,,iv #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #big ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #aa1 #bjac ,mr4 ,grimm 7for himself and ,mr4 ,meeks7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,congratulating the ,state of ,qatar on the ascension of their new amir1 ,sheik ,tamim bin ,hamad ,al ,thani on ,june #be1 #bjac1 and recognizing the special relationship between the ,united ,states and the ,state of ,qatar4 ,whereas since the signing of the ,defense ,cooperation ,agreement in #aiia and joint military coordination in ,operation ,desert ,storm1 ,qatar has been one of the ,united ,states strongest and most valued allies in the ,middle ,east2 ,whereas the #ah-year reign of ,sheik ,tamim's father1 ,his ,highness ,sheik ,hamad bin ,khalifa ,al ,thani marked a pivotal period of political modernization and reform in the small ,gulf nation1 and commenced a series of diplomatic1 cultural1 and economic engagement between ,qatar and the ,west2 ,whereas ,qatar has been a staunch partner of the ,united ,states in promoting peace and stability in the ,arab world1 and has been a driving force in opposing extremism and authoritarian oppression2 ,whereas ,al ,udeid ,air ,base and ,as ,saliyah ,army ,base south of ,doha have served as major operations and basing hubs for ,united ,states ,central ,command 7,,centcom7 strategic central facilities in the ,war on ,terror in ,iraq and ,afghanistan2 ,whereas in #bjaa1 ,qatar deployed fighter jets and transport planes to support the joint ,united ,states-,north ,atlantic ,treaty ,organization 7,,nato7 military intervention against ,muammar ,qaddafi in ,libya1 and has also been one of the staunchest advocates in pressuring the international community to liberate the ,syrian people from the oppressive ,bashar al-,assad regime2 ,whereas ,qatar has fostered invaluable1 international academic exchange in the arts and sciences by hosting satellite campuses of major ,united ,states universities and medical institutions including ,georgetown ,university ,school of ,foreign ,service1 ,cornell ,university1 ,northwestern ,university1 ,virginia ,commonwealth ,university ,school of the ,arts1 ,texas ,a,m ,university1 and ,carnegie ,mellon ,university2 ,whereas the ,al ,thani royal family has earnestly promoted good will and friendship between the ,united ,states and ,qatar1 and in #bjje ,amir ,hamad bin ,khalifa donated #ajj1jjj1jjj to help rebuild housing1 hospitals1 and schools in the ,gulf region following ,hurricane ,katrina2 ,whereas ,his ,highness ,amir ,tamim bin ,hamad ,al ,thani's background as a ,british-educated businessman1 deputy head of ,qatar's armed forces1 and membership on the ,international ,olympic ,committee perfectly suit him to continue his country's legacy as a positive force for peace1 stability1 investment1 and modernization in the ,arab world and beyond2 and ,whereas the #cc-year-old amir's resonance with the young people in the ,middle ,east uniquely qualify him to build upon the call among the youth of the ,arab world to implement the ,arab ,spring's promises of liberty and political reform3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 congratulates ,his ,highness ,amir ,tamim bin ,hamad ,al ,thani on his ascension to the throne2 7#b7 expresses thanks and appreciation to the departing amir1 ,sheikh ,hamad bin ,khalifa ,al ,thani2 and 7#c7 recognizes the continued friendship between the ,united ,states and the people of the ,state of ,qatar4