119-sres141

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 141 Agreed to Senate

    (ATS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 141

 Recognizing the 204th anniversary of the independence of Greece and 
 celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 March 26, 2025

 Mr. Booker (for himself, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Ricketts, 
Mr. Schumer, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Markey, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kaine, 
Mr. Justice, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
 Reed, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Scott of Florida, and Mrs. Shaheen) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Recognizing the 204th anniversary of the independence of Greece and 
 celebrating democracy in Greece and the United States.

Whereas the people of ancient Greece developed the concept of democracy, in 
 which the supreme power to govern was vested in the people;
Whereas the founding fathers of the United States, many of whom read Greek 
 political philosophy in the original Greek language, drew heavily on the 
 political experience and philosophy of ancient Greece in forming the 
 representative democracy of the United States;
Whereas Petros Mavromichalis, the former Commander-in-Chief of Greece and a 
 founder of the modern Greek state, said to the citizens of the United 
 States in 1821, ``It is in your land that liberty has fixed her abode 
 and . . . imitating you, we shall imitate our ancestors and be thought 
 worthy of them if we succeed in resembling you.'';
Whereas, in an October 21, 1823, letter to Greek scholar Adamantios Koraes 
 discussing the ongoing Greek struggle for independence, Thomas Jefferson 
 wrote that ``[n]o people sympathise more feelingly than ours with the 
 sufferings of your countrymen, none offer more sincere and ardent 
 prayers to heaven for their success'';
Whereas, on January 19, 1824, in a speech in support of his resolution to send 
 an American envoy to Greece amid its struggle for independence, then-
 Congressman Daniel Webster recognized ``the struggle of an interesting 
 and gallant people . . . contending against fearful odds, for being, and 
 for the common privilege of human nature'';
Whereas individual American Philhellenes, including future abolitionists Dr. 
 Samuel Gridley Howe and 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 humanitarian assistance 
 to the people of Greece during their struggle for independence, often 
 through philhellene committees;
Whereas Greece heroically resisted Axis forces at a crucial moment in World War 
 II, forcing Adolf Hitler to change his timeline and delaying the attack 
 on the Soviet Union;
Whereas Winston Churchill said that ``if there had not been the virtue and 
 courage of the Greeks, we do not know which the outcome of World War II 
 would have been'' and ``no longer will we say that Greeks fight like 
 heroes, but that heroes fight like Greeks'';
Whereas hundreds of thousands of Greeks were killed during World War II;
Whereas Greece consistently allied with the United States in major international 
 conflicts throughout its history as a modern state and has been a member 
 of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization since 1952;
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 (title 
 II of division J of Public Law 116-94) and through joint engagement with 
 Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in the ``3+1'' format;
Whereas this support was bolstered in the United States-Greece Defense and 
 Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021 (subtitle B of title XIII of 
 Public Law 117-81), establishing a 3+1 Interparliamentary Group to 
 discuss the expansion of cooperation in areas of common concern;
Whereas the United States maintains close bilateral cooperation with Greece on 
 security, energy, and other shared priorities, including the commitment 
 to security cooperation that led to the conclusion of a Mutual Defense 
 Cooperation Agreement, which was updated in 2019 and 2021, in order to 
 enhance defense ties between the two countries and promote stability in 
 the broader region;
Whereas the ongoing United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue reflects Greece's 
 importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner, especially in 
 the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans, and as an important NATO ally;
Whereas, on November 13, 2023, the United States and Greece signed a memorandum 
 of understanding to advance energy security and cooperation in the 
 Western Balkans;
Whereas regular high-level engagement between the Governments of the United 
 States and Greece continued through 2024 and into 2025, during which 
 both governments reaffirmed the strategic importance of the United 
 States-Greece relationship and pledged to continue and increase 
 cooperation based on shared values and interests;
Whereas, in the framework of the fifth United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue, 
 on February 9, 2024, Greece became the 35th country to sign onto the 
 Artemis Accords, affirming its commitment to a peaceful, sustainable, 
 and transparent cooperation in space;
Whereas the Government and people of Greece actively participate in peacekeeping 
 and peace-building operations conducted by international organizations, 
 including the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, 
 the European Union, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation 
 in Europe;
Whereas Greece has shown a strong commitment to meeting NATO defense spending 
 obligations, recognizing the need for a more robust European pillar 
 within NATO;
Whereas Greece remains an integral part of the European Union and a current non-
 permanent member of the United Nations Security Council;
Whereas the Greek-American community has greatly contributed to American society 
 and has helped forge the strong ties between the United States and 
 Greece;
Whereas the Governments and people of Greece and the United States are at the 
 forefront of efforts to advance freedom, democracy, peace, stability, 
 and human rights;
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 March 25, 
 2025, Greek Independence Day, with the people of Greece and to reaffirm 
 the democratic principles from which those two great countries were 
 founded: Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) extends sincere congratulations and best wishes to the 
 people of Greece as they celebrate the 204th anniversary of the 
 independence of Greece;

    (2) expresses support for the principles of democratic 
 governance to which the people of Greece are committed;

    (3) commends the Greek-American community for its 
 contributions to the United States and its role as a bridge 
 between the two countries;

    (4) notes the important role that Greece has played in the 
 wider European region and in the community of nations since 
 gaining its independence 204 years ago;

    (5) appreciates the ever-stronger bilateral relationship, 
 based on shared values and interests, including the important 
 energy and security partnership that exists between the United 
 States and Greece, and the important role that Greece plays in 
 bolstering European energy security; and

    (6) appreciates Greece as a valued NATO ally and its 
 critical role in ensuring regional stability.
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