Whereas, on April 2, 1917, President Thomas Woodrow Wilson asked Congress to convene an extraordinary session to officially declare war on the Imperial German Government; Whereas, on April 4, 1917, the Senate passed a joint resolution that declared a formal state of war between the United States and the Imperial German Government; Whereas, on April 6, 1917, the House of Representatives adopted the same joint resolution that the Senate had passed, thereby marking the official entry of the United States into World War I; Whereas, consequently, April 6, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United States into World War I beside France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, the countries of the Triple Entente; Whereas, on December 7, 1917, the United States declared war on the Austro-Hungarian Empire; Whereas, beginning in August 1914— (1) a portion of France was occupied by German forces; and (2) France fought— (A) beside the United Kingdom and all countries of the British Empire (notably, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa), Belgium, Russia, Italy, and Portugal; (B) on land, at sea, and in the air; (C) along a front line of more than 460 miles; and (D) to recover full sovereignty; Whereas, before April 6, 1917, the United States had supported France and the Allies economically, financially, and with human support, including through 3,600 individuals who served as volunteers, ambulance attendants, nurses, philanthropists, and soldiers in the French Foreign Legion; Whereas the expeditionary force of the United States was created on May 3, 1917, under the command of General John J. Pershing, to provide military support to France and the Allies; Whereas the United States started huge mobilization efforts after Congress passed the Act entitled An Act to authorize the President to increase temporarily the Military Establishment of the United States , approved May 18, 1917 ( Public Law 65–15