Political Quotes

“I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolutions (S. Res. 640, 641, 642, and 643) were agreed to. The preambles were agreed to. The resolutions, with their preambles, read as follows: S. Res. 640 Whereas the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was founded in 1967 ``to strengthen further the existing bonds of regional solidarity and cooperation''; Whereas ASEAN membership has now expanded to include 10 countries, which together span over half the size of the continental United States, with a total population of nearly 600,000,000 persons; Whereas ASEAN is an important contributor to stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region; Whereas ASEAN partners with the United States Government and others in the international community to address transnational problems like terrorism, environmental degradation, the international financial crisis, and maritime security; Whereas the ASEAN Charter, approved by Southeast Asia's leaders in November 2007, codified norms for the behavior of ASEAN member-states toward their own citizens, covering such subjects as individual rights, democracy, the rule of law, and good governance; Whereas the combined economy of ASEAN's member countries, valued at approximately $1,500,000,0…”