H.Con.Res. 178 is being considered under suspension of the rules, requiring a two-thirds vote for passage. The legislation was introduced by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) on July 31, 2009.
H.Con.Res. 178 resolves that "it is the sense of Congress that we honor, commemorate and celebrate the historic ties and friendship between the United States and the Netherlands by recognizing the Quadricentennial celebration of the discovery of the Hudson River and the settlement and enduring values of New Netherland which permeate American society up until today."
This year marks the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson's discovery of the Hudson River under the auspices of the Dutch East India Company. The discovery of that river and its fertile lands gave rise to the establishment of the New Netherland settlement and the ensuing historical ties between the Netherlands and the U.S. According to the resolution's findings, free trade, open markets and commerce have linked the Netherlands and Americans to such an extent that the Netherlands remains among the top four foreign investors in the U.S.
