[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 13, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 13, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                ``ONGI ETORRI'' FOR THE BASQUE PRESIDENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Idaho [Mr. LaRocco] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LaROCCO. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, September 20, I will have the 
pleasure of welcoming Jose Antonio Ardanza, the President of the Basque 
Government in Spain, when he visits Washington, DC. This is a special 
honor for me because of the close relationship between the Basque 
country and my home State of Idaho, which has one of the largest 
concentrations of Basques outside of Spain.
  This relationship began a century ago, when the first Basque 
immigrants trickled into Idaho shortly after statehood in 1890. At that 
time, the poor economic conditions in Spain compelled them to look for 
outside opportunities. Many young Basque men came to the Western United 
States, especially Idaho and Nevada, first to herd sheep.
  Through a combination of hard work, education, and strong family 
values, Basques in the United States have become a classic success 
story. Today, Americans of Basque descent are in all walks of life from 
banking to agriculture to law and education. Basques have become an 
invaluable addition to the makeup of our State.
  At the same time, Basque cultural traditions remain alive and well. 
Idahoans appreciate Basque restaurants, Basque dancing, and Basque 
cultural festivals. I, myself, have been fortunate to participate in 
some of these traditions because my wife, Chris, is of Basque ancestry.
  In many ways, Idaho's ties with the Basque country are stronger than 
ever, and therefore the United States' ties with the Basque country are 
growing stronger. We in Idaho are working to expand cultural, economic 
and educational exchanges with the Basque country and to continue this 
relationship into the next century.
  President Ardanza's visit next week will mark an important milestone 
in the development of these exchanges. Since he assumed office in 1985, 
President Ardanza has made it a priority to open doors of the Basque 
country, to rejuvenate the Basque economy, and to deal firmly with 
terrorism in the Basque provinces.
  Since President Ardanza's first visit to the United States in 1988, 
Idaho Governor Cecil Andrus and I have visited the Basque country.
  Mr. Speaker, Idahoans are proud of our Basque community. And I will 
be proud to represent the State of Idaho in welcoming President Ardanza 
to our Nation's Capital.

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