[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   FBI DIRECTOR FREEH RETIRES AFTER A PROUD RECORD OF SERVICE TO HIS 
                                 NATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that today we 
learned of the planned retirement of FBI Director Louis Freeh, who has 
served his nation so well. For 27 years he has served his country as an 
FBI agent, federal prosecutor, and a sitting federal judge, and having 
worked tirelessly here and around the globe to enhance the rule of law.
  Our country will surely miss his dedication, his professionalism and 
integrity, which he displayed each and every day he served as the 
Director of our nation's leading federal law enforcement agency, the 
FBI, as he led the fight against transnational crime and terrorism.
  Director Freeh brought vision, foresight, and innovation to the 
battle against crime and terrorism, both at home and abroad. In the 
area of foreign crime fighting and the battle against international 
terrorism, which I am most familiar with, he wisely expanded the FBI's 
presence abroad to fight transnational crime and international 
terrorism long before it reached our nation.
  I was particularly proud to work hand and hand with Director Freeh in 
establishing and maintaining the first ever International Law 
Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Budapest, Hungary. It is today the model 
for international training and development of regional cooperative 
police relationships around the globe. There is now an ILEA operating 
in Asia, and others planned for Africa, and our own Western Hemisphere. 
We will miss Director Freeh's vision and leadership.
  As he himself said today of those overseas efforts, among others: 
``These measures already have proven invaluable in the international 
fight against terrorism, organized crime, cyber-crime, and 
transnational crimes in the Information Age.'' We fully agree with his 
assessment.
  Finally, I invite my colleagues to join me in wishing our good friend 
and fellow New Yorker, Director Louis Freeh, and his family, much 
success and joy in his future endeavors, whatever, or wherever they 
maybe in the private sector. He has served our nation and our people 
well. We all owe him a debt of gratitude.

                          ____________________