Congressional Resolution Echoes President Obama’s Comments on a “united” United Kingdom

Washington DC – On June 5th, 2014, President Barack Obama stated, “There is a referendum process in place and it is up to the people of Scotland… we obviously have a deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies we will ever have remains a strong, robust, united and effective partner.” 

Now a Congressional Resolution, H.Res.713, has been introduced, with wide-ranging Democratic and Republican support, expressing the same sentiment.  The Resolution states that the House of Representatives, “Respects the right of the Scottish people to make their decision regarding their status in the September 18th referendum” and “expresses support for united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom.”  

The Resolution was authored by Democratic Congressman Brad Sherman of California who said, “The people of Scotland have an important decision to make and they will consider many factors, most of them domestic.  However, some in Scotland may be interested in how we can work together most effectively for a secure, prosperous and peaceful world.  It’s clear from this side of the Atlantic that a United Kingdom, including Scotland, would be the strongest possible American ally.  A wide range of my colleagues involved in the Foreign Affairs Committee, from some of the most conservative Republicans to the most liberal Democrats, have joined with me in introducing a Resolution that echoes President Barack Obama’s statement in favor of a strong, robust, united and effective partner.” 

Those joining Congressman Sherman in introducing the House Resolution include Republican Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, Ranking Member (Chief Democrat) on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Republican Dana Rohrabacher, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe, and William Keating, Ranking (Chief Democrat) Member of the Subcommittee on Europe.  The list of 27 members of Congress introducing the Resolution also include Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the top Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, and Steve Israel, who heads the political arm for House Democrats. 

“Our ‘Special Relationship’ with the United Kingdom is unparalleled,” said Republican Foreign Affairs Chairman Royce.  “It is crucial for both our nations to continue our close cooperation on key diplomatic, security, economic, and human rights concerns.  A strong, unified United Kingdom has been a leader in the world and I look forward to continuing our valuable partnership.”

Congressman Sherman, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Chief Democrat on its Subcommittee on Trade continued, “America’s multi-faceted alliance with the United Kingdom spans two centuries.  Together we have worked to prevent conflict and respond to disasters around the world.  America needs a strong ally which maintains its military, intelligence, and cyber defense capacities.” 

The following members of Congress have joined in introducing the Resolution: Sherman (sponsor), Ed Royce, Eliot Engel, Dana Rohrabacher, William Keating, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Gerald Connolly, Trent Franks, Gregory Meeks, Paul Cook, Steve Israel, Steve Stockman, Robert Brady, Billy Long, Karen Bass, Michael Turner, Lois Frankel, Alan Lowenthal, Juan Vargas, Tony Cardenas, Jim Costa, Janice Hahn, Grace Napolitano, Mike Thompson, Jackie Speier, David Scott, and Loretta Sanchez.   
 
See the full text of the resolution below:

H.RES.713

Recognizing the friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States and expressing the support of the House of Representatives for a united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom. (Introduced in House - IH)

HRES 713 IH

113th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. RES. 713

Recognizing the friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States and expressing the support of the House of Representatives for a united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 4, 2014

Mr. SHERMAN (for himself, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. KEATING, Mr. RUPPERSBERGER, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. MEEKS, Mr. COOK, Mr. ISRAEL, Mr. STOCKMAN, Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, Mr. LONG, Ms. BASS, Mr. TURNER, Ms. FRANKEL of Florida, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. VARGAS, Mr. CARDENAS, Mr. COSTA, Ms. HAHN, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. THOMPSON of California, Ms. SPEIER, Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia, and Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

RESOLUTION

Recognizing the friendship between the United Kingdom and the United States and expressing the support of the House of Representatives for a united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom.

Whereas the history and friendship between the people of the United States and the people of the United Kingdom includes nearly two and a half centuries of cultural, political, military, economic, and diplomatic relations;

Whereas this relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is based on shared values of democracy, individual freedom, and the rule of law;

Whereas British statesman Winston Churchill in 1946 labeled the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom the Special Relationship because of the unprecedented depth of cooperation and the extensive historic ties between the two nations;

Whereas throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, the United States and the United Kingdom fought together in several struggles, including the First and Second World Wars, in which millions of American and British soldiers sacrificed for their countries;

Whereas millions of Americans have Scottish roots and identify with their Scottish ancestry, and Scottish people and culture have had a profound effect on the United States throughout its history;

Whereas the 300th anniversary of the Union of Scotland and England occurred on May 1, 2007;

Whereas the United Kingdom, a nation of over 63 million people, is the world's sixth-largest economy and an influential power with cultural, economic, and political influence around the world;

Whereas in the United Kingdom, a system of devolution provides a statutory granting of powers from the Parliament of the United Kingdom to the Scottish Parliament and its executive body, the Scottish Government;

Whereas in accordance with an agreement between the Scottish Government and the United Kingdom Government, a referendum will be held in Scotland on September 18, 2014, on whether Scotland should be an independent country; and

Whereas on June 5, 2014, speaking alongside the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, David Cameron, the President of the United States, Barack Obama, said the United States has a `deep interest in making sure that one of the closest allies we will ever have remains a strong, robust, united and effective partner': Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) believes that a united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom is important for U.S. national security priorities in Europe and around the world;

(2) believes that diplomatic, economic, and military cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom in bilateral, trans-Atlantic, and global arenas is essential to the national security of the United States;

(3) expresses deep friendship toward the Scottish people;

(4) respects the right of the Scottish people to make their decision regarding their status in the September 18, 2014, referendum;

(5) expresses a firm commitment to continued cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom toward a more peaceful and prosperous world; and

(6) expresses support for a united, secure, and prosperous United Kingdom.