[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 20 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. CON. RES. 20
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and
reaffirming the United States' commitment to its principles and values.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 1, 2025
Mr. Wicker (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Smith, Mr.
Boozman, Mr. Fetterman, Mrs. Britt, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act and
reaffirming the United States' commitment to its principles and values.
Whereas August 1, 2025, is the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Conference
on Security and Co-operation in Europe Final Act (referred to in this
resolution as the ``Helsinki Final Act'');
Whereas, on August 1, 1975, 35 nations, including the United States, Canada, and
the nations of Europe, signed the Helsinki Final Act, marking a historic
milestone in international diplomacy during the Cold War;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act established a comprehensive concept of security
that encompasses political-military, environmental and economic, and
human rights and humanitarian dimensions;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act codified 10 principles in the Declaration on
Principles Guiding Relations Between Participating States (commonly
known as ``The Decalogue''), which--
(1) all participating states committed to respect and put into practice
in their relations with each other; and
(2) have formed a basis for the international order in the region
encompassing the participating states of the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) since its inception in 1975;
Whereas these principles, adopted on the basis of consensus by all participating
states and repeatedly reaffirmed, enshrine--
(1) the sovereign equality of all participating states and respect for
the rights inherent in sovereignty;
(2) refraining from the threat or use of force among participating
states;
(3) the inviolability of frontiers of the 57 participating states;
(4) the territorial integrity of participating states;
(5) the peaceful settlement of disputes among participating states;
(6) nonintervention in internal affairs;
(7) respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the
freedom of thought, conscience, religion, or belief;
(8) equal rights and self-determination of peoples;
(9) cooperation among participating states; and
(10) fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act, for the first time in the history of
international agreements, recognized that respect for, and
implementation of, commitments to human rights and fundamental freedoms
are integral to stability and security within and among nations;
Whereas the principles of the Helsinki Final Act have been threatened in recent
years by irresponsible acts of certain states, including the actions of
the Russian Federation in its occupation of the territories of Ukraine,
Moldova, and Georgia and which constitute a threat to the stability and
security of Europe and the world;
Whereas the Russian Federation is responsible for the clear, gross, and
uncorrected violation of all 10 principles of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas the scourge of anti-Semitism persists throughout the OSCE region and
should continue to be called out, condemned, and opposed by all
participating states;
Whereas Congress contributed to advancing the aims of the Helsinki Final Act by
creating the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (commonly
known as the ``Helsinki Commission'') to monitor and encourage
compliance with provisions of the Helsinki Final Act;
Whereas the Helsinki Commission consists of 9 United States senators, 9 members
of the United States House of Representatives, and 3 representatives
from the Executive Branch of the United States Government;
Whereas the Helsinki Final Act ultimately led to the creation of the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which was designed
to prevent, manage, and resolve conflict within and among the
participating states;
Whereas the legacy of the Helsinki Final Act continues to serve as a guiding
framework for--
(1) addressing security challenges;
(2) defending the rule of law; and
(3) supporting the rights of individuals against authoritarian
oppression and aggression;
Whereas successive United States administrations since the Helsinki Final Act
was signed in 1975 have made the Helsinki Final Act's Principles Guiding
Relations Between Participating States a basis for United States policy
toward Europe and the entire OSCE region;
Whereas Congress has strongly supported and encouraged the United States to
promote improved compliance with these guiding principles, including by
raising its concerns about noncompliance in a direct and frank manner,
and continues to provide such support and encouragement; and
Whereas, in the face of renewed threats to sovereignty, democracy, and human
rights, particularly in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, the principles of
the Helsinki Final Act remain significant and foundational to a
comprehensive concept of security: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring),
That Congress--
(1) commemorates the 50th anniversary of the signing of the
Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in
Europe and recognizes the importance of the Helsinki Principles
and the OSCE;
(2) reasserts the commitment of the United States to the
full implementation of the Helsinki Final Act and to continued
participation in the OSCE;
(3) urges all participating states to abide by their
respective obligations under the Helsinki Final Act, including
respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, which are
vital to the functioning of democracy;
(4) calls on public officials, educators, librarians, and
the people of the United States to join Congress in observance
of this anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities; and
(5) conveys to all signatory states of the Helsinki Final
Act that respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,
democratic principles, economic liberty, peaceful resolution of
conflicts among participating states, respect for the
sovereignty and territorial integrity of participating states,
and the implementation of related commitments continue to be
vital elements in promoting security, prosperity, and peace
throughout the region covered by the OSCE.
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