1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3 HOUSE
RESOLUTION 1004 By: Bennett, Waldron and
4 O'Donnell
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7 AS INTRODUCED
8 A Resolution celebrating the flag of Ireland, St.
Patrick's Day and the 25th anniversary of the Good
9 Friday Agreement; and directing distribution.
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12 WHEREAS, April 10, 2023 will mark the 25th anniversary of the
13 Good Friday Agreement, which is historic progress and a considerable
14 success despite outstanding issues in Northern Ireland; and
15 WHEREAS, there are Irish people alive today because of
16 continuous bipartisan support for the Good Friday Agreement by state
17 legislators, United States Presidents, the U.S. Senate, U.S. House
18 of Representatives, and elected officials through partnerships with
19 the governments of the United Kingdom and Ireland; and
20 WHEREAS, we honor and give thanks for the Good Friday Agreement,
21 the framework for lasting peace in Northern Ireland, on the historic
22 anniversary of its ratification; and
23 WHEREAS, the Good Friday Agreement represented a landmark
24 breakthrough that provided Ireland with a political framework to
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1 address its future and pursue their goals of remaining part of the
2 UK or of Irish Unity, and acknowledged the right of differing
3 political traditions; and
4 WHEREAS, the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements
5 demonstrated democratic and peaceful resolving of differences. We
6 recognize the British and Irish governments' ongoing support and
7 implementation of this agreement. It is the irrevocable foundation
8 of the peace process regardless of the UK's status regarding the
9 European Union; and
10 WHEREAS, members of both political parties in the U.S. came
11 together to support the Good Friday Agreement; and
12 WHEREAS, March 17 marks the annual celebration of the feast of
13 Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Irish Americans join
14 with people of all ethnic origins for this celebration; and
15 WHEREAS, 2023 also marks the 175th anniversary of the first
16 flying of the Irish flag by Thomas F Meagher, who embodied the links
17 between Ireland and the U.S.
18 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
19 OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 59TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:
20 THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives celebrates the flag
21 of Ireland as a symbol of the link between the U.S. and Ireland and
22 celebrates it as a symbol of peace, and also celebrates St.
23 Patrick's Day and the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.
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1 THAT copies of this resolution be provided to Oklahoma's
2 Congressional delegation, and requests they inform themselves about
3 the bipartisan resolution in Congress regarding Ireland, the Good
4 Friday Peace Agreement, and the Irish Peace Process.
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6 59-1-7999 MAH 03/10/23
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