Mar 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR251.IH HR251 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •HRES 251 IH Whereas the Governments and people of Greece and the United States are at the forefront of international efforts to advance freedom, democracy, rule of law, human rights, peace, and stability; Whereas those efforts and similar ideals have forged a close bond between the peoples of Greece and the United States; and Whereas it is proper and desirable for the United States to celebrate the 202d anniversary of the March 25, 1821, Greek Independence Day with the people of Greece, and to reaffirm the democratic principles from which those 2 great countries were founded: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) extends warm congratulations and best 2 wishes to the people of Greece as they celebrate the 3 202d anniversary of the War of Greek Independence; 4 (2) expresses support for the principles of de- 5 mocracy, human rights, and the rule of law to which 6 the people of the United States and Greece are com- 7 mitted; 8 (3) notes the important role that Greece has 9 played in the wider European region and in the com- 10 munity of nations since gaining its independence; 11 (4) commends the Greek-American community 12 for its contributions to the United States and its 13 role as a bridge between the 2 countries; and 14 (5) commends the geostrategic importance of 15 Greece at the junction of 3 continents and in par- 16 VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:39 Mar 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR251.IH HR251 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •HRES 251 IH ticular the critical role Greece plays in promoting 1 stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and Western 2 Balkans. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 16:39 Mar 25, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR251.IH HR251 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB