[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 43 (Thursday, March 18, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DESIGNATING MARCH 25, 1999, AS ``GREEK INDEPENDENCE DAY''

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that S. Res. 50 
be discharged from the Judiciary Committee, and further, that the 
Senate now proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 50) designating March 25, 1999, as 
     ``Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of 
     Greek and American Democracy.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the resolution appear in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 50) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 50

       Whereas the ancient Greeks developed the concept of 
     democracy, in which the supreme power to govern was invested 
     in the people;
       Whereas the Founding Fathers of the United States of 
     America drew heavily upon the political experience and 
     philosophy of ancient Greece in forming our representative 
     democracy;
       Whereas the founders of the modern Greek state modeled 
     their government after that of the United States in an effort 
     to best imitate their ancient democracy;
       Whereas Greece is one of the only 3 nations in the world, 
     beyond the former British Empire, that has been allied with 
     the United States in every major international conflict this 
     century;
       Whereas the heroism displayed in the historic World War II 
     Battle of Crete epitomized Greece's sacrifice for freedom and 
     democracy as it presented the Axis land war with its first 
     major setback and set off a chain of events which 
     significantly affected the outcome of World War II;
       Whereas these and other ideals have forged a close bond 
     between our 2 nations and their peoples;
       Whereas March 25, 1999, marks the 178th anniversary of the 
     beginning of the revolution which freed the Greek people from 
     the Ottoman Empire; and
       Whereas it is proper and desirable to celebrate with the 
     Greek people and to reaffirm the democratic principles from 
     which our 2 great nations were born: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates March 25, 1999, as ``Greek Independence Day: 
     A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American 
     Democracy''; and
       (2) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States to observe the day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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