,,iii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #fcb ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,june #ah1 #bjbj,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mr4 ,rubio1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 and ,mr4 ,cruz7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,reaffirming the partnership between the ,united ,states and the ,republic of ,ecuador and recognizing the restoration and advancement of economic relations1 security1 and development opportunities in both nations4 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,ecuador have enjoyed a history of bilateral partnership and cooperation1 and share the aims of promoting democratic values1 economic prosperity1 and the security of both nations2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,ecuador have taken important steps to restore the bilateral relationship between the ,united ,states and ,ecuador1 including by signing various agreements to strengthen economic ties1 security cooperation1 and development opportunities2 ,whereas ,president ,moreno has signaled ,ecuador's commitment to promoting democratic values and has advocated for greater government transparency2 ,whereas in ,february #bjah1 more than #fd percent of ,ecuadorians voted1 in a constitutional referendum1 to reinstate a #b-term presidential limit1 an effort that was carried out by ,president ,moreno's administration and which is indicative of the ,ecuadorian people's support for presidential term limits as a reasonable check against a history of corruption and abuse of power2 ,whereas the ,united ,states-,ecuador bilateral relationship has been historically characterized by strong commercial and investment ties through the ,generalized ,system of ,preferences1 the ,united ,states-,ecuador ,trade and ,investment ,council1 and the ,treaty between the ,united ,states of ,america and the ,republic of ,ecuador ,concerning the ,encouragement and ,reciprocal ,protection of ,investment1 done at ,washington ,august #bg1 #aiic1 which was terminated by ,ecuador's previous government1 effective ,may #ah1 #bjah2 ,whereas ,president ,moreno's administration has committed to implement economic policies that will lay the groundwork for sustainable economic growth1 while protecting the poorest and most vulnerable people2 ,whereas1 under ,president ,moreno's leadership1 there have been significant advances in areas related to freedom of expression1 including through the reform of the controversial ,ecuadorian ,communications ,law2 ,whereas the ,government of ,ecuador has called for the peaceful restoration of democracy and the rule of law in ,venezuela and ,ecuador has been a generous host of approximately #che1jjj ,venezuelan refugees2 ,whereas1 on ,may #ae1 #bjai1 the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development 7,,usaid7 and ,ecuador's ,ministry of ,foreign ,affairs and ,human ,mobility signed a ,memorandum of ,understanding agreeing to the return of the ,,usaid ,mission to ,ecuador after the #ec-year program was forced to close in #bjad due to tensions in the bilateral relationship2 ,whereas ,ecuador has been one of the countries most affected by the ,,covid-#ai pandemic in ,latin ,america1 with more than #db1jjj confirmed cases and approximately #c1ejj deaths as of ,june #e1 #bjbj1 which has overwhelmed the country's health care system and aggravated the country's already challenging economic situation2 ,whereas in response to the ,,covid-#ai pandemic1 ,,usaid is providing ,ecuador with technical support and training in diagnostics1 and technical assistance in clinical management1 risk communication1 and community engagement2 and ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,ecuador have agreed to advance security cooperation on law enforcement1 counternarcotics1 anticorruption1 and bilateral military training and assistance3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 reaffirms its commitment-- 7,a7 to the historic partnership between the ,united ,states and ,ecuador2 and 7,b7 to continue working to strengthen the relationship between the ,united ,states and ,ecuador based on mutual respect and shared democratic values and principles2 7#b7 recognizes ,president ,lenin ,moreno and his administration for recommitting ,ecuador to democratic values1 anti-corruption efforts1 and the adoption of economic policies that will benefit the people of ,ecuador2 7#c7 commends the important steps that ,president ,moreno and his administration have taken to protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press in his country2 7#d7 encourages the ,republic of ,ecuador to ensure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are protected2 and 7#e7 supports actions to strengthen the historic bilateral relationship between the ,united ,states and ,ecuador1 including-- 7,a7 the establishment of robust bilateral trade and investment frameworks with ,ecuador to build mutual prosperity through greater transparency and competitiveness2 7,b7 stronger law enforcement and security cooperation between the two countries1 including in cybersecurity1 border management1 counternarcotics1 anti-money laundering1 military and civilian security professionalization1 and criminal justice capabilities2 7,c7 the return of the ,united ,states ,agency for ,international ,development and the extension of the ,peace ,corps ,program in ,ecuador2 7,d7 continued ,united ,states assistance for ,ecuador's response to combat the ,,covid-#ai pandemic2 7,e7 closer ties between ,americans and ,ecuadoreans through ,english language learning and teaching programs that foster greater professional and educational opportunities2 7,f7 continued efforts to protect freedom of expression and freedom of the press2 and 7,g7 continued efforts to ensure that the rights of refugees and asylum seekers are protected4