; and Whereas leaders on both sides of the Atlantic have long recognized the value of and expressed their commitment to the Transatlantic partnership, including— (1) President John F. Kennedy, who said in 1962 that we do not regard a strong and united Europe as a rival but as a partner, and asserted that the United States believed that a united Europe will be capable of playing a greater role in the common defense, of responding more generously to the needs of poorer nations, of joining with the United States and others in lowering trade barriers, resolving problems of commerce, commodities, and currency, and developing coordinated policies in all economic, political, and diplomatic areas ; (2) President Ronald Reagan, who addressed the European Parliament in 1985 to reaffirm to the people of Europe the constancy of the American purpose and to state that America remains … dedicated to the unity of Europe and is at your side today, because, like you, we have not veered from the ideals of the West—the ideals of freedom, liberty, and peace ; (3) President Barack Obama, who stated in a 2016 address in Germany that the United States, and the entire world, needs a strong and prosperous and democratic and united Europe … because Europe’s security and prosperity is inherently indivisible from our own and recognized that Europe helps to uphold the norms and rules that can maintain peace and promote prosperity around the world ; and (4) Vice President Mike Pence, who asserted that our two continents share the same heritage, the same values and above all, the same purpose to promote peace and prosperity through freedom, democracy and the rule of law and reiterated that the United States will stand with Europe, today and every day, while traveling in Europe in February 2017: Now, therefore, be it