Calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 831) calling on the United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 831, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Greg Meeks and Ranking Member Mike McCaul for helping bring this bipartisan resolution to the floor today.

I also want to thank my partner in so much of this enterprise with respect to NATO and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

H. Res. 831, which we introduced together, Mr. Turner and I, calls on the

United States Government to uphold the founding democratic principles of NATO and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO itself.

NATO's founding document, signed here in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 1949, this very week, is clear: NATO is an alliance of democracies.

The preamble to the treaty notes the determination of allies ``to safeguard the freedom, common heritage, and civilization of their peoples, founded on the principles of democracy, individual liberty, and the rule of law.''

The alliance's commitment to shared democratic values is what distinguishes NATO from any other military alliance. Without it, NATO is just another military bloc that does not like Russia.

This commitment cannot remain purely aspirational or rhetorical. It must be operationalized. That is why we believe we need formal architecture within NATO dedicated to the promotion and advocacy of democracy.

There are divisions and units within NATO dedicated to collective defense, terrorism, interoperability, hybrid warfare, cyber, climate change, and a number of other security challenges. But after 72 years, there is not even a broom closet at NATO headquarters dedicated to the promotion of democratic institution-building within the alliance itself or with respect to the members.

The effort to establish a NATO Center for Democratic Resilience is an idea first proposed in 2019 as part of a white paper this Member of Congress wrote on ``NATO at 70.''

As the current president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I have taken that recommendation and made the strengthening of NATO's founding democratic values our number one priority.

The assembly has, in turn, endorsed this idea, the establishment of a Center for Democratic Resilience and made it a central component of the assembly's pro-democracy agenda within NATO.

And we were pleased to see the proposal included in the Group of Experts' report commissioned by the NATO Secretary General as we prepare for updating the strategic concept.

The U.S. delegation to the NATO PA, which includes Chairman Meeks and Representatives Mike Turner of Ohio, Linda Sanchez, Brett Guthrie, Rick Larsen, Neal Dunn, Brendan Boyle, Jack Bergman, Dina Titus, Austin Scott, and Filemon Vela, has jointly written to the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and our Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, encouraging the Biden administration to work with our NATO allies to operationalize support for our shared democratic principles and to establish this Center for Democratic Resilience.

And to the credit of the Biden administration and the U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Julie Smith, they have followed up on our recommendation.

When we met with the North Atlantic Council in February in Brussels, Ambassador Smith made a forceful case for the establishment of the center, and we were encouraged to see several NATO Ambassadors join her in taking up the mantle and arguing in favor of the proposal.

Today, the values upon which the alliance have been founded are being challenged by external enemies of democracy, all too tragically being witnessed in the Ukraine.

These forces aim to undermine the faith in and political support for our common democracies and the alliance itself.

The strongest weapon we possess to counter effectively Putin or Xi's authoritarianism is a vibrant, robust, and immutable expression of the liberal democratic values that bind us.

Putin's renewed, full-scale aggression against Ukraine is a blatant attack on the most basic principles underlying the international order since the end of World War II, principles which Moscow has freely signed on to but ignored. President Putin seeks to crush Ukraine's democracy, intimidate other countries where the embers of democratic ambition burn, and, by implication, undermine all democracies everywhere.

We must respond by uniting around and strengthening our commitment to our shared democratic values and the rules-based order. The NATO treaty is clear: We are an alliance of democracies.

As NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during the recent ministerial in Riga, Latvia: ``NATO was created to defend democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. These values define who we are. They are not optional.''

And as President Zelenskyy of Ukraine said during his recent address to this body, to the Congress: ``Right now, the destiny of our country''--Ukraine--``is being decided. The destiny of our people, whether Ukrainians will be free, whether they will be able to preserve their democracy.''

NATO stands for the preservation of that democracy. And we believe the center called for in this resolution must be part of NATO's work to build a bulwark against authoritarianism and democratic backsliding as we proceed.

I thank the bipartisan group of members of the U.S. delegation to NATO PA for their support as they joined us in this effort, and I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of this strong bipartisan resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from Ohio for his leadership. He is the former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, as well, and he has provided unwavering support for America's leadership in this alliance and for the alliance itself. And he is a highly respected figure on both sides of the Atlantic, and I thank him for his leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Brendan F. Boyle).

Mr. Speaker, all I can say is having authored this language, I don't know what the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris) is referring to.

When we talk about illiberal forces within the NATO alliance, it is all-inclusive. The New York Times did an extensive podcast series on illiberal, rightwing groups within Germany's police and military; not Hungary, not Poland: Germany.

Many of our colleagues, when we meet in NATO Parliamentary Assembly meetings, express concern about their own internal challenges to their own democratic institutions.

And it is simply false that we are somehow selecting any particular country. This is a concern expressed by virtually all; and we recognize that we have got work to do in showing up and building democratic institutions, even within the alliance; that we can't take it for granted.

What we say is democracy is resilient, but it can also be fragile; and that is what this reference is about, and would be recognized by virtually every NATO member as such.

So while I certainly can understand Mr. Harris wanting to express a concern, I would hope we have debunked it because it is nowhere even close to being what he has characterized.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I think this is a really important resolution. It is also timely because, as Mr. Boyle indicated, we have our next NATO Parliamentary Assembly meeting in Athens this weekend; and if we are going to have input to the strategic concept of NATO, which is being revised and will be adopted next month, in May, we have got to have this in hand as an expression, a bipartisan expression of the collective concern and commitment of this body.

I am honored by the fact that this is bipartisan. It passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee overwhelmingly, and I would hope that later today we have a strong bipartisan vote on this resolution so we can bring it to our deliberations in Athens and in Madrid in the next 2 months.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

NATO is the most successful military alliance in history.

Our shared democratic values are a critical piece of that success. We are reminded of the importance of this alliance daily as Putin continues his inhumane assault on innocent civilians in Ukraine.

Together, with our NATO allies and partners, we are unified in a strategic approach to counter our adversaries.

Ukraine is not alone on the front lines of the global battle between democracy and authoritarianism. The United States and our NATO allies are supporting Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin's unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine has unified the NATO alliance.

Most recently, the world watched in horror as images from Bucha have surfaced; mass graves and bodies strewn throughout the street.

NATO must be resolute in its efforts to continue its support for Ukraine.

This resolution introduced by Congressman Connolly and myself will affirm the democratic values of NATO and establish a Center for Democratic Resilience.

Having served as the President of NATO PA, I support the fundamental role this organization plays in strengthening and defending democracies worldwide. I also congratulate my colleague for his efforts in support of this global organization, Congressman Connolly, who currently serves as the President of NATO PA, has represented the United States very well there, and brings forth a resolution that is of great importance to the founding issues and certainly the substance of NATO.

The resolution we are considering today advances this goal by reaffirming that NATO is an alliance founded on democratic principles and calling on the U.S. to support the establishment of this center within NATO headquarters.

This center would and could monitor challenges and threats to democracy, natural rights, and the rule of law among member nations. Partnering with democracy promotion organizations, the center will assist member states and aspiring member states to preserve and foster democracy among their ranks.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to join me today in support of this resolution, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Puerto Rico (Miss Gonzalez-Colon).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Harris).

Mr. Speaker, I would inform Congressman Harris, the Ambassador to NATO from Hungary openly supports this center, and I know Poland does also.

This is something that is important overall for NATO, and it does have the support of both of those nations, and there is no intention other than to support democracy in this.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and former president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Mike Turner, for yielding.

Today, I am here as a proud cosponsor of H. Res. 831. I stand alongside our esteemed colleagues, the president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Congressman Gerry Connolly, and past president, Congressman Mike Turner, to support the establishment of a Center of Democratic Resilience within NATO.

Just yesterday, we celebrated 73 years since the formation of NATO, an alliance that has assured mutual defense to one another. Beyond our strategic military alliances, we also share a commitment to our democratic principles. And I think that is the most important thing about this resolution.

Establishing an entity designed to promote, protect and strengthen democratic institutions will further advance the collective security of our allies and NATO's mission of promoting freedom, human rights, democracy, and of course, the rule of law.

Mr. Speaker, I have had the honor to serve as a parliamentary member twice during my time in Congress, and both have given me the opportunity to witness NATO's defining trait, which is unity.

Unity does not simply mean presenting a united front. It means being united in spirit and purpose.

Today, as Russia wages war on NATO's borders, that unity of purpose is more important than ever. It is also clear that Ukraine shares in our spirit and purpose as well.

That is why this resolution urges NATO to continue to provide unwavering support to the people of Ukraine as they fight for their sovereignty, territorial integrity, and a democratic future.

We cannot, and we must not, allow Russia to dictate the terms of a sovereign nation's policy. I continue to support Ukraine to be afforded the opportunity to join our defensive alliance. I think it is clear that the past attempts to placate through indefinite delays for Georgia and Ukraine have ended in tragedy.

Tragedy struck Georgia in 2008, and Ukraine again in 2014 and 2020, and are evidence of how effective denying them membership to NATO is for protecting peace.

Evidence, especially in Bucha, indicates sanctioned mass killings, the rape and murder of small children, and targeting of civilian shelters housing infants and the elderly. All while the Russian leadership talks of a country that doesn't exist.

Together, NATO must continue to present a united front. We must increase, of course, our aid to Ukraine, and we must ensure that countries make decisions to enter alliances without foreign interference. And this is the reason this resolution is so important, because of our principles and our united purpose. We must never cede an inch of our freedom or our values. I know that united, we can do this.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 831, which reaffirms unequivocal support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an alliance founded on democratic principles.

This resolution also calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to adopt a new Strategic Concept for NATO that is clear about its support for shared democratic values and committed to enhancing NATO's capacity to strengthen democratic institutions within NATO member, partner, and aspirant countries.

Finally, the resolution calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO headquarters.

First, I would like to commend all Ukrainians for their outstanding courage, resilience, fortitude, and bravery. It is truly inspiring for Americans, and for people around the world. America stands with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.

Russia's launch of a premeditated war against Ukraine is an attack on democracy and a grave violation of international law, global peace, and security.

The fighting has sparked massive displacement and has forced over two million Ukrainians to flee their homes to neighboring states and has put women and girls at heightened risk of violence.

Although the world hopes for peace, Russia's invasion of Ukraine shows no signs of ending. Russian forces continue their bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, and the southern port city of Mariupol.

Additionally, as a body we must condemn the recent execution style killings of Ukrainians in Bucha.

It is abundantly clear that Russian soldiers were out to torture, rape, and kill innocent Ukrainian civilians. These actions amount to war crimes, and we must treat them as such.

Therefore, along with the President I believe we must hold Russian authorities and President Putin accountable before the International Criminal Court via a War Crimes trial.

This will bring the justice so greatly deserved to those families who lost their mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters to savagery. I additionally believe that this is a good first action under NATO's new Strategic Concept, which this bill seeks to redefine.

Considering the direness of the situation in Ukraine, it is absolutely critical that NATO

powers continue to bind together in opposition to President Putin's soulless actions.

Adopting a new Strategic Concept and establishing a Center for Democratic Resilience will further display to Putin and those like him that the West will not back down to autocrats and dictators.

I therefore am proud to support H. Res 831, and urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues, both of whom have served as not only Members of this House and members of the parliamentary assembly, but both have led that body as president emeritus and our current president, Mr. Connolly.

I was there in Brussels with my colleagues just a month ago in the days immediately preceding Vladimir Putin's brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. And there our delegation, on a bipartisan basis, made the case for this resolution, made the case for why such a center is needed now more than ever.

We are seeing an attack not only on the people of Ukraine, but on our democratic values. They are at stake in a way today that they haven't been since the fall of the Berlin Wall. And in some sense, they haven't been under this sort of attack since 1945.

I am proud to be a part, as Mr. Connolly mentioned, of our NATO Parliamentary Assembly. We will be going this weekend to another such NATO PA meeting.

This association, this alliance is needed now more than ever. I am so proud to see this country redouble its commitment to the alliance, but as Mr. Connolly has said time and time again, this cannot just be an alliance built on our shared interest, it must be an alliance based on our shared values.

So I strongly support this resolution, and I urge its unanimous bipartisan adoption.