[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 111 (Friday, August 7, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1641]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           GEORGE H. W. BUSH CENTER FOR CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 1998

  Mr. LAZIO of New York. Mr. Speaker, I support the bill offered this 
week to name the Central Intelligence Agency's Headquarters after 
President George Herbert Walker Bush. Representative Rob Portman, who 
served as Associate Counsel, Deputy Assistant, and Director of the 
White House's Office of Legislative Affairs under President Bush, 
introduced this legislation that pays homage to the only U.S. President 
that served as Director of the CIA.
  President Bush devoted more than 50 years of his life to public 
service. His career began in the Navy. At the age of 18, he was the 
youngest pilot of his day. He served our country on active duty for 3 
years during World War II. President Bush's heroism was demonstrated on 
September 2, 1944, when anti-aircraft guns fired upon his plane during 
a bombing run over Japanese-held Islands. Even after his plane had been 
hit and was on fire, President Bush finished his run before heading out 
to sea. For his courageous flying, President Bush was awarded the 
Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals.
  Like many of his predecessors, President Bush led in the war on his 
time: George Washington led the Revolutionary War, Teddy Roosevelt in 
the Spanish American War, and Dwight Eisenhower demonstrated his 
leadership in World War II. For President Bush, though, it was the cold 
war.
  President Bush also represented our great Nation in foreign affairs 
and served as a world leader in establishing international policies. 
Even though U.S. foreign intelligence activities were not officially 
coordinated on a Government-wide basis until after World War II, 
foreign intelligence activities began in the days of George Washington. 
Two hundred years later, in 1976, President Bush was appointed as the 
Director of the CIA. He shares with George Washington the unique 
distinction of having supervised our nation's intelligence service 
prior to being elected President. During his term as Director of the 
CIA, President Bush strengthened the national intelligence community 
and restored internal morale when there was public distrust of our 
Government.
  The first responsibility of the President is to protect our national 
borders from external threat. President Bush kept our families safe 
when serving as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the 
United States, and overseeing international affairs, including our 
intelligence operations.
  For forty years, the external threats that were most ominous came 
from our cold war adversaries. Under President Bush's leaderhips as 
both Vice President and President, communism collapsed, bringing about 
the end of the cold war. The cold war was a different kind of battle 
for this country; it was a battle of intelligence. President Bush's 
knowledge and understanding of our opponents' capabilities, acquired as 
head of the CIA, enabled him to successfully reduce the number of 
nuclear warheads being produced. President Bush emphasized that 
intelligence remained a vital commodity in the post-Soviet world. 
Intelligence gathering protects the U.S. against terrorism and helps 
our policymakers understand emerging economic opportunities and 
challenges. The intelligence mission thwarts those who would steal our 
technology or otherwise refuse to play by competitive rules.
  President Bush pursued a foreign policy that ensured the security and 
economic prosperity of our country, as well as freedom and individual 
rights around the world. He had a proven track record of progress 
through lasting and mutually beneficial relationships with many 
countries, particularly with Asian countries. Although differences 
remained, President Bush was able to strengthen our alliances by 
successfully opening foreign markets to U.S. competition. In turn, his 
acts helped foster the continued growth of democracy and the 
strengthening of our alliances.
  President Bush's leadership proved critical to the resolution of some 
of the most daunting conflicts of our time. Renaming the CIA compound 
provides us an opportunity to honor our 41st President with a lasting 
tribute.

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