,,iv #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ba ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #f1 #bjag,mr4 ,engel 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,issa1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,mr4 ,keating1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 ,ms4 ,gabbard1 ,mr4 ,deutch1 ,mr4 ,bera1 ,mr4 ,ted ,lieu of ,california1 ,mr4 ,castro of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,mrs4 ,torres1 ,mr4 ,sires1 ,mr4 ,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,ms4 ,speier1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,ms4 ,hanabusa1 ,ms4 ,bordallo1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,courtney1 ,mr4 ,crowley1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mr4 ,schneider1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 and ,mr4 ,mc,govern7 submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,reaffirming a strong commitment to the ,united ,states-,australia alliance relationship4 ,whereas ,australia is a vital partner of the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,australia share core values as well as deep cultural1 security1 and people-to-people ties2 ,whereas ,australia has been a treaty ally of the ,united ,states since the signing of the ,australia-,new ,zealand-,united ,states 7,,anzus7 ,treaty in #aiea2 ,whereas an alliance bond is a sacred vow of friendship and trust1 and ,australia has always been a faithful and reliable partner to the ,united ,states2 ,whereas ,united ,states-,australia defense and intelligence ties and cooperation are exceptionally close1 and ,australian forces have fought together with the ,united ,states military in every significant conflict since ,world ,war ,i and over #ajj1jjj ,australian servicemembers have paid the highest price in the course of their service alongside ,american allies2 ,whereas ,australia was one of the first countries to commit troops to ,united ,states military operations in ,afghanistan and ,iraq after ,september #aa1 #bjja2 ,whereas ,australia is a close partner of the ,united ,states1 sharing information essential to the defense and security of the two countries1 including through the ,five ,eyes intelligence community2 ,whereas the ,united ,states-,australia alliance is an anchor for peace and stability in the ,indo-,asia ,pacific region and around the world2 ,whereas ,australia has welcomed proposals to reposition ,united ,states ,marines to maintain ,marine forces in the western ,pacific and improve the ,united ,states strategic posture in the ,indo-,asia ,pacific region2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,air ,force and the ,australian ,air ,force have expanded cooperation and training to enhance the interoperability of the militaries of the two countries2 ,whereas ,australia has led peacekeeping efforts in the ,indo-,asia ,pacific region1 including in ,timor-,leste and the ,solomon ,islands2 ,whereas ,australia and the ,united ,states share strategic interests in the ,indo-,asia ,pacific region and globally1 and have worked together to promote these shared goals and objectives2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,australia have been free trade agreement partners since #bjje1 and the ,united ,states has a positive trade balance with ,australia2 ,whereas robust ,united ,states-,australia defense cooperation contributes not only to the mutual defense of the two countries but also to ,american jobs2 ,whereas more than #cjj1jjj ,u4,s4 jobs are supported by ,united ,states exports to ,australia and nearly #i1jjj ,australian companies sell or operate in the ,united ,states2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,australia work closely in the numerous global and regional fora1 including the ,world ,trade ,organization and the ,asia-,pacific ,economic ,cooperation forum2 ,whereas ,australia shares many of the ,united ,states concerns in the struggle against ,islamist militancy in ,southeast ,asia and beyond1 and is part of the global coalition to defeat the so-called ,islamic ,state 7,,is72 and ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,australia have enjoyed a close relationship over many successive ,republican and ,democratic administrations3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 reaffirms the strong alliance relationship between ,australia and the ,united ,states2 7#b7 supports continued diplomatic1 military1 and economic cooperation between ,australia and the ,united ,states2 and 7#c7 reaffirms the importance of a ,united ,states-,australia relationship based on mutual respect and befitting a close and longstanding ,united ,states alliance partner crucial to the preservation of ,united ,states national interests in the ,indo-,asia ,pacific region and around the world4