Joe Crowley

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Chairman, I rise today to offer an amendment that will reward community college students who are serving an important role in all of our communities. Specifically, it will provide community college students who mentor at-risk children with $10 of their student loan forgiveness for every hour, for each hour of mentoring they complete. Not only will this loan forgiveness help our college students afford their student loans, but it will also help recruit mentors for at-risk children. I am proud that this Congress is so committed to creating loan forgiveness programs for students who work in areas of national need after graduation. Teachers, nurses, police officers, and child welfare workers are just some professions that will have more opportunities for loan forgiveness under the legislation we are considering today. I applaud the Education and Labor Committee, particularly Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon, for their work on this legislation. However, unlike many of the existing programs, my amendment offers loan forgiveness to students for volunteer work they complete while they are still in school, not for entering a specific profession upon graduation. For most, mentoring children is a volunteer effort and not a full-time job, and their reward is not monetary. With the realization that this kind of work makes a real difference, not only in the life of the young person they are mentoring or in their own lives, but, in fact, it helps our entire community. Caring adults can make a difference in children's lives, and research shows the many positive effects of mentoring. Children that have mentors have better relationships with adults, fewer disciplinary referrals, and more confidence to achieve their goals. Mentoring programs are a cost-effective approach to reducing teen pregnancy, substance abuse, incarceration, and violence. For at-risk children who are already susceptible to these dangers, the need for a mentor is even greater. Unfortunately, mentors are not always easy to recruit, and finding mentors that are able to develop long-term relationships with children can be even more difficult. I believe that by providing a small incentive, we will compel others to engage in this kind of volunteerism. That is why I am offering this amendment to provide an incentive for college students to begin mentoring now, which will hopefully lead them to continue serving as a mentor long after they have graduated. Community college students are ideal targets for mentoring recruitment because they tend to have existing relationships within the surrounding community and are likely to remain in the area after completing their studies. This encourages a consistent mentor relationship, which provides the most stability for at-risk children. Of course, potential mentors can be found in many places, and I hope that in the future we will be able to expand this program to all colleges and universities. I know that many institutions are working on ways to encourage their student body to get more involved in volunteering, and I am certain that passing this amendment today will lead to future success. I would ask my colleagues to please join me in supporting this amendment. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute and say thanks to Mary Louise Plunkett one of the most influential people in my life for more than 25 years, and one of the most valued members of the Queens community for more than 50. I was blessed to meet Mary Lu in my early twenties, when I stopped into the Queens Democratic County Headquarters while running errands for my Uncle Walter. That day was the start of one of the important friendships in my personal and political life. But, long before Mary Lu became a valued part of my life, she was already a valued and well-established force in Queens County. Brooklyn-born Mary Lu moved to Jackson Heights in 1949 with her husband, Jack. Mary Lu was quick to engage in her community and church, and we were just as quick to forgive Mary Lu for her Brooklyn past. Mary Lu's foray into politics started when she joined the Amerind Democratic Club. She went on to volunteer at Queens County Democratic Headquarters, where she became a full time member of the staff in 1956. While working at County headquarters, Mary Lu served some of Queens finest leaders, including Moses Weinstein, Jim Roe and Tom Manton. And, her influence on them and our community was felt by all. No political event or dinner was held without Mary Lu and her charm. She helped to welcome such dignitaries as Jack Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Hugh Carey, Ed Koch, Mario Cuomo, and Bill and Hillary Clinton in to our Queens family. Her intelligence, warmth and kindness made all people feel welcome and comfortable. However, Mary Lu's reach went far beyond local politics. When she was not at County headquarters, she was working to create a better Queens. For example, she hosted an annual fundraiser to help the children of St. Gertrude's Parish in Far Rockaway. On top of all she does for others, most important to her is her role as mother and grandmother. There is nothing Mary Lu won't or hasn't done for her two children--Steven and Jamie and her three grandchildren--Matthew, Christopher and Caroline. I have tremendous respect for Mary Lu and all she has accomplished, but as her friend I am most proud of how she has led her family. In the coming weeks, my fellow friends and colleagues in Queens will gather to honor Mary Lu for her lifetime of service to Queens, New York. We will applaud her for her charity, wit and political skill. And, I will thank her for being a mentor and friend. Mary Lu, congratulations on a lifetime of achievements.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, it is indeed an honor for me to rise here today on the floor of the House of Representatives to pay tribute and to say thank you to a very close personal friend of mine, Ms. Mary Lu Plunkett, one of the most influential people in my life for the past 25 years and one of the most valued members of the community of Queens County in New York State and New York City for more than the last 50 years. I was blessed to meet Mary Lu Plunkett in my early 20s, when I stepped into the Queens County Democratic headquarters while running errands at the time for my then-Uncle Walter Crowley. That day was the start of one of the most important friendships in my personal and political life, Madam Speaker. But long before Mary Lu became a valued part of my life, she was already a valued and well-established force in Queens County and in Queens County Democratic politics. Mary Lu was born in Brooklyn, and she moved to Jackson Heights, Queens, in 1949 with her husband Jack. Mary Lu was quick to engage in her community and in her local church, and we were just as quick to forgive Mary Lu for her Brooklyn past. Mary Lu's foray into politics started when she joined the Amerind Democratic Club. She went on to volunteer at Queens County Democratic Headquarters, where she became a full-time member of the staff in 1956. While working at county headquarters, Mary Lu served some of Queens County's finest political leaders, including Moses Weinstein, Jim Roe, and my predecessor Tom Manton, and her influence on them and our community was felt and has been felt by all of us since. No political event or dinner has been held without Mary Lu and her charm. She helped to welcome such dignitaries and luminaries as John Kennedy, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter, Governor Hugh Carey, Mario Cuomo, Mayor Ed Koch, David Dinkins and President Bill and Senator Hillary Clinton and welcomed them into our Queens County home. Her intelligence, her warmth and kindness have made everyone who has come into contact with her feel welcome and comfortable. However, Mary Lu's reach went well beyond local politics. You have to keep in mind, Madam Speaker, that Queens County has 2.3 million people who live in just that county alone. When she was not at county headquarters, she was working to create a better Queens, and in particular, a better Rockaway, her hometown in Queens County. For example, every year she hosted an annual fundraiser that was a must- attend event to help the children of St. Gertrude's Parish in Far Rockaway. On top of all she has done for others, most important to her, I think, is her role as a mother and as a grandmother. There is nothing that Mary Lu won't do or hasn't done for her two children, Steve and Jamie; and her three grandchildren, Matthew, Christopher, and Caroline; and their mom, Nancy. I have tremendous respect for Mary Lu and all she has accomplished throughout her years, but as her friend, I'm most proud of how she has led her family life, and I have always considered myself an extended member of that family, often enjoying many personal moments in the Rockaways, getting sand in my shoes with the Plunkett family. In the coming weeks, my fellow friends and colleagues in Queens County will gather to honor Mary Lu for her lifetime of service to our great borough and to our great city and to our great country. We will applaud her for her charity, her wit and political skill, and I want to thank her for being a mentor and a friend. Mary Lu, we love you and we congratulate you on your lifetime of achievement.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to solemnly remember the life of journalist and activist, Hrant Dink, On January 19th, 2007, Mr. Dink was gunned down by a Turkish ultra- nationalist outside his newspaper office in Istanbul, Turkey. Hrant Dink was a man who called for tolerance, peaceful dialogue and greater civil rights for all Turkish citizens. He was a fierce defender of freedom and believed all people have equal rights under the law. He believed that everyone should have the right to know the truth about their nation's past, however dark that past was. Hrant Dink had been prosecuted by the Turkish government under penal code 301--a law that bans free speech and was used to suppress a wide range of dissenting opinions, from criticism of Turkish government institutions to opposing official Turkish denial of the Ottoman campaign of genocide against its Armenian population. Under the all-encompassing phrase ``insulting Turkishness'' a citizen in Turkey can receive a prison sentence of up to three years, with the offence being increased 50 percent if the so-called offence is committed abroad. Nearly 100 journalists and intellectuals have been prosecuted under Article 301--including Nobel Prize author Orhan Pamuk. Many informed observers believe Hrant Dink's prosecution under Article 301 opened him up to a campaign of harassment and death threats from ultra- nationalists, which led to his eventual murder. To this day, citizens of Turkey live under threat of this gag-law, with Hrant Dink's own son prosecuted because he reprinted his father's newspaper articles. This is not the actions of a true democracy--it is reflective of how a totalitarian state would behave. And, this is not the Turkey we--the United States of America--have aligned our country with. Amnesty International has called for a complete repeal of this punitive legislation. The European Commission has repeatedly asked for its repeal. One year ago, Members of Congress, their staffers, and members of several communities came together to watch ``Screamers''--a film about genocide in the last century featuring amongst others, Hrant Dink. Here, in the halls of Congress, we saw watched as Hrant Dink discussed the problems of Article 301. Just two days after the film's premier, Hrant Dink was shot dead. A man who only wanted to speak the truth about historical fact. A man who wanted every citizen to be equal. A man we should applaud here in America for his courage and dedication to democracy. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring the memory of Hrant Dink and continuing to urge the repeal of Article 301.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to solemnly remember the life of journalist and activist Hrant Dink. On January 19, 2007, Mr. Dink was gunned down by a Turkish ultranationalist outside his newspaper office in Istanbul, Turkey. Hrant Dink was a man who called for tolerance, peaceful dialogue, and greater civil rights for all Turkish citizens. He was a fierce defender of freedom and believed all people have equal rights under the law. He believed that everyone should have the right to know the truth about their Nation's past, however dark that past may be. Hrant Dink had been prosecuted by the Turkish Government under penal code 301, a law that bans free speech and was used to suppress a wide range of dissenting opinion, from criticism of Turkish Government institutions to opposing official Turkish denial of the Ottoman campaign of genocide against its Armenian population. Under the all- encompassing phrase ``insulting Turkishness,'' a citizen in Turkey can receive a prison sentence of up to 3 years with the offense being increased by 50 percent if the so-called offense is committed abroad. Nearly 100 journalists and intellectuals have been prosecuted under article 301, including Nobel Prize author Orhan Pamuk. Many informed observers believe Hrant Dink's prosecution under article 301 opened him up to a campaign of harassment and death threats from ultranationalists, which eventually led to his murder. To this day, citizens of Turkey live under threat of this gag law, with Hrant Dink's own son prosecuted under this law because he reprinted his father's newspaper articles. This is not the action of a true democracy. It is reflective of how a totalitarian state would behave, and this is not the Turkey we, the United States of America, have aligned our country with. Amnesty International has called for a complete repeal of this punitive legislation. The European Commission has repeatedly asked for its repeal. Unfortunately, indications now suggest that the Government of Turkey is only tinkering with changes, making this gag rule even more ambiguous. Today, I ask the House to support calls for the Turkish Government to immediately repeal article 301. One year ago, Members of Congress, their staffers and several members, and members of several communities, came together to watch ``Screamers,'' a film about genocide in the last century, featuring, among others, Hrant Dink. Here, in the Halls of Congress, we watched as Hrant Dink discussed the problems of article 301. Just 2 days after the film's premiere, Hrant Dink was shot dead, a man who only wanted to speak the truth about historical facts as he saw them, a man who wanted every citizen to be treated equally, a man we should applaud here in America for his courage and dedication to democracy. I believe that if Turkey wants to further explore the opportunities that she wishes to do within the present European Union, she must address the issue of article 301. I hope my colleagues will join me in honoring the memory of Hrant Dink and continue to urge the repeal of article 301.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to applaud the bravery of a young man, Hassan Askari. On December 9 of this year, Hassan Askari risked his own safety and his life to defend a group of strangers who were attacked on a New York City subway. What started as an exchange of Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah between two fellow passengers ignited into a violent exchange of anti- Semitic slurs and violence. A group of men and women attacked the Jewish passengers, and only one passenger came to their defense, Hassan Askari. Hassan, like the men he was trying to help, was beaten and pummeled by the attackers. But as he said with regard to his actions, ``I believe we are all members of one family, and my religion teaches me always to come to the aid of my fellow man in distress.'' Hassan is a Muslim from Bangladesh. He was taught, as we all should be, that we are humans first, first and foremost. And no matter what our faith or race, we should treat each other with respect. Hassan's actions on the subway were human nature at its best, and I applaud him for interceding to stop a senseless act of violence and hate. I hope his actions will serve as an example for all of us.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life and accomplishments of Anthony Iurilli, who passed away on Sunday, November 25, 2007 at age 38 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Mr. Iurilli, known as Tony, exemplified the ideals that many of us aspire to: commitment to education, a love of community service, and devotion to his family and friends. Tony was blessed with extraordinary athletic talent. He was a 1986 graduate of St. Raymond High School for Boys in the Bronx, where he lettered in both baseball and basketball. In his senior year, he was named to the All-City Baseball Team by three New York metropolitan newspapers--Newsday, the NY Daily News and the NY Post, and he was awarded a New York Yankees Scholarship to Pace University. There, he was the starting shortstop on the baseball team for four years, graduating in 1990 with a solid B average. Tony's priorities were faith, family, school, and community. After college, he worked as Director of Recreation for HIV/AIDS patients at Bronx Lebanon Hospital, and he taught American history, health, and physical education at St. Helena's elementary school in the Bronx. He then returned to his alma mater, St. Ray's, to teach American history and health education, and to foster the athletic abilities of students who followed in his path. He coached the school's varsity and junior varsity bowling teams, and he served as the head junior varsity baseball coach and the assistant varsity baseball coach. As JV basketball coach, he led the St. Raymond's Ravens to Catholic High School All-City championships in 2003 and 2005. While at St. Raymond, Tony was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that may have crippled his body, but never his mind or spirit. Last summer, he served as best man at his beloved brother Frank's wedding in New York before moving to Florida for medical treatment. He returned to St. Ray's to be honored by faculty, alumni, and friends at a benefit dinner in mid-October. Madam Speaker, this is a difficult time for all those who knew and loved Tony Iurilli. It is my hope that they will be strengthened by the memory of his selflessness, his bright smile, and his wonderful spirit. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Tony's all too brief, but wonderful life of commitment and community service.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank my friend from Queens, New York, as well. I thank all of those who have worked so hard on this particular issue and this bill before us today. I wish, quite frankly, that the discussion and focus wasn't on the New York delegation. I wish I could stand here today and I didn't have the burden of the New York State and New York City delegation to craft and help make this legislation better legislation. And at the same time, I don't wish to transpose that burden upon the delegation from Chicago, Illinois, or Los Angeles, California, or Birmingham, Alabama. I wish not to transpose it to anybody else. We accept that responsibility. We accept it because we are the financial capital of the world, and the focus of so much of the attention and hate of the world, that New York has become that focus, we recognize our place here in the Congress. Having said that, I will note that this bill is better than what the White House proposed, which was no advancement, no extension of TRIA. The President's working group as well as the GAO report said no extension. We got a 7-year extension. I count our blessings. The best should not be the enemy of the good. But having said that, I think the rejection of a reset provision is a mistake. And we will be back here, we will be back because we need to do this. We ought not leave a hole in the ground in Manhattan as a monument to Osama bin Laden. Six years out, and this is not the only reason why there hasn't been a redevelopment in Lower Manhattan. But 6 years out we still have not seen the development of the Freedom Towers. There is a message here, and the message ought not to be to our enemies that if you strike us we will cower, we will not redevelop. That's the message that's going out right now. And we will have an opportunity to change that, and I hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle understand this is not a New York City issue. This is not a New York issue, but an American issue; and to move forward we have to work together to see that come to fruition.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe the passing of a friend and a man for whom I held a tremendous amount of respect, Tommy Makem. Tommy was an internationally celebrated folk musician, actor, artist, poet, songwriter, and storyteller from Ireland who took pride in sharing the Irish culture with those around the globe. He emigrated to the United States in 1955, with nothing more than a makeshift suitcase, a pair of bagpipes, and proof of his health, to pursue a career in acting. He settled in Dover, New Hampshire. After a brief period as an actor, Tommy Makem went on to join a band of Irish descent, The Clancy Brothers, where he rose to international fame. Tommy broke out on his own following his time with The Clancy Brothers and educated generations on the history, traditions, and customs of Ireland through his music, art, and poetry. He wrote hundreds of songs, including, ``Four Green Fields,'' ``Gentle Annie,'' and ``The Rambles of Spring,'' which have been played in Carnegie Hall, Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall and across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Tommy Makem's illustrious career awarded him honorary doctorates from the University of New Hampshire in 1998, the University of Limerick in 2001, and the University of Ulster in 2007. He was regarded as an exceptional musician and achieved both gold and platinum albums, and a host of other awards, such as the Gold Medal of the Eire Society in Boston, the Genesis Award from Stonehill College in Massachusetts, an Emmy nomination for a New Hampshire public television series, as well as the first Lifetime Achievement Award in the Irish Voice/Aer Lingus Community Awards. Tommy, one of the greatest Irish-Americans of the 20th Century, was also listed as one of the top 100 Irish Americans in the Irish American Magazine 5 years in a row. The World Folk Music Association awarded him its Lifetime Achievement Award in 1999. Tommy Makem passed away on Wednesday, August 1, 2007, in Dover, New Hampshire. He will be remembered not only for his incredible achievements, but as a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. His enduring memory and music will live on, as will the power and energy of his unyielding spirit. He remains a true inspiration to me and millions of others around the world.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Vermont and the sponsor of this legislation, Peter Welch.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, in January 1998 a devastating ice storm struck the northern New England border region. Damage to the region's infrastructure was considerable, and millions spent days in the dark on both sides of the border between the U.S. and Canada. When the lights came back on, there were over 30 dead. This tragedy resulted in an effort in cross-border cooperation that has yielded the mutual assistance compact we have before us today. The International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding provides a legal framework for cooperation between the States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, with the Canadian Provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The compact allows for management of any emergency or disaster arising from natural disaster, technological disaster, man-made disaster, or civil emergency. It seeks to regularize plan and program formulation; assist in warning communities adjacent to or crossing jurisdictional boundaries; ensure critical delivery of services as well as medicines, water, food, energy and fuel; and to clarify search and rescue protocols and issues related to evacuation. The Senate has already passed their version of the resolution; and passage today in the House, as required by the Constitution, will permit this compact to come into effect. It is worth noting, as well, that several years ago the Senate passed a similar resolution, but the House failed to act and the moment faded. We must not let this happen again. This is the kind of international cooperation that makes it safer and stronger. I thank the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), particularly, for his strong leadership on this important compact and for his diligence in trying to ensure greater cooperation with Canada on emergency issues. This resolution deserves our support, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in doing so. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate joint resolution (S.J. Res. 13) granting the consent of Congress to the International Emergency Management Assistance Memorandum of Understanding.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the joint resolution under consideration.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. I thank once again Mr. Manzullo for his support and efforts in helping to bring this legislation in a bipartisan spirit to the floor today. I want to thank my friend again Mr. Faleomavaega for his comments and work as well. There is no question that the situation in Burma is complex. One only needs to read today's Washington Post to understand again the complexity of this in terms of the ethnic diversity within Burma. Also, in reading that article today, one could also understand that there's incredible turmoil within that country where there are more child soldiers than any other country today; where every day, daily, young boys are coerced and enslaved by conditions into becoming soldiers as young boys and children. There are over 2,000 political prisoners that we know of today in Burma. And that same article today alluded to the destruction of villages in Burma. Let me just point out that over 200 ethnic minority villages have been destroyed by the military junta, forcing 1.5 million people to flee their homes, some to flee the country, in a country where rape is used as a weapon by the military regime against the ethnic minorities within that country, documented and well known. Aung San Suu Kyi, if she receives this award this year, will receive the award the same year that we just gave this to the Dalai Lama, the same award, the Gold Medal. She is known in Burma and throughout the world as the Nelson Mandela of Burma. She is known as the Gandhi of Burma. I think it is appropriate that this year she share the limelight in some way with the Dalai Lama who himself has brought attention to the cause of the people of his own land. Let me close by saying just one other point about Aung San Suu Kyi and the sacrifices she has had to make, giving up of her personal freedom and opportunity to live in Great Britain, India or elsewhere. She has turned that down to be with her own people who are suffering to the point where she is not permitted to see her family members because of her involvement in human rights activities. In 1999, when her husband was dying, the military regime refused to allow him to live with her during that time. She had to spend those terrible days in isolation from the person she loved more than anyone else, her dying husband. It is also important to note that Aung San Suu Kyi received the Nobel Peace Prize. But quite frankly, that was done in 1991, a very long time ago; some 16 years ago she received that award. So I believe that the work that the administration is doing, the work that the First Lady, and again I want to congratulate First Lady Laura Bush for her continued effort to bringing light and attention to this particular issue, I think it is having an effect on the world. I think more of the world is interested in what is happening in Burma and paying attention to it. I would also like to take this time to ask our friends in India to play more of an active role in bringing about a constructive solution to the issues of Burma. And again to China, a country that I believe has continued to turn its face away from atrocities, no longer should China turn her face away from what is happening in Burma. China, India, Bangladesh, all of the countries in the region need to be concerned about what is happening in Burma today. Again, it is about what makes America America, standing up for those countries that stand up for democracy and human rights. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to present this legislation to the House floor and hope my colleagues support it. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4286) to award a congressional gold medal to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in recognition of her courageous and unwavering commitment to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and democracy in Burma.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as the gentleman may consume to my good friend, Eni Faleomavaega. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of awarding Aung San Suu Kyi the Congressional Gold Medal. Mr. Speaker, since the founding of our country, this Congress has awarded more than 300 people and organizations the Congressional Gold Medal. We have bestowed this honor on those who have performed outstanding deeds and acts of service. Past recipients include the Dalai Lama, for his contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights and religious understanding; Elie Wiesel, one of the foremost spokesmen of the victims of the Holocaust; the Reverend Francis X. Quinn, pastor of the Church of the Guardian Angel in New York City, who risked his own life in persuading an armed gunman to surrender to police and free an elderly couple he was holding hostage; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; and Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Like those who have received this award before, Aung San Suu Kyi embodies the spirit of the Congressional Gold Medal, dedicating her life to the cause of freedom and democracy by fighting to establish peace in her home country of Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi was born in Burma in 1945, and 2 years after her birth her father negotiated Burma's independence from the United Kingdom and was then assassinated by his rivals that very same year. Like father, like daughter, Ms. Suu Kyi has spent most of her life working to better her native country. Although Burma established democratic rule after becoming an independent republic in 1947, a military coup toppled the government in 1962, and since then the government has been effectively under military control. For more than 20 years, Ms. Suu Kyi has led the effort to end military rule in her country. In 1988, she helped form the National League for Democracy, also known as the NLD, which advocates nonviolence. She is currently the NLD's general secretary. In 1990, despite being under house arrest, she led her political party to a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, gaining 82 percent of the seats in Parliament. The military junta snubbed the will of the Burmese people by nullifying the results of the election and, subsequently, ruling with an iron fist. Throughout her political career, Aung San Suu Kyi has been in and out of house arrest, but this has only solidified her determination to secure democracy for the people of Burma. And, when offered the chance to leave the country and live in exile, she said ``no,'' choosing instead to stand with her fellow citizens of Burma. In August, her struggles and the struggles of the Burmese people were thrust onto the international stage when pictures of monks protesting the military junta were shown all over the world. Despite the junta's violent crackdown on dissidents, protesters have remained committed to peaceful protests, inspired by their rightful leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who met with foreign leaders and junta officials from her home to work for a peaceful way forward after the bloody nationwide crackdown. Their efforts prompted new calls for democracy within the global community. The United Nations' Secretary was outspoken in calling on the junta to allow for democracy to take place in Burma. And First Lady Laura Bush continues to make public statements in support of the democratic movement in Burma, and we are all grateful to the First Lady's efforts in trying to bring about democratization within Burma; yet, the nation is still under military control and Aung San Suu Kyi's fight for democratic rule continues. Burma is a nation in the heart of southeast Asia. It is bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, Bangladesh, and India. In a region that is working to establish firm stability, Burma is a cancer whose main exports are illegal drugs, diseases like HIV and AIDS, and refugees pouring into neighboring countries. The people of Burma and Southeast Asia deserve to live in a stable and thriving region. That is why the United States must continue to support efforts to establish peace and democratic rule in Burma. And it is my hope that by honoring Aung San Suu Kyi with the Congressional Gold Medal, we will continue to pressure the junta to release her and bring freedom and democracy to the people of Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi's work on behalf of the Burmese people has already been recognized by many on the international stage. She has won over 60 international awards, including the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought from the European Union, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States, and the Nobel Peace Prize. She is also the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient, spending more than 12 of the last 17 years under house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi and the people of Burma are leading a courageous nonviolent struggle for human rights and democracy, values we share as Americans. Her passionate, nonviolent approach and commitment to a free democratic Burma has won the hearts and minds of the people of Burma and, I dare say, the rest of the free world. Today I believe we should show her and the rest of the world that she is also in the hearts and minds of the Members of the U.S. Congress. A number of my colleagues deserve special thanks for helping me bring this message to the floor today, including my good friend from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for working with me to make this a bipartisan measure. Also, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank and Ranking Member Bachus deserve my thanks and our thanks in helping to ensure speedy consideration of the bill. Additionally, at the staff level, I want to thank Nien Su, Joe Pinder, Jonathan Obee and Greg Sheiowitz from my staff for their help. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CROWLEY

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 843) mourning the passing of Congressman Henry J. Hyde and celebrating his leadership and service to the people of Illinois and the United States of America, as amended.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the subject matter of this resolution, H. Res. 843.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to recognize the service of our former colleague, a Member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Hyde, who served in the House of Representatives from January 3, 1975, to January 3, 2007, and served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, as well as chairman of the International Relations Committee. Mr. Hyde's life was a good, long life and a complex life as well. Mr. Hyde graduated from high school and earned a scholarship to play basketball at Georgetown University. He participated in the 1942 NCAA basketball tournament. As a college basketball fan, I think that may be the height of his career. But that was only the beginning. He went on to serve valorously in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1946 in the South Pacific, New Guinea, the Guinean Gulf, and continued in the Reserves well into the 1960s. Mr. Hyde was elected to serve his constituents in Illinois' Sixth Congressional District, I think where he certainly contributed mightily and tremendously to the advancement of the Congress, as well as our country. I had the great opportunity to serve with Henry Hyde as a member of the International Relations Committee, a somewhat junior member, then a mid bench member. I always enjoyed the banter with the chairman; quick- witted, and incredibly intelligent, steeped in history, understood every bill that was before him, and understood where he stood on those issues. And although Mr. Hyde and I did not agree on every political issue, I admired his tenacity. I admired his demeanor. I admired the way in which he handled himself, both in committee, on the floor, and as a person. I also had the opportunity to travel with Mr. Hyde on a trip to a country that is near and dear to both himself and myself, the country of our ancestry, Ireland. I know that he was proud of the work of the advancement of peace and justice in Ireland, in all of Ireland, and worked mightily towards that end. But Mr. Hyde had numerous accomplishments. And I'll leave that to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to advance today. But I would urge the adoption of this resolution, as amended. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to yield once again to my good friend from the territory of Samoa, Representative Eni Faleomavaega, for as much time as he may consume. (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)