119-sconres20

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 20 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. CON. RES. 20

 Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and 
reaffirming the United States' commitment to its principles and values.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 August 1, 2025

 Mr. Wicker (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Smith, Mr. 
 Boozman, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. Britt, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
 Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and 
reaffirming the United States' commitment to its principles and values.

Whereas August 1, 2025, is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Conference 
 on Security and Co-operation in Europe Final Act (referred to in this 
 resolution as the ``Helsinki Final Act'');
Whereas, on August 1, 1975, 35 nations, including the United States, Canada, and 
 the nations of Europe, signed the Helsinki Final Act, marking a historic 
 milestone in international diplomacy during the Cold War;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act established a comprehensive concept of security 
 that encompasses political-military, environmental and economic, and 
 human rights and humanitarian dimensions;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act codified 10 principles in the Declaration on 
 Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States (commonly 
 known as ``The Decalogue''), which--

    (1) all participating states committed to respect and put into practice 
in their relations with each other; and

    (2) have formed a basis for the international order in the region 
encompassing the participating states of the Organization for Security and 
Co-operation in Europe

    (OSCE) since its inception in 1975;

Whereas these principles, adopted on the basis of consensus by all participating 
 states and repeatedly reaffirmed, enshrine--

    (1) the sovereign equality of all participating states and respect for 
the rights inherent in sovereignty;

    (2) refraining from the threat or use of force among participating 
states;

    (3) the inviolability of frontiers of the 57 participating states;

    (4) the territorial integrity of participating states;

    (5) the peaceful settlement of disputes among participating states;

    (6) nonintervention in internal affairs;

    (7) respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the 
freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief;

    (8) equal rights and self-determination of peoples;

    (9) cooperation among participating states; and

    (10) fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law;

Whereas the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time in the history of 
 international agreements, recognized that respect for, and 
 implementation of, commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms 
 are integral to stability and security within and among nations;
Whereas the principles of the Helsinki Final Act have been threatened in recent 
 years by irresponsible acts of certain states, including the actions of 
 the Russian Federation in its occupation of the territories of Ukraine, 
 Moldova, and Georgia and which constitute a threat to the stability and 
 security of Europe and the world;
Whereas the Russian Federation is responsible for the clear, gross, and 
 uncorrected violation of all 10 principles of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas the scourge of anti-Semitism persists throughout the OSCE region and 
 should continue to be called out, condemned, and opposed by all 
 participating states;
Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by 
 creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly 
 known as the ``Helsinki Commission'') to monitor and encourage 
 compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas the Helsinki Commission consists of 9 United States senators, 9 members 
 of the United States House of Representatives, and 3 representatives 
 from the Executive Branch of the United States Government;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act ultimately led to the creation of the 
 Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which was designed 
 to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict within and among the 
 participating states;
Whereas the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act continues to serve as a guiding 
 framework for--

    (1) addressing security challenges;

    (2) defending the rule of law; and

    (3) supporting the rights of individuals against authoritarian 
oppression and aggression;

Whereas successive United States administrations since the Helsinki Final Act 
 was signed in 1975 have made the Helsinki Final Act's Principles Guiding 
 Relations Between Participating States a basis for United States policy 
 toward Europe and the entire OSCE region;
Whereas Congress has strongly supported and encouraged the United States to 
 promote improved compliance with these guiding principles, including by 
 raising its concerns about noncompliance in a direct and frank manner, 
 and continues to provide such support and encouragement; and
Whereas, in the face of renewed threats to sovereignty, democracy, and human 
 rights, particularly in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the principles of 
 the Helsinki Final Act remain significant and foundational to a 
 comprehensive concept of security: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--

    (1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
 Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
 Europe and recognizes the importance of the Helsinki Principles 
 and the OSCE;

    (2) reasserts the commitment of the United States to the 
 full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act and to continued 
 participation in the OSCE;

    (3) urges all participating states to abide by their 
 respective obligations under the Helsinki Final Act, including 
 respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are 
 vital to the functioning of democracy;

    (4) calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and 
 the people of the United States to join Congress in observance 
 of this anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and 
 activities; and

    (5) conveys to all signatory states of the Helsinki Final 
 Act that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, 
 democratic principles, economic liberty, peaceful resolution of 
 conflicts among participating states, respect for the 
 sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating states, 
 and the implementation of related commitments continue to be 
 vital elements in promoting security, prosperity, and peace 
 throughout the region covered by the OSCE.
 <all>