THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY HENNESSEY, KILLION, BAKER, BEYER, BOYLE, BRADFORD, BRIGGS, CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DEASY, DeLUCA, DiGIROLAMO, EVERETT, GALLOWAY, GOODMAN, HARKINS, HARPER, HELM, HESS, M. KELLER, KNOWLES, KOTIK, LENTZ, MAHONEY, McCALL, McGEEHAN, McILVAINE SMITH, MICOZZIE, MURPHY, MURT, D. O'BRIEN, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI, PHILLIPS, QUIGLEY, READSHAW, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, S. H. SMITH, WAGNER AND YOUNGBLOOD, AUGUST 2, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, AUGUST 2, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Supporting the Unification of Ireland.

WHEREAS, Ireland and its people are an ancient and distinct

island nation and the people of Ireland have a right and

responsibility to govern themselves; and

WHEREAS, Human and civil rights derive "their just powers

from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by

people freely elected by democratic means to an independent

government; and

WHEREAS, The logic of history, international law, human

rights and peace dictate the reunification of the island of

Ireland and the reality of the moment, in the peace process, the

Good Friday Agreement, the deloved Assembly and the development

of the all-Ireland institutions of governance, attest to this

momentum; and

WHEREAS, In the past the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the MacBride Principles for

Northern Ireland and strongly endorsed passage of the Good

Friday Agreement among the previously warring parties, in part

because of the dedication as well as bipartisan support of three

separate Presidents of the United States, in seeing the Good

Friday Agreement to fruition and formation of the Assembly; and

WHEREAS, The contributions of the Irish-born and of Irish

Americans to the United States of America and to the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are legion; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is home to a

significant percentage of Americans whose ancestors migrated in

times of famine and war to seek a better life, but in whose

hearts still remains a desire for peace and unification in their

ancestral home; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly support the unification of

Ireland, by supporting all peaceful political actions that will

result in the final reunification of the island of Ireland

through all electoral and diplomatic means necessary; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to all

members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation, the

Governor of Pennsylvania, as well as President Barack Obama,

Vice President Joseph Biden, United States Secretary of State

Hillary Clinton, the United States Ambassador to Ireland, the

Taoiseach and the President of Ireland.