[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H2937-H2938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PERMITTING USE OF CAPITOL ROTUNDA FOR CONGRESSIONAL CEREMONY HONORING 
                             MOTHER TERESA

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 26) to permit the use of 
the rotunda of the Capitol for a congressional ceremony honoring Mother 
Teresa.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                             S. Con Res. 26

       Whereas Mother Teresa of Calcutta has greatly enhanced the 
     lives of people in all walks of life in every corner of the 
     world through her faith, her love, and her selfless 
     dedication to humanity and charitable works for nearly 70 
     years;
       Whereas Mother Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, 
     which includes more than 3,000 members in 25 countries who 
     devote their lives to serving the poor, without accepting any 
     material reward in return;
       Whereas Mother Teresa has been recognized as an outstanding 
     humanitarian around the world and has been honored by: the 
     first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize (1971); the Jawaharal Nehru 
     Award for International Understanding (1972); the Nobel Peace 
     Prize (1979); and the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1985).
       Whereas Mother Teresa has forever enhanced the culture and 
     history of the world; and
       Whereas Mother Teresa truly leads by example and shows the 
     people of the world the way to live by love for all humanity; 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the rotunda of the Capitol is authorized to 
     be used on June 5, 1997, for a congressional ceremony 
     honoring Mother Teresa. Physical preparations for the 
     ceremony shall be carried out in accordance with such 
     conditions as the Architect of the Capitol may prescribe.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Thomas] and the gentlewoman from Michigan [Ms. 
Kilpatrick], each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas].
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Senate Concurrent Resolution 26 was approved by the 
Committee on House Oversight in its regularly scheduled meeting on May 
14. The concurrent resolution authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda 
on June 5 to allow for a celebration honoring Mother Teresa after she 
addresses a joint session of Congress. The Senate passed this 
resolution which was offered by the senior Senator from Kansas, Senator 
Sam Brownback, on May 8.
  Agnese Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, now known as Mother Teresa, was born on 
August 26, 1910, in Albania. She joined a Catholic Missionary order and 
went to India when she was 18 years old. In 1950, she founded the 
Missionaries of Charity.
  Mother Teresa is one of those names known the world over. More 
important than being recognized, she has been honored the world over:
  She was honored with the first Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971. 
The Jawaharal Nehru Award for International Understanding was given to

[[Page H2938]]

her in 1972. The Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom in 1985 from President Reagan. And in 1996, Mother Teresa 
became the fifth person in the world to be conferred honorary 
citizenship from the United States by President Clinton.
  For historical purposes, the first was Winston Churchill by President 
Kennedy in 1963, Raoul Wallenberg by President Reagan in 1981, and 
William and Hannah Penn by President Reagan in 1984.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we live in an age that is sometimes easy to dismiss as 
selfish, self-absorbed, cynical, and cruel. Mother Teresa and her 
selfless dedication to the world's least fortunate serve as a powerful 
reminder of our age which still includes shining symbols, as Mother 
Teresa is, for goodness and compassion.
  At our schools, wherever she takes us, she is always rededicating 
herself to the least of these. Permitting the use of the rotunda of the 
Capitol of the United States for a congressional ceremony to honor 
Mother Teresa and her life's work is something that I am proud to stand 
here today and be in full support of.
  We will be focusing the attention of all Americans, whatever their 
faiths, on a symbol that can serve them well in our everyday lives. As 
we know, Mother Teresa was born in 1910 in Albania. She received the 
Nobel Peace Prize in 1979.
  She is known as the Saint of the Gutter, where she spent tireless 
hours giving of herself, educating, providing people with hope who have 
no hope. I had occasion to meet Mother Teresa when she visited the city 
of Detroit a few years back. The aura that is instilled in her is there 
for anyone to see. She is a saint. And she is a person whom we all can 
take a look at and honor because she has given much of her life so that 
people have the hope that God has intended each of us to have.
  Mr. Speaker, the Missionaries of Charity has branches in 50 Indian 
cities and about 30 other countries around the world. It numbers more 
than 3,000 members who have decided to follow Mother Teresa's example 
and dedicate their lives by serving the world's poor.
  Mother Teresa is special to me personally. I am happy this Congress 
is going to have a dedication ceremony for her.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Christensen].
  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Thomas] for his assistance in getting this piece 
of legislation to the floor so quickly. This came up on rather short 
notice, and we appreciate all his hard work and the work of the staff 
to expedite this bill.
  The passage of this resolution, Senate Concurrent Resolution 26, 
authorizes the use of the Capitol rotunda for a congressional ceremony 
honoring Mother Teresa. This ceremony will take place on June 5. We are 
looking forward to hearing her comments and honoring her life.
  It is during this time that we will present her with the 
Congressional Gold Medal as a small tribute for her lifelong dedication 
of service to those who are less fortunate, impoverished, ill, 
homeless, and destitute.
  As we have heard already some of her awards and accomplishments, they 
go on and on. They are very numerous awards that she has achieved 
throughout her life. But I think the one thing that Mother Teresa 
stands out for is that, no matter who is the person she meets, she 
loves everybody. I think that she has followed the example that Christ 
laid down in that she loves her brother and her sister.
  Ms. KILPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Thomas] that the House suspend the rules 
and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 26.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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