Whereas, on April 10, 1998, cross-community representatives in Northern Ireland as well as representatives from the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom signed the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (herein referred to as the Agreement ) ending the period of violence known as the Troubles and establishing a framework for peace in Northern Ireland; Whereas the talks surrounding the Agreement were chaired by the Honorable George J. Mitchell and supported by the United States Government and Congress; Whereas all communities in Northern Ireland were represented at the talks that led to the Agreement and the United States has played a vital role as a good-faith actor in talks surrounding implementation of the Agreement; Whereas the Agreement was a negotiated settlement between the communities in Northern Ireland as well as the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland; Whereas the Agreement provided for the foundation of the establishment of power-sharing devolved institutions to reflect the will of the people of Northern Ireland regardless of community, tradition, or background and consistent with democratic principles; Whereas the Agreement affirms, protects, and safeguards the inherent human and civil rights of the people of Northern Ireland in abidance with the European Convention on Human Rights and establishes new institutions in Northern Ireland, including an Equality Commission and Human Rights Commission, to ensure equal protection under the law for the people of Northern Ireland; Whereas the 3 Strand approach which laid the framework for the directly elected Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive as well as North-South and East-West institutions, continues to bring together stakeholders to consult, cooperate, and act on matters of mutual interest; Whereas the Agreement acknowledges the suffering of victims of violence committed during the Troubles , including the impact on young people