On the recordJune 30, 2010
As the senior Republican on the Asia Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as the co-chair of the Friends of Thailand Caucus, I rise in favor of H. Res. 1321, which expresses support for resolving the political situation in Thailand through non-violent, democratic means. The relationship between the United States and Thailand goes back over 175 years to when the U.S. signed its first agreement with an Asian nation as part of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Siam. Thailand is one of America's closest friends and dependable ally. In fact, the King of Thailand generously offered President Abraham Lincoln a supply of elephants to help Union forces win the Civil War. Thailand has also contributed troops and supplies for U.S. military engagements in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq for which we are forever grateful. After several decades of mostly military dictatorships, by the early 1990s, Thailand established democratic rule, furthering bolstering its status as a partner of the United States. As a result, in 2003, the U.S. designated Thailand as a major non-NATO ally. Thailand has also grown to be a significant trading partner of the United States. In fact, exports from Illinois to Thailand were one of the few bright spots during this recession--increasing 8.1 percent between 2008 and 2009. Thailand is one of the top 25 export markets for Illinois products.
