[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 141 (Thursday, October 3, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  THE HONORABLE DON RITTER: HELPING THE PEOPLE OF AFGHANISTAN BUILD A 
                            BRIGHTER FUTURE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. CHARLES WILSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 3, 1996

  Mr. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, I have devoted a significant amount of 
effort over the years assisting the people of Afghanistan in their 
struggle for freedom and peace. During difficult periods and in pivotal 
policy debates, I could always count on a key Member of Congress--Don 
Ritter. Hence, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to a remarkable 
individual who has consistently stood with the people of Afghanistan 
and other freedom loving peoples worldwide during some of their darkest 
hours and most critical battles. For well over a decade, I have had the 
distinct honor and pleasure of working with the Honorable Don Ritter, 
an aggressive champion for freedom and human rights.
  As one of the leading congressional proponents of United States 
assistance to the people of Afghanistan during the Soviet invasion and 
occupation, Don Ritter continues to seek to build international support 
for solutions to Afghanistan's problems. Don Ritter is now forging the 
Washington, District of Columbia-based, Afghanistan Foundation. Ritter 
seeks to build his organization into a national and international 
vehicle that will help to bring peace, stability, and prosperity to 
Afghanistan.
  Don Ritter was a leader of the American effort to help the people of 
Afghanistan throughout the 1980's, working closely with Afghan 
community and resistance leaders here and abroad. He was the first 
Member of Congress to act publicly using his position as senior member 
of the Congressional Helsinki Commission to engage that body in the 
Afghan human rights and policy debate.
  To discuss founding the Afghanistan Foundation, Ritter will be 
hosting a historic meeting on October 14th in Laguna Beach, CA, with a 
number of important Afghans who share his vision to help build a 
brighter future for Afghanistan. Among those attending this special 
event will be representatives from a variety of Afghan organizations as 
well as Afghan community and business leaders, professionals, scholars, 
and artists.
  Ritter was the founder of the Congressional Task Force on 
Afghanistan, the only high level body in Congress to give consistent 
voice, both public and private, to the cause of freedom for 
Afghanistan. In this capacity, he helped lead the fight in Congress for 
humanitarian and military aid to the people of Afghanistan. Congessman 
Ritter organized a series of historic meetings of task force members 
with top governmental officials having responsibility for the Afghan 
assistance program. The Congressional Task Force on Afghanistan played 
a major role in moving United States policy toward a higher level of 
positive and practical involvement that helped free Afghanistan from 
the Soviet military occupation.
  Today, Ritter believes that the time has come for the same kind of 
application of United States policy and influence to help free the 
people of Afghanistan from the terrible violence and division that have 
pervaded that country. He sees the Afghan community worldwide as 
increasing its influence in the professional and business world and 
ready to assume substantial new responsibility to contribute to 
Afghanistan's future. The Afghan people have an important and valuable 
friend in Don Ritter. I salute his efforts to help them bring about a 
brighter future for their nation.

                          ____________________