,,iv #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #eeb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,october #b1 #bjag,mr4 ,payne submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,reaffirming the ,united ,states-,liberia partnership1 and calling for free1 fair1 and peaceful elections in ,liberia in ,october #bjag4 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,liberia share broad and deep bilateral ties over the course of a nearly #bjj-year relationship2 ,whereas the ,united ,states established diplomatic relations with ,liberia in #ahfd2 ,whereas it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of ,liberians died in the country's two interconnected civil wars from #aihi to #bjjc and many more fled as refugees2 ,whereas today the ,united ,states is home to an estimated #hj1jjj people of ,liberian ancestry in vibrant communities across the country1 many of whom sought refuge from the violence during the civil wars2 ,whereas the people and ,government of the ,united ,states have a deep and abiding interest in ,liberia's democratic stability and post-conflict development2 ,whereas ,united ,states assistance to ,liberia since the end of its second civil war in #bjjc has supported post-conflict recovery and a subsequent sustained transition toward broad-based economic growth1 improved access to high-quality education1 health system strengthening1 enhanced socioeconomic welfare for the people of ,liberia1 the professionalization of the country's military and civilian security forces1 efforts to foster the capacities1 accountability1 and transparency of government institutions1 and the consolidation of participatory democracy2 ,whereas in #bjje1 and again in #bjaa1 the citizens of ,liberia elected ,ellen ,johnson ,sirleaf as their ,president1 making her the first woman to be elected ,president of an ,african nation2 ,whereas ,president ,sirleaf was awarded the ,united ,states ,presidential ,medal of ,freedom on ,november #e1 #bjjg1 for defending and advancing the democratic rights of her fellow citizens1 in the face of house arrest1 foreign exile1 death threats1 and imprisonment1 and the ,noble ,peace ,prize on ,october #g1 #bjaa1 for contributing to the nonviolent struggle for the security and rights of women2 ,whereas the ,government of ,liberia has contributed to efforts to foster peace1 stability1 democratization1 as well as regional economic growth1 development1 and integration in ,west ,africa1 as demonstrated by ,president ,sirleaf's role in mediating a peaceful transfer of power in the ,gambia in ,january #bjag and her broader leadership as #bjaf-bjag ,chairperson of the ,authority of ,heads of ,state and ,government of the ,economic ,community of ,west ,african ,states2 ,whereas ,liberia will hold ,presidential and legislative elections on ,october #aj1 #bjag2 ,whereas successful #bjag elections are expected to lead to ,liberia's first democratic transfer of power since #aidd2 and ,whereas public confidence in the electoral process is vital to advancing democracy in ,liberia and for ensuring the success of the elections3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 upholds its commitment to maintain and foster the enduring relationship between the people and the ,governments of the ,united ,states and ,liberia2 7#b7 commends ,president ,ellen ,johnson ,sirleaf for efforts to consolidate post-conflict peacebuilding and democratic gains1 promote social and economic development1 and foster ties with the international community1 and for her work to advance international gender equality2 7#c7 urges the ,government and people of ,liberia and all of the country's political parties to-- 7,a7 hold free1 fair1 credible1 and peaceful elections in ,october #bjag and in the future2 7,b7 adhere to the objectives set out in the ,ganta and ,farmington ,river ,declarations and promote and ensure peaceful conduct among candidates1 their supporters1 and ,liberian citizens generally2 7,c7 ensure that there is robust civic education and electoral campaign outreach to often politically marginalized groups1 including women1 urban youth1 and rural communities2 and 7,d7 raise awareness of and express zero tolerance for violence against women1 gender discrimination1 or social bias of any nature in the electoral process2 7#d7 supports efforts by the ,department of ,state and the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development to assist in election preparations2 7#e7 calls on ,liberian citizens to fully participate in the general elections and to pursue legal avenues to resolve any disputes over the results2 7#f7 encourages ,liberian civil society organizations to intensify civic and voter education1 particularly among women1 youth1 and rural communities1 and in local languages2 7#g7 condemns any external interference in the election1 including any communication or action by convicted war criminal and former armed faction leader ,charles ,taylor to influence the elections from prison2 7#h7 encourages ,president ,donald ,trump to appoint an ,assistant ,secretary of ,state for ,african ,affairs to bolster diplomatic engagement with the ,government of ,liberia1 electoral stakeholders1 and civil society and robustly engage with other sub-,saharan ,african countries and governments2 7#i7 calls upon the ,united ,states ,government and international partners1 especially election-focused nongovernmental organizations1 to continue to support successful elections and ,liberia's anticipated historic democratic post-electoral transition of ,executive power2 and 7#aj7 welcomes the visit of ,president ,ellen ,johnson ,sirleaf to the ,united ,states ,congress for her final address as ,president of ,liberia4