[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 156 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8047-H8048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NATIONAL WORDS CAN HEAL DAY

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 235) expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives regarding the establishment of a National Words Can 
Heal Day, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 235

       Whereas the Jerusalem Fund has launched a Words Can Heal 
     Campaign on September 4, 2001, to reduce verbal violence and 
     gossip and to promote the value and practice of ethical 
     speech in order improve our democracy, build mutual respect, 
     honor, and dignity in our country;
       Whereas words used unfairly, whether expressed through 
     excessive anger, unfair criticism, public and private 
     humiliation, bigoted comments, cruel jokes, or rumors and 
     malicious gossip, can traumatize and damage many lives;
       Whereas an unwillingness or inability of many parents to 
     control what they say when angry causes the infliction of 
     potentially damaging verbal abuse on many children;
       Whereas bigoted words are often used to dehumanize entire 
     religious, racial, and ethnic groups, and can inflame 
     hostility;
       Whereas the spreading of negative and often unfair, untrue, 
     or exaggerated comments or rumors about others often inflicts 
     irrevocable damage on the victim of such rumors;
       Whereas the Words Can Heal Campaign will raise awareness 
     regarding the damage that can be caused by destructive 
     language; and
       Whereas the House of Representatives supports the goals of 
     the Words Can Heal Campaign: Now, therefore be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) the House of Representatives supports the goals of the 
     Words Can Heal Campaign; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on 
     the people of the United States to support the goals of such 
     campaign with appropriate programs and activities.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on H. Res. 235.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, the Words Can Heal Campaign, sponsored by the 
Jerusalem Fund, is a visionary national media and educational campaign 
designed to reduce verbal violence and gossip. The goal of the campaign 
is to promote the value and the practice of ethical speech in order to 
improve our democracy and to build mutual respect, honor and dignity to 
our country.
  The Words Can Heal Campaign launched a media campaign on September 4, 
2001, right here in our Nation's Capital. The campaign includes posters 
in D.C. Metro stations and bus shelters. It includes advertisements in 
newspapers, such as Roll Call, and publications such as the National 
Journal, Congressional Quarterly, and television ads on all major 
networks.
  The campaign also includes educational modules for use in schools, in 
companies, community centers, government offices, houses of worship, 
every building throughout the Nation. We can all practice and 
participate in this initiative to improve our society and make a 
difference in the lives of millions of Americans, one word at a time.
  In the aftermath of the tragedy of September 11, the Words Can Heal 
Campaign is now more important than ever. We must all be committed to 
unite and strengthen America through the power of words.
  Each and every one of us have been touched by the events of September 
11, and we as Americans have pulled together as a country to show our 
true colors. Americans reached out to each other with kind words and 
helping hands. We embraced each other with words of comfort. And 
through these difficult days, we as a country have come together in 
fellowship with expressions of kindness and caring.
  As we work our way back to normalcy, let us continue the outpouring 
of concern that we have shown each other. We should have a new Golden 
Rule: Say unto others as you would want said unto you.
  Mother Teresa once said, ``Kind words can be short and easy to speak, 
but their echoes are truly endless.'' Her words capture the essence of 
the Words Can Heal Campaign. Words are powerful. Words can build love, 
or they can destroy it. Words can be encouraging, or damaging.
  We must choose what we say carefully because we cannot take back our 
words. Once something is said, it can never be erased. We have all said 
something which later we have wished that we could take back. The Words 
Can Heal Pledge is one way to avoid that terrible feeling when you 
regret what you have said.
  It says, ``I pledge to think more about the words that I use. I will 
try to replace words that hurt with words that encourage, engage and 
enrich. I will try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself, 
and work to eliminate it from my life. I will not become discouraged 
when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a 
better place is hard work. And I am helping to do that, one word at a 
time.''
  The Words Can Heal Pledge helps us to remember what someone says to 
you can change your entire day.
  Words are contagious. A friendly ``hello'' can spread from one 
colleague to another, from one brother to sister, one friend to 
another, from a stranger to a stranger. We must work to avoid harsh 
words and gossip which makes everyone feel badly.
  We can all play a role in this undertaking to improve our society and 
make a difference in the lives of millions of Americans. Our ability to 
voice views freely and resolve differences through dialogue and 
persuasion is fundamental to our American system of democracy, and for 
that process to work, our words must reflect mutual respect, truth and 
fairness.
  As our dialogue in Congress needs to be civil and ethical, so do 
communications throughout society.
  Please join me in support of the Jerusalem Fund's Words Can Heal 
Campaign, along with the Executive Director of the Words Can Heal 
Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof, whom I had the opportunity to meet along 
with my husband and children in our trip to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv this 
August, and Rabbi Chaim Feld; also President and CEO of the IAC Group, 
Ana Maria Fernandez Haar; Senior Fellow of Foreign and Defense Policy 
Studies, Dr. Jeane Kirkpatrick; New York Mayor

[[Page H8048]]

Rudolph Giuliani; and Chairman and CEO of Radio Unica, Joaquin Blaya. 
Both Joaquin Blaya and Ana Maria Fernandez Haar joined Rabbi Katsof and 
my family on our trip to Israel this summer.
  We congratulate and thank all of the cosponsors of House Resolution 
235, because now, more than ever, words are vital to the American 
community.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, this resolution is somewhat unusual, but I want to 
congratulate the gentlewoman from Florida for having the insight and 
the feeling and the sensitivity and the recognition that sometimes 
behavior can be taught and that we can move in the direction that we 
choose to go.
  This resolution, which expresses the sense of Congress regarding a 
National Words Can Heal Day, seeks to reduce verbal violence and 
gossip. Imagine, if we could reduce gossip, then obviously that would 
help to reduce verbal violence. The goal of this effort is to promote 
the value and practice of ethical speech in order to improve our 
democracy, build respect, honor and dignity in our country.

                              {time}  1515

  The essence of this campaign, which was launched on Tuesday, 
September 4, right here in Washington, D.C., is reflected in this 
simple pledge: ``I pledge to think more about the words I use. I will 
try to see how gossip hurts people, including myself, and work to 
eliminate it from my life. I will try to replace words that hurt with 
words that encourage, engage, and enrich. I will not become discouraged 
when I am unable to choose words perfectly, because making the world a 
better place is hard work. I am pledging to do that one word at a 
time.''
  We can all play a role in this effort to improve our society and make 
a difference in our homes, our schools, our communities, and in the 
workplace by taking this pledge.
  As I read through it, I could not help but recall the teachings of my 
mother, who always told us that you can catch far more bees with honey 
than with vinegar. Or she might say, see no evil, hear no evil, speak 
no evil. Or she might admonish us to speak about others as we would 
have them speak of us. Then she would force us to read the book of 
Proverbs, with all of the wisdom that it contains. So it seems to me 
that the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) has taken those 
kinds of teachings and expressions, placed them into a resolution that 
all Members of this body can adopt; and I would urge my colleagues to 
take this pledge and, in doing so, support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my 
time.
  I want to thank the executive directors of the Words Can Heal 
Campaign, Rabbi Irwin Katsof and Rabbi Chaim Feld, whom I had the 
pleasure of knowing during my trip to Israel. When they first came to 
me and showed me their Words Can Heal Campaign pledge, I said that I 
wanted to get involved in a meaningful way and I thought of this 
resolution as a way to do it, because words can make a difference, and 
that is the pledge that we make one word at a time.
  In the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks against the 
United States, we have borne witness to the ability of words to help in 
the healing process, as friends and allies offered their condolences 
and their support to our efforts. We have also felt the brunt of the 
verbal attacks by enemies of the United States who rejoice in the 
violence perpetrated against us.
  Words matter. The ability to voice views freely and resolve 
differences through dialogue and persuasion is fundamental to our 
American style of government and our democracy, as it is to world 
peace. To reiterate, for that process to work well, our words must 
reflect mutual respect, truth, understanding, and fairness.
  The Words Can Heal effort is a strong first step toward a future 
generation of Americans and global leaders who will value the power of 
words and practice ethical speech. It starts with one day. This one day 
can then become a week, a month, a year, until it is ingrained in our 
character, in our nature, in our human nature. The potential is 
limitless. The possibilities are awe-inspiring.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this resolution. The 
hope for a better future begins today, one word at a time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 235, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Resolution 
expressing the sense of the House of Representatives in support of the 
goals of the Words Can Heal Campaign''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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