สภาคองเกรสสหรัฐฯ ผ่านมติการเทิดพระเกียรติและแสดงความรำลึกแด่ ในหลวงรัชกาลที่ ๙

โดยทางด้านวุฒิสภาได้มีมติผ่านการพิจารณาและลงมติเป็นเอกฉันท์โดยคณะกรรมาธิการด้านวิเทศสัมพันธ์ของวุฒิสภา และผ่านการอนุมัติอย่างเป็นทางการจากวุฒิสภาแบบเต็มคณะเป็นขั้นตอนสุดท้าย โดยไม่มีการแก้ไขเนื้อความ ให้ประกาศ ณ วันที่ 15 มีนาคม ว่าด้วยการเทิดพระเกียรติและแสดงความรำลึกแด่พระบาทสมเด็จพระปรมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช ซึ่งทรงเป็นมิตรใกล้ชิดอย่างยิ่งของสหรัฐฯ และทรงงานอย่างหนักเพื่อพสกนิกรของพระองค์ ตลอดรัชสมัย 70 ปีแห่งการครองราชย์

โดยสาระสำคัญของมติดังกล่าวนั้น ได้กล่าวถึงพระราชประวัติโดยสังเขปของพระบาทสมเด็จพระประมินทรมหาภูมิพลอดุลยเดช และความสัมพันธ์ทางการทูตอันมั่นคงยาวนาน 183 ปี ระหว่างสหรัฐฯกับไทย และแสดงความหวังว่าความสัมพันธ์และความร่วมมือระหว่างดับทวิภาคีจะได้รับการพัฒนาให้รุ่งเรื่องยิ่งขึ้นไป นอกจากนี้ มติของที่ประชุมยังขอน้อมเกล้าน้อมกระหม่อมถวายพระพรชัยมงคล แด่สมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัวมหาวชิราลงกรณ บดินทรเทพยวรางกูร รัชกาลที่ 10 อีกด้วย

115th CONGRESS
1st Session

S. RES. 9

Honoring in praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 10, 2017
Mr. Hatch (for himself, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Flake, Mr. Gardner, Mr. McCain, and Mr. Reed) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

March 15, 2017
Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION
Honoring in praise and remembrance the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.

Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej enjoyed a special relationship with the United States, having been born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1927 while his father was completing his medical studies at Harvard University;

Whereas King Bhumibol Adulyadej ascended to the throne on June 9, 1946, and celebrated his 70th year as King of Thailand in 2016;

Whereas, at the time of his death, King Bhumibol Adulyadej was the longest-serving head of state in the world and the longest-reigning monarch in the history of Thailand;

Whereas His Majesty dedicated his life to the well-being of the Thai people and the sustainable development of Thailand;

Whereas His Majesty led by example and virtue with the interest of the people at heart, earning His Majesty the deep reverence of the Thai people and the respect of people around the world;

Whereas His Majesty reached out to the poorest and most vulnerable people of Thailand, regardless of their status, ethnicity, or religion, listened to their problems, and empowered them to take their lives into their own hands;

Whereas, in 2006, His Majesty received the first United Nations Human Development Award, recognizing him as the "Development King" for the extraordinary contribution of His Majesty to human development;

Whereas His Majesty was recognized internationally in the areas of intellectual property, innovation, and creativity, and in 2009, the World Intellectual Property Organization presented His Majesty with the Global Leadership Award;

Whereas His Majesty was an anchor of peace and stability for Thailand during the turbulent decades of the Cold War;

Whereas His Majesty was always a trusted friend of the United States in advancing a strong and enduring alliance and partnership between the United States and Thailand;

Whereas His Majesty addressed a joint session of Congress on June 29, 1960, during which His Majesty reaffirmed the strong friendship and goodwill between the United States and Thailand;

Whereas the United States and Thailand remain strong security allies, as memorialized in the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty (commonly known as the "Manila Pact of 1954") and later expanded under the Thanat-Rusk Communique of 1962;

Whereas, for decades, Thailand has hosted the annual Cobra Gold military exercises, the largest multilateral exercises in Asia, to improve regional defense cooperation;

Whereas Thailand has allowed the Armed Forces of the United States to use the Utapao Air Base to coordinate international humanitarian relief efforts;

Whereas President George W. Bush designated Thailand as a major non-NATO ally on December 30, 2003;

Whereas close cooperation and mutual sacrifices in the face of common threats have bound the United States and Thailand together and established a firm foundation for the advancement of a mutually beneficial relationship; and

Whereas, on October 13, 2016, at the age of 88, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away, leaving behind a lasting legacy for Thailand: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate-

(1) honors the extraordinary life, steady leadership, and remarkable, 70-year reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand;

(2) extends our deepest sympathies to the members of the Royal Family and to the people of Thailand in their bereavement;

(3) celebrates the alliance and friendship between Thailand and the United States that reflects common interests, a 183-year diplomatic history, and a multifaceted partnership that has contributed to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region;

(4) congratulates His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn on his accession to the throne; and

(5) building on the strong foundation of alliance nurtured during the reign of the father of His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn, looks forward to deepening the bonds of friendship between Thailand and the United States.