,,iv #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,,res4 #dhb ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,july #aj1 #bjai,mr4 ,bilirakis 7for himself and ,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,resolution ,expressing the sense of the ,house of ,representatives regarding ,united ,states efforts to promote peace and stability in the ,gulf region between and among ,united ,states allies4 ,whereas the ,united ,states maintains a strategic alliance with numerous countries located in the ,gulf region and specifically enjoys a strong relationship and partnership with the member nations of the ,gulf ,cooperative ,council 7,,gcc72 ,whereas the ,,gcc is a regional political and economic union consisting of its member states of ,bahrain1 ,kuwait1 ,oman1 ,qatar1 ,saudi ,arabia1 and the ,united ,arab ,emirates 7,,uae7 formally established by the ,charter of the ,gulf ,cooperation ,council on ,may #be1 #aiha2 ,whereas the ,united ,states respects the state sovereignty of all member states in the ,,gcc2 ,whereas the ,,gcc has been a stabilizing force since #aiha in the aftermath of the #aigi ,islamic revolution in ,iran and the turbulence following the outbreak of the ,iran-,iraq ,war in #aihj2 ,whereas the founding charter of the ,,gcc emphasized the integration and interconnection of economics1 education1 and culture among members designed to respond to concerns that ,iran would emerge as a political1 ideological1 and economic power2 ,whereas1 on ,june #e1 #bjag1 ,saudi ,arabia1 ,,uae1 ,bahrain1 and ,egypt officially cut diplomatic ties with ,qatar1 a member state of the ,,gcc1 resulting in a cessation of diplomatic relations1 closed borders and airspace with ,qatar1 and a blockade that has now stretched longer than one year1 and creating increased tensions between members of the ,,gcc1 as well as with other ,united ,states allies in the region2 ,whereas ,qatar's isolation by these countries has created a diplomatic crisis in the ,gulf region challenging the unity of nations that comprise the ,,gcc1 as well as the security of the entire region2 ,whereas1 on ,january #ac1 #bjai1 ,secretary of ,state ,mike ,pompeo stated that the rift between ,qatar and its ,gulf neighbors had gone on for too long and was threatening regional unity needed to counter ,iran2 ,whereas ,secretary ,pompeo also noted that ,gulf unity was essential for a planned ,middle ,east ,strategic ,alliance 7,,mesa7 that would also include ,jordan and ,egypt2 ,whereas a key component of the ,united ,states military strategy in the ,gulf is the maintenance of a ,united ,states military presence in the region with ,united ,states ,armed ,forces stationed at various ,gulf state facilities that the ,united ,states has access to1 in accordance with ,defense ,cooperation ,agreements between the ,united ,states and these countries2 ,whereas ,al-,udeid ,air ,base has allowed the ,united ,states to use strategic assets to counter ,,isis1 command and control ,united ,states air power in the region1 and conduct missions integral to addressing conflicts in ,yemen1 ,syria1 ,iraq1 ,afghanistan1 and over #ae other nations2 ,whereas1 on ,january #ad1 #bjai1 ,secretary ,pompeo signed a memorandum of understanding with ,qatar regarding the expansion and renovation of ,al-,udeid ,air ,base1 which hosts the forward headquarters of the ,united ,states military's ,central ,command and some #aj1jjj ,american troops2 ,whereas the ability of ,,isis and other terrorist groups to maintain influence in the ,gulf runs counter to the national security objectives of the ,united ,states1 the ,,gcc1 and the entire region2 ,whereas the ,president of the ,united ,states has recognized the importance of regional cooperation and a united ,,gcc to mitigate regional threats and ensure the region's economic prosperity1 counter ,iranian destabilizing activities1 and defeat terrorists and extremists2 ,whereas1 on ,april #bc1 #bjag1 ,united ,states ,ambassador to ,kuwait ,lawrence ,silverman stated that ,president ,trump was eager to find a quick and final solution to the ,gulf crisis1 and ,kuwait's ,foreign ,minister ,khaled al-,jarallah said1 ,kuwait and the ,gulf countries were determined to solve the crisis2 ,whereas the ,government of ,kuwait has led ,,gcc efforts to resolve the crisis and has historically called for regional solidarity and diplomatic solutions to regional conflicts2 ,whereas the ,trump administration has sought to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the crisis by hosting visits by several ,gulf leaders including that of ,qatar in ,march and ,april #bjah and other nations in the region1 to mediate a resolution of the dispute2 ,whereas a prolonged rift between our allies in the region threatens efforts to counter ,iran and regional terrorist groups2 ,whereas the lengthy blockade has exacted an untold humanitarian cost on all the people of the region1 long-term damage to the ,,gcc's economic and financial integration1 and considerable harm to the region's social bonds and cultural fabric2 and ,whereas the blockade of ,qatar has undermined the ,middle ,east's stability and the ,united ,states has a significant national security interest in the stability and economic prosperity of the ,gulf3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,house of ,representatives-- 7#a7 reaffirms its appreciation to the ,government of ,kuwait for the efforts they have made in trying to facilitate mediation between the ,gulf ,cooperative ,council 7,,gcc7 and its member states2 7#b7 reaffirms its support for the ,,gcc and its member states as allies and partners in combatting terrorism and promoting stability and prosperity in the ,gulf region2 7#c7 reaffirms ,united ,states policy toward the ,,gcc and our allies1 which has remained consistent for decades1 that a united ,gulf is in the best interests of the entire ,middle ,east2 and 7#d7 encourages ,president ,trump and the ,secretary of ,state to use all efforts at their disposal to resolve the current crisis peacefully in a manner that is consistent with ,united ,states policy in the region and will be enduring and enforceable1 by initiating a serious mediation effort with ,,gcc members and ,egypt1 including the possibility of hosting a summit among the ,,gcc1 ,egypt1 and the ,united ,states4