Recognizing the 80th Anniversary of U.S.-Philippine Relations

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOYLAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 80th anniversary of U.S.-Philippine relations.

In 1946, the Nation of the Philippines gained its independence and officially opened diplomatic relations with the United States. Since then, the U.S.-Philippine Alliance has evolved to become one of our most critical Pacific partnerships.

The United States and the Philippines share deep historical and cultural ties. During the Second World War, Filipinos fought alongside American service members in a battle for freedom against the imperial Japanese military from the battlefields of Luzon to the shores of Leyte Gulf.

Our shared sacrifice in defense of the Philippines led to one of our Nation's longest standing defense treaties in Asia, The Philippine Mutual Defense Treaty, signed August 1951. The foundational agreement set up the cornerstone for the U.S.-Philippine Alliance, ensuring an attack on one is an attack on both.

Since 1951, our security cooperation has evolved and strengthened. In 2014, our two countries signed an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, increasing the U.S. military's rotational presence to tackle new challenges in the West Philippine Sea.

Our ties to the Philippines are more than just defensive, they are connected deeply by bonds of friendship and culture. More than 4 million people throughout the United States identify as Filipino. They serve in our armed forces, contribute to our healthcare system, and own and operate thousands of small businesses that support our economy.

As we launch this 80th anniversary year, let us reaffirm our commitments to our shared democratic values, a free and open Indo- Pacific, and renewed prosperity for the peoples of the United States and the Philippines.

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