,,iii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session   
,s4 ,,res4 #ed  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! 
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #d1 #bjbe,mr4 
,lee 7= himself1 ,mr4 ,scott ( ,florida1
 ,mr4 ,tub]ville1 & ,mrs4 ,blackburn7   
submitt$ ! foll[+ resolution2 :i* 0     
ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,=eign        
,relations  ,,resolution  ,express+ !   
vital importance ( ! ,panama ,canal to !
 ,unit$ ,/ates4  ,:]eas e>ly ef=ts ( !  
,colombian ,gov]nm5t & ,fr5* inve/ors to
 con/ruct a canal across ,panama 7      
unsuccessful & result$ 9 bankruptcy by  
#ahhi2 ,:]eas1 z a condition ( ,unit$   
,/ates ,gov]nm5t support = ,panama's    
indep5d5ce f ,colombia1 includ+ !       
position+ ( ,unit$ ,/ates troops 9 !    
!n-t]ritory ( ,panama1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates 0
 to be assur$ access to con/ruct &      
control a canal 9 p]petuity1 an agreem5t
 t culm9at$ 9 ! ,hay-,bunau-,v>illa     
,treaty1 sign$ at ,wa%+ton ,novemb] #ah1
 #aijc2 ,:]eas ! ,panama ,canal 0 nev]  
initiat$1 eng9e]$1 or built by !        
,panamanian ,gov]nm5t2 ,:]eas ! ,unit$  

,/ates ,gov]nm5t fund$1 pione]$1 & built
 ! ,panama ,canal ov] a #aj-ye> p]iod f 
#aijd to #aiad1 at a co/ ( #cge1jjj1jjj 
& #aj1jjj lives1 & rais$ ! canal above  
sea level ?r\gh con/ruction ( a lock    
sy/em2 ,:]eas1 hi/orically1 ! ,panama   
,canal has be5 di/9ct f ! sov]eign      
t]ritory ( ,panama2 ,:]eas ! ,panama    
,canal s]ves z a vital connection betwe5
 ! ,atlantic & ,pacific ,oceans1        
connect+ ! ea/ & we/ coa/s ( ! ,unit$   
,/ates & provid+ passage = m ?an #ad1jjj
 vessels 9 #bjbc2 ,:]eas1 approximately 
#gb p]c5t ( vessels travel+ ?r\gh !     
,panama ,canal are travel+ to or f      
,unit$ ,/ates ports2 ,:]eas1 )\t !      
,panama ,canal1 vessels w\ld h to pass  
?r\gh ! notori\sly dang]\s ,cape ,horn1 
ext5d+ transit by ne>ly #h1jjj miles2   
,:]eas1 9 #aigg1 ,presid5t ,c>t]        
surr5d]$ ,unit$ ,/ates control ov] !    
,panama ,canal 9 a s]ies ( treaties )   
,panama kn[n z ! ,torrijos-,c>t]        
,treaties2 ,:]eas "o ( ^? treaties1 !   
,treaty ,conc]n+ ! ,p]man5t ,neutrality 

& ,op]ation ( ! ,panama ,canal1 sign$ at
 ,wa%+ton ,septemb] #g1 #aigg1 o!rwise  
kn[n z ! ,neutrality ,treaty1 res]v$ !  
"r ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates to use arm$ =ce to 
def5d ! p]man5t neutrality ( ! ,panama  
,canal2 ,:]eas1 = ne>ly a decade1 ! ,p's
 ,republic ( ,*9a has /eadily increas$  
its footpr9t 9 ! ,panama ,canal2 ,:]eas1
 9 #bjaf1 ,panama c$$ control ( ,m>g>ita
 ,isl&1 ! ,panama ,canal's l>ge/        
,atlantic port1 to ! ,p's ,republic (   
,*9a-affiliat$ ,l&bridge ,gr\p 9 a      
#ijj1jjj1jjj agreem5t2 ,:]eas1 9 #bjah1 
,panama ent]$ into a #a1djj1jjj1jjj     
agreem5t = ! ,*9a ,communications       
,con/ruction ,company & ! ,*9a ,h>bor   
,eng9e]+ ,company to con/ruct ! f\r?    
bridge across ! ,panama ,canal2 ,:]eas  
,,ck ,hut*ison ,hold+s1 bas$ 9 ,hong    
,kong1 manages two ( ! ,panama ,canal's 
five ports1 includ+ ! ,balboa port along
 ! ,pacific & ,cri/obal port along !    
,atlantic2 ,:]eas ! rapid accel]ation ( 
,*9ese influ5ce 9 ! ,panama ,canal poses
 a high risk ( intellig5ce-ga!r+ &      

surveillance by ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a2
 ,:]eas ,*9ese law requires ! assets (  
civilian firms to be made available to  
support ! arm$ =ces ( ! ,p's ,republic (
 ,*9a2 ,:]eas ! ,panama ,canal w\ld s]ve
 z a logi/ics po9t betwe5 ! ea/ & we/   
coa/s ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates 9 ! ev5t ( a    
conflict involv+ ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$    
,=ces1 cem5t+ its value to homel& &     
hemisph]ic def5se2 & ,:]eas ! ability ( 
! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a to control major
 entry & exit po9ts ( ! ,panama ,canal  
w\ld provide ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a ) a
 significant milit>y advantage relevant 
to ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces 9 ! ev5t ( 
a conflict3 ,n[1 !re=e1 be x ,t !       
,s5ate-- 7#a7 recognizes ! +5uity &     
labor ( ,am]icans t made ! ,panama      
,canal possible = future g5]ations1 )   
special reg>d = ^? ,am]icans :o lo/ _!  
lives 9 pursuit ( ! ,panama ,canal      
project2  7#b7 expresses t ! ,panama    
,canal is vital to ,unit$ ,/ates        
regional security1 hemisph]ic hegemony1 
& economic int]e/s2  7#c7 assesses t a  

patt]n ( ,*9ese-back$ inve/m5t 9 port   
infra/ructure & canal op]ations 9       
,panama con/itutes a violation ( !      
,neutrality ,treaty2 &  7#d7 urges !    
,trump adm9i/ration to ensure t ! canal 
rema9s neutral & to take all appropriate
 measures to en=ce ! ,neutrality        
,treaty4