IV
115th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. CON. RES. 41
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 11, 2018
Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing 100 years of the United States-Australia relationship—100 years of Mateship.
Whereas United States and Australian troops first fought together in and won the Battle of Hamel on the Western Front in France on July 4, 1918, under the command of Australian General John Monash;
Whereas the hard fought victory achieved by the combined forces at Hamel helped turn the tide of World War I;
Whereas Australia has fought together with the United States in every major conflict since 1918;
Whereas more than 100,000 Australian service members have given the ultimate sacrifice alongside their brothers and sisters in arms from the United States;
Whereas the United States and Australia officially established bilateral diplomatic relations on January 8, 1940;
Whereas the United States and Australia formalized their security alliance with the signing of the Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty, done at San Francisco September 1, 1951 (commonly known as the ANZUS Treaty);
Whereas the ANZUS Treaty was invoked the first and only time in response to the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001;
Whereas the United States and Australia share information essential for security and defense through the Five Eyes intelligence alliance;
Whereas the Force Posture Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the United States of America, done at Sydney August 12, 2014, enables closer security and defense cooperation between the 2 allies;
Whereas the United States and Australia conduct diverse joint military exercises and training to enhance capabilities throughout the world, and Australia hosts United States Marines at bases in its Northern Territory;
Whereas the United States and Australia work closely in a number of international fora, including the Group of Twenty (G–20);
Whereas the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement, done at Washington May 18, 2004, came into effect on January 1, 2005;
Whereas the United States and Australia conduct $65,000,000,000 in 2-way trade and have an investment relationship valued at $1,100,000,000,000,
Whereas, July 4, 2018, marks the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Hamel and serves as the date on which the United States and Australia celebrate the first 100 years of Mateship: Now, therefore, be it
That Congress—
commemorates the 100-year anniversary of the Battle of Hamel, forging the unique and enduring relationship between the United States and Australia;
reaffirms the strong military alliance relationship between the United States and Australia; and
supports continued diplomatic, security, and economic cooperation between the United States and Australia.
Passed the Senate July 10, 2018.
Julie E. Adams,
Secretary