; Whereas the human rights situation in the Russian-occupied Georgian territories of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia has deteriorated, and the Parliament of Georgia adopted a resolution on March 21, 2018, in recognition of this fact; Whereas the United States Government supports Georgia’s sovereignty and right to choose its own alliances, and recognizes the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali/South Ossetia as Russian Federation-occupied territories within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia; Whereas the United States-Georgia Strategic Partnership, signed in January 2009, outlines the importance of bilateral efforts to advance cooperation in the areas of education, public outreach, health, and cultural exchanges to ensure the strong and enduring people-to-people ties between the United States and Georgia; Whereas the Memorandum on Deepening the Defense and Security Partnership between the United States and Georgia, signed in July 2016, enhances the defense and security cooperation and reinforces our shared determination to strengthen Georgia’s resilience and self-defense capabilities; Whereas relations between the United States and Georgia have developed into a strong alliance based on shared values and principles; Whereas, since 1994, the Georgia National Guard has had a partnership with the country of Georgia through the National Guard State Partnership Program, helping build capacity among partner forces and providing deterrence against the aggression of the Government of the Russian Federation; Whereas the Government of Georgia has shown an unwavering commitment to strengthening transatlantic security by being the largest non-NATO troop contributor to the International Security Assistance Force mission in Afghanistan and one of the top overall contributors to Resolute Support