; Whereas ensuing popular protests in Tunisia in response to corruption, repression, and economic failure— (1) forced the resignation of President Ben Ali from the office of president; (2) ended his 23-year rule; and (3) further inspired similar pent up democratic demands throughout the Arab world; Whereas Tunisia emerged from the Arab Spring as one of the most hopeful and promising reformed democracies in the region, including with an interim government and a Constituent Assembly responsible for drafting a new constitution and fostering political compromise for a future democratic government; Whereas, in February 2011, Senator John McCain urged United States support for Tunisia’s democratic transition, noting The revolution in Tunisia has been very successful and it has become a model for the region. ; Whereas, in March 2011, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon pledged full support for Tunisia’s transition to democracy, hailing the country’s revolution as the spark that lit the profound and dramatic changes sweeping the Arab world; Whereas, on January 26, 2014, the Constituent Assembly of Tunisia adopted a new constitution demonstrating consensus for building a democracy founded on freedom and equality; Whereas the new constitution of Tunisia includes Articles that— (1) give equal rights to men and women; (2) protection freedoms of assembly, peaceful demonstration, expression, and publication; and (3) outline an electoral system and representation for the Tunisian people with checks and balances; Whereas, in November 2014, Tunisia held its first genuinely free and fair presidential election since its independence in 1956, with 27 candidates freely competing for the office of president; Whereas longtime politician Beji Caid Essebsi won the election in a runoff with 55 percent of the vote, becoming Tunisia’s first legitimately elected president since independence; Whereas President Essebsi faced many difficult challenges, including economic turmoil, terrorist attacks, and public expectations for change