Whereas January 2023 marked two centuries of bilateral relations between the United States of America and the Republic of Chile; Whereas the United States established official relations with Chile on January 27, 1823, when the Senate confirmed the appointment of Heman Allen as the first United States Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Chile; Whereas the United States legation in Santiago, Chile, was elevated to embassy status on October 1, 1914; Whereas Chile is one of the strongest partners of the United States in Latin America, with a partnership grounded in mutual respect, shared democratic values, the defense of human rights, and the pursuit of economic prosperity and shared security interests; Whereas the United States and Chile have historically enjoyed strong commercial and investment ties, and, on January 1, 2004, the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement entered into force and further contributed to economic growth for the people of the United States and Chile; Whereas, in 1955, Chile was the first country in Latin America to establish a bilateral Fulbright Commission for academic exchange of knowledge and expertise; Whereas Chile was the first South American country to join the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2010; Whereas the bilateral relationship between the United States and Chile has contributed to tourism in both countries, including through the visa waiver program under section 217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1187 ), of which Chile is the only Latin American participant; Whereas the United States and Chile collaborate regularly on efforts to promote democracy, human rights, security, and development, including through the High-Level Bilateral Political Consultative Mechanism, and the U.S.–Chile Defense Consultative Committee