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 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 632 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 JUNE 18, 2020 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 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 the United States and Ecuador, including by signing var- ious agreements to strengthen economic ties, security co- operation, and development opportunities; VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 632 IS 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; Whereas the Government of Ecuador has called for the peace- ful restoration of democracy and the rule of law in Ven- VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 632 IS 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, with more than 42,000 confirmed cases and approximately 3,500 deaths as of June 5, 2020, which has overwhelmed the country’s health care system and aggravated the coun- try’s already challenging economic situation; 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 (B) to continue working to strengthen the 5 relationship between the United States and Ec- 6 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 632 IS uador based on mutual respect and shared 1 democratic values and principles; 2 (2) recognizes President Lenin Moreno and his 3 administration for recommitting Ecuador to demo- 4 cratic values, anti-corruption efforts, and the adop- 5 tion of economic policies that will benefit the people 6 of Ecuador; 7 (3) commends the important steps that Presi- 8 dent Moreno and his administration have taken to 9 protect freedom of expression and freedom of the 10 press in his country; 11 (4) encourages the Republic of Ecuador to en- 12 sure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers 13 are protected; and 14 (5) supports actions to strengthen the historic 15 bilateral relationship between the United States and 16 Ecuador, including— 17 (A) the establishment of robust bilateral 18 trade and investment frameworks with Ecuador 19 to build mutual prosperity through greater 20 transparency and competitiveness; 21 (B) stronger law enforcement and security 22 cooperation between the two countries, includ- 23 ing in cybersecurity, border management, coun- 24 ternarcotics, anti-money laundering, military 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 632 IS and civilian security professionalization, and 1 criminal justice capabilities; 2 (C) the return of the United States Agency 3 for International Development and the exten- 4 sion of the Peace Corps Program in Ecuador; 5 (D) continued United States assistance for 6 Ecuador’s response to combat the COVID–19 7 pandemic; 8 (E) closer ties between Americans and 9 Ecuadoreans through English language learning 10 and teaching programs that foster greater pro- 11 fessional and educational opportunities; 12 (F) continued efforts to protect freedom of 13 expression and freedom of the press; and 14 (G) continued efforts to ensure that the 15 rights of refugees and asylum seekers are pro- 16 tected. 17 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:44 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR632.IS SR632 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS