[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 17, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H3810]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COMMENDING THE PRESIDENT'S INITIATIVE ON RACE

  (Mr. LEWIS of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, this weekend I traveled with 
President Clinton to San Diego, CA. There the President announced his 
initiative on race: One America in the 21st century.
  The President has appointed a commission of highly respected 
Americans to examine this issue and call for a year-long dialog to take 
place across our Nation. In the address, the President stated, ``We 
must be one American community, based on respect for one another and 
our shared values.''
  Mr. Speaker, I could not agree more. There is no issue more important 
to the future of our country than building the bridge of trust and 
understanding between people of all religions, all nationalities, and 
all colors.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend President Clinton for launching this 
bold initiative. Not since Lyndon Johnson has a President so directly 
and sincerely addressed the important issue of race. There are those 
who have criticized the President's initiative, who would use any 
opportunity to attack the President. I hope and pray that the 
President's critics will cease their attacks. This issue is too 
important to the future of our Nation to be exploited for political 
gain.
  Thank you, Mr. President, for your inspiring words this weekend, and 
for beginning the process of healing and bringing our Nation together.

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