17 | 17 | | |
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18 | 18 | | Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS |
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19 | 19 | | |
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20 | 20 | | Introduced by: |
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21 | 21 | | |
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22 | 22 | | (GAE) |
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23 | 23 | | |
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24 | 24 | | RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE REUNIFICATION OF IRELAND. |
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25 | 25 | | |
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26 | 26 | | Resolved by this House: |
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27 | 27 | | |
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28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Ireland is an ancient and distinct island-nation that was artificially partitioned by the United Kingdom with the Government of Ireland Act of 1920; and |
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29 | 29 | | |
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30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, the partition divided the nation into Northern Ireland, which is composed of six northern counties and is one of the four constituent countries of the United Kingdom, and Southern Ireland, which would eventually become the Republic of Ireland, and which consists of the remaining twenty-six counties; and |
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31 | 31 | | |
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32 | 32 | | WHEREAS, negotiated with American support, the Belfast Agreement, commonly known as the Good Friday Agreement, was ratified by the British and Irish Governments on April 10, 1998; and |
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33 | 33 | | |
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34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, the Good Friday Agreement represents a fundamental political advance that created a framework and a mechanism for further political development toward the final resolution of the Irish issue of reunification; and |
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35 | 35 | | |
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36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, the partition was designed to be a transitory solution, the time has come to move toward ending the partition of Ireland in favor of a united, sovereign nation that guarantees equal rights and equal opportunities for all its citizens; and |
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37 | 37 | | |
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38 | 38 | | WHEREAS, the Irish Republic is a member of the European Economic Union and a unified, independent Irish economy is the most effective way to grow that economy and the most fair and impartial path to extend the benefits of such growth to all Ireland; and |
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39 | 39 | | |
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40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, the United States and state of Connecticut have greatly benefited from the contributions of the sons and daughters of Ireland; and |
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41 | 41 | | |
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42 | 42 | | WHEREAS, human and civic rights derive "their just powers from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by the people's freely instituted, duly elected and independent government; and |
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43 | 43 | | |
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44 | 44 | | WHEREAS, an end to partition should be supported by all democratic-minded people and people of good will; and |
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45 | 45 | | |
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46 | 46 | | WHEREAS, this year marks the one hundredth anniversary of the Easter Rising of 1916, the beginning of the Irish War for Independence, it is fitting that this house express its sense that Irish Americans can make a significant contribution toward achieving the goal of Irish reunification. |
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47 | 47 | | |
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