Chris Smith: “I have an amendment to the preamble at the desk. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk…”

“I have an amendment to the preamble at the desk. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas the United States has enjoyed good relations with the Republic of Moldova since the Republic of Moldova's independence in 1991; Whereas since the Republic of Moldova's independence, the United States has provided financial assistance to support the people of Moldova's efforts to build a prosperous European democracy; Whereas the United States and the Republic of Moldova further strengthened their partnership through the launching of a Strategic Dialogue on March 3, 2014; Whereas the Republic of Moldova is due to sign an Association Agreement containing comprehensive free trade provisions with the European Union on June 27, 2014; Whereas the United States Government supports the democratic aspirations of the people of the Republic of Moldova and their expressed desire to deepen their association with the European Union; Whereas in a judgment in 2004, the European Court of Human Rights found that Transnistria was set up with the support of the Russian Federation and considered it ``under the effective authority or at least decisive influence of Russia''; Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova and on that basis participates as an observer in the ``5+2'' negotiations to find a comprehensive settlement that will pro…”