*EPF314 12/19/2001
Text: House Passes Resolution Reaffirming U.S.-Philippines Ties
(H. Con. Res. 273 passed Dec. 18 by unanimous consent) (2290)

The House of Representatives passed a resolution by unanimous consent December 18 hailing the "special relationship" between the United States and the Philippines.

House Concurrent Resolution 273 (H. Con. Res. 273) affirms "the commitment of the United States to the Republic of the Philippines pursuant to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty."

H. Con. Res. 273 supports the Philippine government "in its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorism."

The resolution says that the House of Representatives "acknowledges the economic and military needs of the Philippines and pledges to continue to assist in addressing those needs."

Representative Dana Rohrabacher (Republican of California), who introduced H. Con. Res. 273, told fellow lawmakers that Philippines President Arroyo "understands this new global war because terrorist groups inside the Philippines, trained and supported by bin Laden and other terrorists, have committed hundreds of acts of violence and kidnapping against the Filipinos over these last few years.

"The people of the Philippines now deserve our help," Rohrabacher said.

"They are stepping forward again to be America's best friends, and we should extend our hand in friendship as well," he said.

H. Con. Res. 273 "underscores a very important aspect of our relationship to another country, the Philippines," Representative Christopher Smith (Republican of New Jersey) said.

American and the Philippines have had a "long-standing, deep, and very strong relationship; so it was not surprising to me that President Arroyo was first out of the blocks to support the United States in our campaign to defeat al Qaeda," Smith said.

"That is what we expect from an ally. We do not always get that from allies, but we got it in a very real way from our good friends in the Philippines," the New Jersey Republican said.

Representative Benjamin Gilman (Republican of New York) urged fellow lawmakers to "fully support" the resolution "so we can send a strong signal to those who are threatening our democratic friends in the Philippines through their terrorism and regional hegemony."

Following are the text of H. Con. Res. 273 and excerpts from the debate on the resolution from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

REAFFIRMING THE SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

House of Representatives
December 18, 2001

H. Con. Res. 273

Whereas the United States and the Republic of the Philippines have shared a special relationship of mutual benefit for more than 100 years;

Whereas 2001 marks the 50th anniversary of the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, signed at Washington on August 30, 1951 (3 UST 3947);

Whereas since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the Philippines has been among the most steadfast friends of the United States during a time of grief and turmoil, offering heartfelt sympathy and support;

Whereas after the United States launched its war of self-defense in Afghanistan on October 7, 2001, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo immediately announced her Government's unwavering support for the operation, calling it "the start of a just offensive";

Whereas during United States operations in Afghanistan, the Government of the Philippines has made all of its military installations available to the United States Armed Forces for transit, refueling, resupply, and staging operations;

Whereas this assistance provided by the Philippines has proved highly valuable in the prosecution of the war in Afghanistan, as acknowledged by the Commander-in-Chief of United States Forces in the Pacific;

Whereas the Philippines also faces grave terrorist threats from the Communist Party of the Philippines, the New People's Army, the National Democratic Front, and the radical Abu Sayaff group, as well as an armed secessionist movement, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front;

Whereas the Abu Sayaff group has historical ties to Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaeda network, and has engaged in hundreds of act of terrorism in the Philippines, including bombings, arson, and kidnappings;

Whereas in May 2001, Abu Sayaff kidnapped United States citizens Martin Burnham, Gracia Burnham, and Guillermo Sobero, along with several Filipinos;

Whereas Abu Sayaff killed Mr. Sobero and continues to detain Martin Burnham and Gracia Burnham; and

Whereas the United States and the Philippines are committed to each other's security pursuant to the Mutual Defense Treaty: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That Congress--

(1) expresses its deepest gratitude to the Government and people of the Philippines for their sympathy and support since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States;

(2) expresses its sympathy to the current and recent Filipino victims of terrorism and their families;

(3) affirms the commitment of the United States to the Republic of the Philippines pursuant to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty;

(4) supports the Government of the Philippines in its efforts to prevent and suppress terrorism; and

(5) acknowledges the economic and military needs of the Philippines and pledges to continue to assist in addressing those needs.

(end text of resolution)

(begin excerpts)

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, there is an ongoing, joint operation in the Philippines to rescue American citizens. Martin and Gracie Burnham, who have been held hostage by the brutal terrorists who have been trained and supported by Osama bin Laden, are still being held hostage there in the Philippines. Although the operation to rescue them has received little publicity in the American media, this resolution supports that operation.

After the terrorist attack on September 11, Philippine President Arroyo was the first international leader to offer facilities and troops to assist the United States in the campaign against Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network. President Arroyo described the campaign as "the start of a just offensive."

In addition, President Arroyo demonstrated political courage, and it took political courage for her to do this, to invite U.S. soldiers to help Filipino forces conduct a joint operation to free the American hostages that are being held in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf terrorists, those Abu Sayyaf terrorists, of course, trained by bin Laden.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty. This treaty takes on significance in light of the enhanced partnership between America and the Philippines, our democratic partner in Southeast Asia, and in the international war against terrorism. President Arroyo, whose father was President of the Philippines at the time of the signing of the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty, understands this new global war because terrorist groups inside the Philippines, trained and supported by bin Laden and other terrorists, have committed hundreds of acts of violence and kidnapping against the Filipinos over these last few years.

This legislation has nothing to do with partisan politics. It does express bipartisan support for the efforts to rescue American citizens being held by the bin Laden-backed Abu Sayyaf terrorist group.

Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 273, cosponsored by 32 bipartisan Members of the Congress, expresses, number 1, gratitude to President Arroyo and the people of the Philippines for their sympathy and support since the September 11 terrorist attack. Number 2, it affirms the commitment of the United States to the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty. Number 3, it supports the efforts of the Philippine government to prevent and suppress terrorism; and finally, it supports the promise recently made by President Bush to address the economic and military needs of the Philippines in order to defeat the internal terrorism that threatens that country.

Mr. Speaker, we should stand together, yes, tonight, to say that we are going to rescue those Americans held hostage in the Philippines and, number 2, that we stand in solidarity with the people of the Philippines in their struggle of having democratic government threatened from the outside and the inside.

The people of the Philippines now deserve our help. They are stepping forward again to be America's best friends, and we should extend our hand in friendship as well. It is what is right for America and right for the Philippines and right for the cause of freedom and justice. . . .

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I thank him for his leadership on issues relating to human rights, especially in the Philippines and Afghanistan and so many other places where he has made a difference.

This resolution, House Concurrent Resolution 273, underscores a very important aspect of our relationship to another country, the Philippines. The Philippines and the U.S. have had a long-standing, deep, and very strong relationship; so it was not surprising to me that President Arroyo was first out of the blocks to support the United States in our campaign to defeat al Qaeda. That is what we expect from an ally. We do not always get that from allies, but we got it in a very real way from our good friends in the Philippines.

As Members know, and this was pointed out by the gentleman from California (Mr. ROHRABACHER) a moment ago, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Philippines-U.S. Mutual Defense Pact, which has helped to preserve and protect the peace after the Philippines went through a horrific ordeal, an ordeal that was endured by many of our own U.S. soldiers, the Bataan Death March, for example, during World War II; and the large numbers of threats that followed: the Communist threat, the corruption threats that followed World War II.

I would note parenthetically, Mr. Speaker, that my father, after fighting very terrible battles in New Guinea and many other battles against the Japanese, was part of the force that liberated the Philippines from the Japanese. He always spoke to my brothers and I of the good people of the Philippines. He always spoke of them in glowing and affectionate terms, a feeling that was shared by so many of our GIs when they spent time there fighting alongside the Filipino scouts, who were tenacious fighters in their own right.

As chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, we continue to provide significant health and other benefits to the Filipino veterans, and that again underscores the relationship of our Nation with the Philippine nation.

Finally, just let me note that the Philippines have been somewhat unique in protecting and helping refugees themselves. When other nations were in the process of closing what was known as the Comprehensive Plan of Action, the rescue that was provided internationally to the boat people, there were about 2,000 boat people in the Philippines. Other nations were forcibly repatriating these good people.

President Ramos, when he saw what was happening, what did he do? He said, Not our Nation. We are going to maintain a welcome mat to these people, about 2,000 strong. I think that spoke very well of the good-heartedness of those people in the Philippines.

Finally, the Philippine Government and the nation is also a major platform for the Voice of America and the broadcasting that emanates from that. We are hoping very soon that Radio Free Asia will also have a platform there, as well.

This is a great resolution. Again, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. ROHRABACHER) for his leadership. As usual, he is in the forefront of a very good cause.

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me, and I thank our good sponsor of the measure for his kind words.

I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Chairman HYDE) for expediting consideration of this measure. I commend our colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. ROHRABACHER), for crafting this important resolution. He has certainly been a staunch advocate for the Pacific Rim communities and especially for the Philippines and Afghanistan.

I want to commend, too, our ranking minority member, the gentleman from California (Mr. LANTOS), for his support of this measure. This measure reaffirms our special relationship between our Nation and the Republic of the Philippines.

This resolution notes that special relationship of mutual benefit, which goes back for more than 100 years, this year marking the 50th anniversary of the 1951 U.S.-Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty. Throughout the years and many wars, this treaty has beneficially served both of our nations.

Once again, the relationship showed its great value soon after the terrorists' brutal attack on our Nation on September 11, when our Philippine friends were steadfast in their support, making all of their military installations available to the United States Armed Forces for transit, for refueling, for resupply, and for staging operations.

Moreover, in World War II, Philippine soldiers and scouts served courageously side by side with our Nation's Armed Forces; and regrettably, we have yet to take note of that service.

Currently, the Philippine Government is facing a serious challenge from the radical Abu Sayef group, as well as an armed secessionist movement, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The Abu Sayef group has historical ties to Osama bin Laden and the al Qaeda network and is engaged in hundreds of acts of terrorism in the Philippines, including bombings, arson, and kidnapping.

Just this past May, Abu Sayef kidnapped U.S. citizens Martin Burnham, Gracie Burnham, and Guillermo Sobero, who was later killed. This terrorist group continues to detain Martin Burnham and Gracie Burnham.

Mr. Speaker, the Philippines faces a serious challenge today from the Communist Party of the Philippines and a challenge to its territorial integrity from the People's Republic of China, which has been claiming the Spratley Islands and other Philippine coastal areas.

Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to fully support House Concurrent Resolution 273 so we can send a strong signal to those who are threatening our democratic friends in the Philippines through their terrorism and regional hegemony. . . .

(end excerpts)

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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