Reaffirming support for strong United States and Moldova relations, Moldova's democracy, and its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 833 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 833

     Expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and 
   territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova 
                               relations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            December 2, 2021

Mr. Price of North Carolina (for himself and Mr. Pfluger) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
  Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and 
   territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova 
                               relations.

Whereas August 27, 2021, marks 30 years of the Republic of Moldova's 
        independence;
Whereas the United States established diplomatic relations with Moldova on 
        February 18, 1992, and the 2 countries have since enjoyed expanded and 
        positive relations;
Whereas, since Moldova's independence in 1991, the United States has supported 
        the people of Moldova's efforts to build a prosperous European 
        democracy;
Whereas Moldova and the United States have partnered to support the people of 
        Moldova with $1,700,000,000 in assistance to help the country improve 
        security and realize their democratic aspirations;
Whereas the United States and Moldova further strengthened their partnership 
        through the launching of the inaugural Strategic Dialogue on March 3, 
        2014;
Whereas the Strategic Dialogue has focused on advancing shared interests in 
        democracy, good governance, rule of law, anticorruption, energy 
        independence, economic development, and security cooperation;
Whereas Congress and State and local communities have a history of engaging with 
        Moldovan young leaders, civil society, and Members of Parliament through 
        official exchanges;
Whereas Moldova has participated in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) 
        programs, including an MCC Threshold program completed in 2010 that 
        resulted in significant accomplishments in the judiciary and health 
        sectors and an MCC Compact in 2015 that invested $259,000,000 to improve 
        the country's road infrastructure and transition to high-value 
        agriculture and resulted in building a main trade artery from Soroca to 
        Chisinau;
Whereas the Republic of Moldova ratified an association agreement containing 
        comprehensive free trade provisions with the European Union in 2014 and 
        the agreement became fully effective in July 2016;
Whereas, in March 2020, Moldova completed a 3-year International Monetary Fund 
        program focused on banking system reforms, financial sector governance 
        strengthening, and macrofinancial stability, and in October 2021, 
        reached a provisional loan agreement worth $564,000,000 over 3.3 years 
        with the International Monetary Fund;
Whereas the United States supports Moldova's endeavors to increase transparency 
        and hold corrupt actors accountable, particularly efforts relating to 
        money laundering and financial fraud and seeking appropriate redress and 
        seizure of corrupt assets;
Whereas, in November 2020, the Moldovan people directly elected its first female 
        President, Maia Sandu, who campaigned on fighting corruption, 
        reinvigorating economic reforms, supporting judicial independence, 
        revitalizing European integration efforts, and strengthening relations 
        with the United States and the European Union;
Whereas, in July 2021, Moldova held parliamentary elections in which President 
        Sandu's anticorruption and reform-minded platform was overwhelmingly 
        supported by the people of Moldova;
Whereas, since August 6, 2021, women serve as both Moldova's head of state and 
        head of government;
Whereas, according to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's 
        Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the most recent 
        elections were ``well administered, competitive and fundamental freedoms 
        were largely respected'';
Whereas the Republic of Moldova has consistently and historically carried out 
        well-administered and competitive elections that result in nonviolent 
        transitions of power;
Whereas the United States commends and supports the new Moldovan Government's 
        priorities of justice sector reform, combating corruption, creating jobs 
        for Moldovan citizens, improving infrastructure and living standards, 
        strengthening relationships with the West and other international 
        partners, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic;
Whereas continued efforts to improve governance, combat corruption, and adopt 
        domestic economic reforms will further bolster Moldova's ability to 
        secure loan packages from international donors such as the International 
        Monetary Fund and the European Union;
Whereas Moldova's main trading partner is the European Union;
Whereas, as a member of the European Union's Eastern Partnership, Moldova's 
        European integration should be a high priority with the goal of eventual 
        European Union membership;
Whereas the United States Government supports the democratic and European 
        aspirations of the people of the Republic of Moldova, including their 
        expressed desire to join the European Union;
Whereas, in a judgment in 2004, the European Court of Human Rights found that 
        Moldova's separatist region of Transnistria was created with the support 
        of the Kremlin and considered it ``under the effective authority or at 
        least decisive influence'' of the Kremlin;
Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of 
        the Republic of Moldova and on that basis participates as an observer in 
        the ``5+2'' negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement that will 
        provide a special status for Transnistria within Moldova's 
        internationally recognized borders;
Whereas the Kremlin maintains a contingent of military forces and a stockpile of 
        military equipment and ammunition within the Transnistrian region 
        constituting an occupation of Moldovan territory and a violation of 
        Moldova's territorial sovereignty;
Whereas the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in 
        Europe Mission to Moldova, and the Government of Moldova have called 
        upon the Kremlin to remove its troops from the territory of the Republic 
        of Moldova;
Whereas, in July 2017, the Moldovan Parliament adopted a declaration calling on 
        the Kremlin to withdraw its troops from Moldova;
Whereas, on September 22, 2021, Moldovan President Maia Sandu addressed the 
        United Nations General Assembly and called for the Kremlin to withdraw 
        its troops from the Transnistrian region;
Whereas the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed by an 
        overwhelming majority, and the President signed into law, S. 2183, 
        providing for a United States international broadcasting programming 
        surge to counter disinformation from Kremlin-supported news outlets and 
        ensuring that Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine and Moldova have 
        access to independent news and information;
Whereas Moldova has been a valued and reliable partner in promoting global 
        security by participating in United Nations peacekeeping missions in the 
        Central African Republic, Kosovo, and South Sudan, supporting United 
        States efforts to increase international cooperation in combating 
        terrorism, and providing demining units and postconflict humanitarian 
        assistance in Iraq;
Whereas, since 1996, Moldova's Armed Forces have participated in the United 
        States National Guard State Partnership Program as a partner to the 
        North Carolina National Guard;
Whereas, in 1999, the existing defense relationship between the North Carolina 
        National Guard and the Defense Forces of Moldova led to the creation of 
        the Moldova-North Carolina Bilateral Partnership, which has been 
        formally renewed in 2004, 2010, 2015, and 2019, to facilitate 
        cooperation in the areas of civil emergency operations, expansion of 
        markets, coordination of humanitarian efforts and cultural, scientific, 
        and academic exchanges between the State of North Carolina and Moldova;
Whereas Moldova cooperates with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization through 
        the Partnership for Peace program, including participation in the 
        Defense and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative, a flagship 
        defense reform partnership focused on reforming and modernizing 
        Moldova's Armed Forces to improve expertise, interoperability, and 
        peacekeeping capabilities;
Whereas the United States and the European Union and other partners have 
        cooperated to support Moldova's democratic aspirations and deepen 
        European integration;
Whereas, on September 21, 2021, President Biden addressed the 76th United 
        Nations General Assembly stating that the democratic world ``lives in 
        the proud Moldovans who helped deliver a landslide victory for the 
        forces of democracy, with a mandate to fight graft, to build a more 
        inclusive economy''; and
Whereas the United States provided more than $7,000,000 in assistance to Moldova 
        for combating COVID-19, including 500,000 United States donated 
        vaccines: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the historical significance of Moldova's 
        independence and reaffirms the commitment of the United States 
        on supporting the Moldovan people in their efforts to 
        strengthen democratic governance, root out corruption, increase 
        economic prosperity, support energy independence, and ensure 
        stability and security;
            (2) reaffirms that it is the policy of the United States to 
        support the sovereignty, independence, and territorial 
        integrity of the Republic of Moldova and the inviolability of 
        its borders by other nation states;
            (3) supports and encourages increased activity related to 
        the Strategic Dialogue as a means to strengthen relations 
        between the Republic of Moldova and the United States and 
        enhance the democratic, economic, rule of law, and security 
        reforms already being undertaken by the Republic of Moldova;
            (4) supports the Joint Commercial Commission (JCC) between 
        the United States and the Republic of Moldova to strengthen the 
        bilateral trade and investment relationship between the two 
        nations and improve Moldova's investment climate;
            (5) supports the new Moldovan Government's anticorruption 
        and government reform efforts that will enhance the work of the 
        JCC;
            (6) encourages the United States Government to engage at a 
        leadership level to enhance United States partnerships with the 
        Moldovan Government and civil society organizations;
            (7) urges the United States Government and European Union 
        and other transatlantic partners to increase cooperation, 
        coordination, and support for the Republic of Moldova for 
        democratic transformation, economic and energy independence and 
        security, and further integration;
            (8) encourages the State Department, United States Agency 
        for International Development, the Development Finance 
        Corporation, the Department of Energy, and the United States 
        Trade Representative to increase and focus assistance on 
        justice sector reform, strengthening democratic institutions, 
        promoting an open and transparent government, combating COVID-
        19, fostering indigenous independent media and an open 
        information environment, increasing domestic energy 
        development, diversification of energy supplies and energy 
        efficiency, improving transport and communication 
        infrastructure, as well as the promotion of trade and 
        investment opportunities, along with inclusive economic growth 
        focusing on the rural areas beyond the capital;
            (9) recognizes the historic opportunity for the Republic of 
        Moldova to continue efforts to implement crucial governance and 
        economic reforms, including increasing the capacity and 
        independence of democratic institutions, combating corruption, 
        and maintaining open space for civil society engagement;
            (10) reaffirms the importance of free, fair, and 
        transparent elections in Moldova;
            (11) encourages the President to expedite the 
        implementation of Public Law 113-96, especially for populations 
        in Ukraine and Moldova;
            (12) affirms the Republic of Moldova's sovereign right to 
        determine its own partnerships free of external coercion and 
        pressure, and affirms Moldova's right to associate with the 
        European Union or any regional organization;
            (13) calls upon the Kremlin to fulfill its commitments made 
        at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's 
        Istanbul summit in 1999 and to withdraw its military forces and 
        munitions from within the internationally recognized territory 
        of the Republic of Moldova;
            (14) calls upon the Kremlin to refrain from economic 
        threats, its disinformation campaign against western 
        democracies, and pressure against Moldova and to cease any and 
        all actions that support separatist movements within the 
        territory of Moldova;
            (15) supports a results-oriented 5+2 process as the only 
        channel for resolving the Transnistria conflict;
            (16) supports and encourages efforts to resume negotiations 
        and resolve the Transnistria issue through a comprehensive 
        political settlement that affirms Moldova's sovereignty and 
        territorial integrity, while providing a special status for the 
        Transnistrian region within Moldova;
            (17) affirms that lasting stability and security in Moldova 
        is a key priority for the United States and that these can only 
        be achieved if the territorial integrity and sovereignty of 
        Moldova and all European countries are respected; and
            (18) celebrates the contributions that Moldovans and 
        Moldovan Americans have made in the United States.
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