1Supporting the unification of Ireland.

2WHEREAS, Ireland and its people are an ancient and distinct
3island nation and the people of Ireland have a right and
4responsibility to govern themselves; and

5WHEREAS, Human and civil rights derive "their just powers
6from the consent of the governed" and are best guaranteed by
7people freely elected by democratic means to an independent
8government; and

9WHEREAS, The logic of history, international law, human
10rights and peaceful political actions dictate the reunification
11of the island of Ireland, and the reality of the moment in the
12Peace Process, the Good Friday Agreement, the Devolved Assembly
13and the development of the All-Ireland institutions of
14governance attest to this momentum; and

1WHEREAS, In the past the House of Representatives of the
2Commonwealth of Pennsylvania adopted the MacBride Principles for
3Northern Ireland and strongly endorsed passage of the Good
4Friday Agreement among the previously warring parties, in part
5because of the dedication as well as bipartisan support of three
6separate Presidents of the United States, in seeing the Good
7Friday Agreement to fruition and formation of the Assembly; and

8WHEREAS, The contributions of the Irish-born and of Irish
9Americans to the United States of America and to the
10Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are legion; and

11WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is home to a
12significant percentage of Americans whose ancestors emigrated
13from Ireland in times of famine and war to seek a better life,
14but in whose hearts still remains a desire for peace and
15unification in their ancestral home; therefore be it

16RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
17Commonwealth of Pennsylvania strongly support the unification of
18Ireland, by supporting all peaceful political actions that will
19result in the final reunification of the island of Ireland
20through all electoral and diplomatic means necessary; and be it
21further

22RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be forwarded to all
23members of the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation, the
24Governor of Pennsylvania, President Barack Obama, Vice President
25Joseph Biden, United States Secretary of State John Kerry, the
26Taoiseach, the President of Ireland; and be it further

27RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the
28United States Ambassador of Ireland who shall be urged to
29transmit a copy to the United States Ambassador to Great Britain
30and to Great Britain's Ambassador to the United States.