Recognizing the importance of the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and welcoming the visit of King Charles III to the United States.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1218
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-04T22:37:37Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1218) recognizes the enduring "special relationship" between the United States and the United Kingdom, highlights their shared history and values, and formally welcomes King Charles III's visit to the US in April 2026, where he will address a joint session of Congress.
Key Provisions
- Historical context: Notes milestones like the 250th anniversary of US independence (2026), establishment of diplomatic relations in 1785, joint military service in major wars (WWI, WWII, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan), and strong bilateral trade exceeding $340 billion in 2024.
- Resolution actions:
- Welcomes King Charles III to the US.
- Reaffirms the US-UK special relationship based on shared history, democratic values, and commitments to security and prosperity.
- Supports strengthening mutual defense through multilateral security arrangements (group agreements where countries share responsibilities).
- Calls for ongoing cooperation on democratic values, rule of law, and human rights.
- Commits to deepening diplomatic, economic, security, and people-to-people ties.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
None. This is a non-binding House resolution, which expresses the House's opinion but does not create, amend, or repeal any laws.
Potential Impacts
- International relations: Reinforces diplomatic goodwill and alliance with the UK, potentially easing cooperation on defense, trade, and global issues.
- Government agencies: Minimal direct impact; may guide State Department or Defense Department messaging during the royal visit.
- Citizens: Symbolic boost to public awareness of US-UK ties; no direct effects on individuals.
- No fiscal or regulatory changes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- US House of Representatives: Adopts the resolution to express its position.
- US and UK governments: Beneficiaries of reaffirmed partnership.
- King Charles III and British monarchy: Directly welcomed.
- US military and defense sectors: Indirectly supported through emphasis on shared security.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: As a simple resolution, it requires only House approval (no Senate or presidential action needed) and holds no force of law—purely symbolic under Article I of the US Constitution.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by members from both parties), signaling strong congressional consensus on the US-UK alliance amid global challenges; could influence future foreign policy rhetoric.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4], Rep. Rouzer, David [R-NC-7]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
- 2026-04-28: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the importance of the special relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom and welcoming the visit of King Charles III to the United States. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)