King Charles III Speaks to Joint Session of Congress

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Uifa'atali Amata is highlighting Tuesday's speech by King Charles III of the United Kingdom to a Joint Session of Congress, held in the House of Representatives chamber. The event is historic, as the only other English monarch to speak to a Joint Session in the U.S. was in 1991 when Queen Elizabeth II gave an address during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.

This Joint Session of Congress commemorates the upcoming 250^th anniversary of the founding of the United States, and affirmation of the "special relationship" between the two allied nations. King Charles is in the U.S. for a four-day royal visit that includes a bilateral meeting at the White House with President Trump. With King Charles and Queen Camilla as guests of honor, the White House events included music and a cannon salute, and speeches by the President and King Charles that highlight references to shared history between the two nations and shared roots in the development in systems of justice and democratic government dating back to the Magna Charta. The schedule includes a state dinner and other stops in the United States. Arriving in Congress, he was greeted by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for their walk through the U.S. Capitol's Statuary Hall.

"The modern US-UK alliance has been one of the world's strongest and longest-lasting alliances, especially during and since World War II," said Congresswoman Amata. "This unique alliance was called a 'special relationship' by Winston Churchill and has been known by that phrase ever since. The US-UK alliance is of importance to our region as part of our Pacific partnerships encompassing security, trade and diplomacy including Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, Japan, South Korea and many nations. One of those agreements, AUKUS, involves security and technology among Australia, the UK, and the US, and American Samoa's location is a key part of the U.S. strategic outlook for the South Pacific. I've had the humbling opportunity to visit our Veterans' cemeteries in the U.K. and recognize that the 'special relationship' includes the sacrifices of heroes in the cause of freedom."

"I appreciate that King Charles included the U.S. territories in his welcoming remarks to Congress today," concluded Aumua Amata. "It is meaningful to the enduring bond between our nations that he included us in his thoughts of the special relationship between all of the United States and its territories and Great Britain. He closed his speech with an eloquent call to 'the selfless service of our people and of all the peoples of the world.'"

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