1Expressing strong support for the policies and peaceful
2democratic processes set forth in the Good Friday Agreement
3that allow for the reunification of Ireland and its people.

4WHEREAS, Ireland and its people are an ancient and distinct
5nation; and

6Whereas, Ireland is an island nation comprised of 32
7counties, which, in the 1920s, was artificially divided into a
826-county region, the Irish Republic, and a 6-county unit,
9Northern Ireland; and

10Whereas, This division was designed to be a temporary answer
11to issues that arose in the 1920s, including the threat of civil
12war; and

13Whereas, As our Declaration of Independence proclaims,
14governments derive "their just powers from the consent of the
15governed"; and

16Whereas, Human and civic rights are best guaranteed by the
17people's freely instituted, duly elected and independent

1government and thus the Irish people have a right and
2responsibility to govern themselves; and

3Whereas, The Good Friday Agreement affirms, for the people of
4the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland, the right to pursue, in
5a democratic manner, national and political aspirations and the
6right to equal opportunity in all social and economic activity;
7and

8Whereas, The historic Good Friday Agreement, negotiated with
9American support and ratified by the Irish and English
10governments, as well as a vote of the entire island of Ireland,
11includes provisions for achieving a united Ireland through
12purely democratic and peaceful means; and

13Whereas, The United States and the Commonwealth of
14Pennsylvania have greatly benefited from the contributions of
15the sons and daughters of Ireland; therefore be it

16Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the
17Commonwealth of Pennsylvania express its strong support for the
18policies and peaceful democratic processes set forth in the Good
19Friday Agreement that allow for the reunification of Ireland and
20its people; and be it further

21RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
22the President and Vice President of the United States; the
23United States Secretary of State, the Governor of Pennsylvania
24and to all members of Congress from Pennsylvania; and be it
25further

26RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to
27the Ambassador for the Republic of Ireland and the Ambassador
28for the United Kingdom in Washington, DC.