Senator Susan Collins
By Irish Echo Staff
The U.S. Senate has adopted Senate Resolution 117, a bipartisan resolution in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements and arrangements to support peace on the island of Ireland.
The adoption of the resolution, which was introduced before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by its chairman Senator Bob Menendez a couple of months ago, was on Monday evening, May 17.
“The Senate just passed my resolution to reaffirm our unwavering support for the Good Friday Agreement and its full implementation,” Menendez tweeted.
“Very proud to have the Congress speak with one voice in support of accountability, reconciliation and prosperity in Ireland," hedaid.
Daniel Mulhall, Ireland’s Ambassador to the U.S., thanked Mr. Menendez for “piloting this resolution through the Senate," the Irish Times reported.
“Congressional support for peace in Ireland continues to be vitally important and deeply appreciated,” he said.
Senator Menendez had teamed up with Republican Senator Susan Collins and 13 other seanators in unveiling the resolution on March 16. It calls for the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement, as well as subsequent agreements including the Northern Ireland Protocol and Stormont Agreement.
“This should be a priority for those who support peace, accountability, reconciliation and prosperity for all who live in Northern Ireland,” the senators stated jointly.
“I am proud to stand alongside a bipartisan group of senators to voice our ongoing and inveterate support of the Good Friday Agreement," said Senate Majority leader Charles Schumer, a co-sponsor of the resolution.
"The Good Friday Agreement is a towering achievement, and as I have said before, it planted the seeds of a peace and a society based on mutual respect and equality, rather than one based on distrust and discrimination.
"As all parties face the challenges presented by Brexit, we must seek to ensure its full implementation, avoid any return to a hard border and note that any future trade agreements with the UK must recognize and abide by the Good Friday principles. I will continue to vigorously oppose any policy that could harm or roll back the progress that has been made to bring peace to the people on the island of Ireland," Schumer said.
