WASHINGTON, DC, March 31, 2022 – Yesterday, a resolution highlighting the strong ties between the US and Greece, authored by the Chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Bob Menendez, and co-sponsored by Senator John Barrasso, passed the full US Senate with broad bi-partisan support.
“Once again, we are proud to play a part of the national effort that secured the support of nearly half the US Senate. This is the 37th consecutive year that we have worked with the US Senate to pass this resolution celebrating Greek Independence Day and democracy in Greece and the US. The enactment of this resolution and its follow up work has enabled our Greek-American community, although only one out of every 250 Americans, to become one of only two nationalities to meet with every President every year for 30 years,” said Andy Manatos, CEO of Manatos & Manatos.
“When we first secured the introduction of this resolution in 1986, one of the lead sponsors was then-Senator Joe Biden, and he continued to strongly support its passage every year throughout his Senate career,” added Manatos.
“We thank Chairman Menendez for his continued leadership in the US Senate in promoting US-Greece relations, US-Cyprus relations, religious freedom for the Ecumenical Patriarchate and other matters of concern to the Greek-American community. His efforts, particularly as Chairman, are invaluable,” said Mike Manatos, President of Manatos & Manatos.
For the full text of the S. Res. 547 click HERE.
This year’s resolution highlights Greece’s participation in and active promotion of regional partnership in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Whereas the United States has demonstrated its support for the trilateral partnership of Greece, Israel, and Cyprus by enacting into law the Eastern Mediterranean Security and Energy Partnership Act of 2019 (title II of division J of Public Law 116–94) and through joint engagement with Greece, Israel, and Cyprus in the “3+1” format;
Whereas this support was bolstered in the United States-Greece Defense and Interparliamentary Partnership Act of 2021 (subtitle B of title XIII of Public Law 117–81), establishing a 3+1 Interparliamentary Group to discuss the expansion of co-operation in other areas of common concern;
Whereas the United States and Greece’s commitment to security cooperation led to the conclusion of a Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, which was updated in 2021 in order to enhance defense ties between the two countries and promote stability in the broader region;
Whereas the ongoing United States-Greece Strategic Dialogue reflects Greece’s importance to the United States as a geostrategic partner, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans, and as an important NATO ally.
Co-sponsors of the 2022 Greek Independence Day Resolution:
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) – Author
Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) – Republican lead
Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO)
Senator Dick Blumenthal (D-CT)
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Senator John Boozman (R-AR)
Senator Mike Braun (R-IN)
Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD)
Senator Tom Carper (D-DE)
Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)
Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)
Senator John Cornyn (R-TX)
Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)
Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)
Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ)
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA)
Senator Angus King (I-ME)
Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY)
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA)
Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT)
Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA)
Senator Gary Peters (D-MI)
Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)
Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)
Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Senator Rick Scott (R-FL)
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Senator Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA)
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)
Senator Todd Young (R-IN)
