WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, were joined by Representatives Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in introducing a concurrent resolution welcoming His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of Greece, to the United States for an address to a joint meeting of Congress.

“I am immensely proud to lead my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan resolution welcoming Prime Minister Mitsotakis, to the United States and rightfully celebrating the U.S.-Greece partnership,” Chairman Menendez said. “As we bear witness to the disturbing rise of anti-democratic movements and malign, destabilizing activity of autocrats worldwide, our nations’ partnership is more crucial than ever, and we may find solace in our enduring friendship and legacy of cooperation in advancing human rights, free and open society, and the rule of law as well as security and energy partnerships. With this resolution we again affirm it is up to us, and all free people around the world, to keep alive the flame of democracy ignited in ancient Greece millennia ago.”

“It was an honor to have Prime Minister Mitsotakis address a joint session of Congress this morning. Greece’s donations of humanitarian and military supplies for Ukraine have been crucial, and I hope this support will continue as the transatlantic community does all it can to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia’s brutal invasion,” said Ranking Member Risch. “I’m also glad to see that Greek ports have been increasingly integrated into NATO’s transport structure. Greece has long been a leader in its contributions to NATO’s collective defense, and I look forward to continuing our work together to confront new challenges facing our alliance.”

“I am proud to introduce this resolution welcoming Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis along with my House and Senate colleagues, and was honored to meet with him during a joint meeting of Congress celebrating 201 years since the Greek War of Independence,” Chair Meeks said. “A reliable NATO ally with whom we have shared more than a century of diplomatic relations, Greece is a vital and cherished partner that has demonstrated its commitment to peace and security in Europe and around the world. I look forward to continued relations promoting our shared democratic values, confronting global challenges including climate change, and advancing our shared economic and security interests.”

“Greece is a critical ally with a long history of defending democracy,” Ranking Member McCaul said. “In light of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine, I am thrilled to welcome Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and thank him for his strong support for Kyiv and European energy security. It will require the free world to come together to ensure democracy prevails in today’s battle with authoritarianism.”

A copy of the resolution is available online: https://bit.ly/3yQuj46.