,,iii #aaeth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #bag ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #aa1 #bjag ,mr4 ,cardin 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,mr4 ,menendez1 ,ms4 ,baldwin1 ,mr4 ,perdue1 ,mr4 ,cotton1 and ,mr4 ,mc,cain7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,welcoming ,prime ,minister ,youssef ,chahed of the ,tunisian ,republic on his first official visit to the ,united ,states1 congratulating the people of the ,tunisian ,republic on their embrace of democracy after decades of dictatorship1 and encouraging future reforms4 ,whereas1 on ,december #ag1 #bjaj1 ,mohammad ,bouazizi1 a young fruit vendor in ,sidi ,bouzid1 set himself on fire to protest his unjust treatment by the regime of ,tunisian ,president ,zine al ,abidine ,ben ,ali1 and in his death inspired the ,jasmine ,revolution in the ,tunisian ,republic and popular revolutions across the ,arab world of citizens demanding transparency1 reform1 and representation2 ,whereas1 on ,january #ad1 #bjaa1 the peaceful mass protests of the ,jasmine ,revolution successfully brought to an end the authoritarian rule of ,president ,ben ,ali2 ,whereas1 in the aftermath of ,ben ,ali's resignation1 ,tunisians initiated a peaceful1 consensus-based1 inclusive1 and civilian-directed transition to democracy2 ,whereas1 on ,january #bf1 #bjad1 the ,tunisian ,republic adopted its first constitution drafted by a democratically elected governing body1 formally ending a period of transitional governments2 ,whereas the new constitution of the ,tunisian ,republic enshrines gender equality through enumerated rights and responsibilities1 protects the rights of minorities1 and specifically outlaws religiously motivated violence2 ,whereas1 on ,october #bf1 #bjad1 the ,tunisian ,republic held its first parliamentary elections under the new constitution1 which the international community praised as free and fair2 ,whereas1 on ,december #ca1 #bjad1 after winning free and fair ,presidential elections1 ,beiji ,caid ,essebsi was inaugurated as the first freely elected ,president of the ,tunisian ,republic2 ,whereas1 on ,october #i1 #bjae1 the ,norwegian ,nobel ,committee awarded the ,tunisian ,national ,dialogue ,quartet1 a coalition of four civil society organizations1 the #bjae ,nobel ,peace ,prize for the coalition's work in building on the promise of the #bjaa ,jasmine ,revolution and ensuring the transition of the ,tunisian ,republic into a democracy did not descend into violence2 ,whereas ,president ,essebsi1 ,prime ,minister ,chahed1 and other political leaders of the ,tunisian ,republic have formed a national unity government to work in the national interest of the ,tunisian ,republic2 ,whereas the political evolution of the ,tunisian ,republic stands as a model for citizens of other states aspiring to establish the institutions of democracy after a history of autocratic rule2 ,whereas1 on ,march #ah1 #bjae1 a terrorist attack on the ,bardo ,national ,museum killed #ba people2 ,whereas1 on ,july #bf1 #bjae1 a terrorist attack on a beach in the town of ,sousse left #ch people1 including #cj ,british nationals1 dead1 and dealt a blow to tourism in the ,tunisian ,republic1 an important industry upon which the economy of the ,tunisian ,republic depends2 ,whereas a terrorist attack on ,november #bd1 #bjae1 on the ,presidential ,guard of the ,tunisian ,republic killed #ab people2 ,whereas1 in the aftermath of these attacks1 citizens and leaders of the ,tunisian ,republic have reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue1 pluralism1 and democracy2 ,whereas the ,tunisian ,republic continues to face serious threats to its security from violent extremist groups operating within the ,tunisian ,republic as well as in neighboring countries2 ,whereas1 in ,july #bjae1 the ,united ,states designated the ,tunisian ,republic as a major non-,,nato ally2 ,whereas the ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic1 as a member of the ,global ,coalition to ,counter the ,islamic ,state of ,iraq and ,syria 7,,isis71 is seeking to reduce the significant number of ,tunisian citizens who become foreign fighters for ,,isis2 ,whereas the ,tunisian ,republic faces economic challenges1 including high inflation and high unemployment1 especially among young ,tunisians2 ,whereas ,prime ,minister ,chahed has committed to combating corruption and facilitating necessary economic reforms for the prosperity of the people of the ,tunisian ,republic2 ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government is committed to continuing a strong economic partnership with the ,tunisian ,republic as the ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic undertakes reforms to transform its economy to meet the aspirations of all citizens of the ,tunisian ,republic2 ,whereas it is the interest of the ,united ,states1 and consistent with the values of the ,united ,states1 to support the aspirations of the people of the ,tunisian ,republic in developing a pluralist democracy and transparent1 effective institutions2 ,whereas the ,governments and people of the ,united ,states and the ,tunisian ,republic have enjoyed friendly relations for more than #bjj years2 ,whereas1 in accordance with the ,u4,s4-,tunisia ,strategic ,partnership1 both countries are dedicated to working together to promote economic development and business opportunities in the ,tunisian ,republic1 education for the advancement of long-term development in the ,tunisian ,republic1 and increased security cooperation to address common threats in the ,tunisian ,republic and across the region2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states ,government should provide a level of funding to strongly assist and reinforce the promising transition of the ,tunisian ,republic into a democratic1 stable1 and prosperous nation3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 welcomes ,prime ,minister ,chahed on his first official visit to the ,united ,states2 7#b7 commends the political leaders of the ,tunisian ,republic for their willingness to compromise and work together in the national interest and form a national unity government2 7#c7 reaffirms the commitment of the ,united ,states ,government to the ,tunisian ,republic1 including a commitment to provide appropriate levels of assistance1 in support of the ongoing transition of the ,tunisian ,republic to an inclusive1 prosperous1 and secure democracy2 7#d7 condemns all acts of terrorism1 and extends condolences to the families of victims of terrorism and to the people and ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic2 7#e7 commends the people and ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic for their resilience in the face of terrorist attacks and their enduring commitment to a free1 democratic1 and peaceful ,tunisian ,republic2 7#f7 encourages ,prime ,minister ,chahed and the parliament of the ,tunisian ,republic to work together to accelerate economic reforms and anti-corruption measures2 7#g7 looks forward to the continued implementation of the #bjad constitution of the ,tunisian ,republic1 including the new protections of civil liberties2 7#h7 urges the authorities of the ,tunisian ,republic to continue to make every effort to prevent the continued flow of ,tunisian jihadist foreign fighters to ,syria and ,iraq2 7#i7 calls on the neighbors and partners of the ,tunisian ,republic to work in concert with the ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic to counter terrorist threats1 secure borders1 and support the democratic transition of the ,tunisian ,republic2 7#aj7 strongly urges the ,government of the ,tunisian ,republic to cease support for all resolutions and other measures that discriminate against or otherwise target ,israel in the ,united ,nations ,education1 ,science1 and ,cultural ,organization 7,,unesco7 and other ,united ,nations organizations2 and 7#aa7 reaffirms the historic and continuing friendship between the people of the ,united ,states and the people of the ,tunisian ,republic4