[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1096-H1097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING ELLIS ISLAND MEDAL OF HONOR AND COMMENDING NATIONAL ETHNIC 
                       COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 377) recognizing the Ellis Island 
Medal of Honor and commending the National Ethnic Coalition of 
Organizations.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 377

       Whereas the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, established by the 
     National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations in 1986, pays 
     tribute to individuals of various ethnic origins who have 
     distinguished themselves through their contributions to the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Ellis Island Medal of Honor has been awarded on 
     a bipartisan basis to 6 Presidents and numerous 
     Representatives and Senators;
       Whereas the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations is 
     the largest organization of its kind in the United States, 
     representing more than 5,000,000 family members and serving 
     as an umbrella group for more than 250 organizations that 
     span the spectrum of ethnic heritage, culture, and religion;
       Whereas the mandate of the National Ethnic Coalition of 
     Organizations is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote 
     equality and tolerance, combat injustice, and bring about 
     harmony and unity among all peoples;
       Whereas the Ellis Island Medal of Honor is named for the 
     gateway through which more than 12,000,000 immigrants passed 
     in their quest for freedom of speech, freedom of religion, 
     and economic opportunity;
       Whereas the Ellis Island Medal of Honor celebrates the 
     richness and diversity of American life by honoring not only 
     individuals, but the pluralism and democracy that have 
     enabled the Nation's ancestry groups to maintain their 
     identities while becoming integral parts of the American way 
     of life;
       Whereas during the 15-year history of the Ellis Island 
     Medal of Honor, more than 1,500 individuals from scores of 
     different ethnic groups have received the Medal, and more 
     than 5,000 individuals are nominated each year for the Medal; 
     and
       Whereas at the 2002 Ellis Island Medal of Honor ceremony in 
     New York City, individuals from different ethnic groups will 
     be honored for their contributions to the rescue and recovery 
     efforts of September 11, 2001, the war against terrorism, and 
     the enhancement of the Nation's homeland security: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for 
     acknowledging individuals who live exemplary lives as 
     Americans; and
       (2) commends the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations 
     for its sponsorship of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis).


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and 
extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  House Resolution 377 recognizes the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and 
commends the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations.
  The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations represents more than 5 
million people and serves as an umbrella group for more than 250 
organizations. Those groups span the spectrum of ethnic heritage, 
culture and religion. The mandate of the Coalition is to preserve 
ethnic diversity, promote equality and tolerance, combat injustice and 
bring about harmony and unity among all people.
  The Ellis Island Medal of Honor was established by the National 
Ethnic Coalition of Organizations in 1986. It honors the many groups 
who have struggled and sacrificed to help build this great Nation. Past 
medal winners include six Presidents: Presidents Clinton, Bush, Reagan, 
Carter, Ford and Nixon. Senators, Congressmen, and Nobel Prize winners 
are also among the 1,500 people who have received Ellis Island Medals 
of Honor.
  The Ellis Island Medal of Honor celebrates the richness and diversity 
of American life. The award honors more than just individuals. It 
honors the pluralism and democracy that have enabled our ancestry 
groups to maintain their identities while becoming integral parts of 
American life.
  By honoring these individuals, we honor all those who share their 
origins. We acknowledge the contributions they and other groups have 
made to our country.
  The 2002 Ellis Island Medals of Honor will be awarded on May 11. They 
will honor those individuals from different ethnic groups who 
contributed to the rescue and recovery efforts stemming from September 
11. They will also honor those involved in the war against terrorism 
and the enhancement of our Nation's homeland security. I congratulate 
this year's honorees.
  I want to commend the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), chairman 
of the Committee on Government Reform, and the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. Rangel) for their sponsorship of this resolution and for their 
support of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. I would also like to thank 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), the ranking member, for 
helping to bring this important resolution to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, our diversity and our tolerance are two uniquely 
American values that make this country great. During these troubled 
times of ethnic strife all around the world, these values are worth 
reflecting on and honoring in this country. I commend the National 
Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. I urge adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
would consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Virginia 
(Mr. Tom Davis) in consideration of this resolution.
  This resolution, which recognizes the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and 
commends the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, NECO, 
encourages diversity and tolerance in American life. The mission of the 
NECO is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote equality and tolerance, 
combat injustice and bring about harmony and unity to all people.
  To promote its mission, the NECO hosts the Ellis Island Medals Awards 
Gala, which honors Americans of various ethnic origins for their 
outstanding contributions to this country.
  From 1892 to 1954, over 12 million immigrants entered the United 
States through the portal of Ellis Island, a small island in New York 
Harbor. Ellis Island is located in the upper bay just off the New 
Jersey coast, within the shadow of the Statue of Liberty.
  From the very beginning of the mass migration that spanned 1880 to 
1924, a group of politicians and nativists demanded increased 
restrictions on immigration. Laws and regulations such as the Chinese 
Exclusion Act, the Alien Contract Labor Law, and the institution of a 
literacy test tried to stem the tide of new immigrants to this country.
  Ellis Island ceased to be a major entry point for immigrants in 1921 
with the passage of Quota Laws and in 1924 with the passage of the 
National Origins Act. These restrictions were based upon a percentage 
system according to the number of ethnic groups already living in the 
United States as per the 1890 and 1910 Census.
  It was an attempt to preserve the ethnic flavor of the ``old 
immigrants,'' those earlier settlers primarily from northern and 
western Europe. The perception existed that the newly arriving 
immigrants, mostly from southern and eastern Europe, were somehow 
inferior to those who came earlier.
  It is appropriate then that Congress recognizes organizations like 
NECO and American citizens who recognize the importance of preserving 
ethnic diversity and fostering harmony and unity among all peoples.
  Who decides whose identity, culture, or ethnicity is more important 
or has

[[Page H1097]]

more value? Who has that authority? No one. No human being has that 
authority.
  We can, however, embrace our own cultures and those that are unknown 
and unfamiliar to us. America is a land of United States and of united 
peoples of various cultures and backgrounds. That is America's strength 
and greatest asset, and this resolution recognizes that.
  It is hard to think of Ellis Island at any time without thinking of 
the words of Emma Lazarus when she wrote, Give me your tired, your 
huddled masses, teeming to be free.
  Yes, Ellis Island has been a beacon of the openness of what America 
is seeking to become. I am proud to join in this resolution and would 
urge all of my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I 
rise today to express my appreciation to my colleagues in the House of 
Representatives who voted to pass H. Res. 377, a resolution that I 
introduced recognizing the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and commending 
the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO).
  NECO's annual medal ceremony and reception on Ellis Island in New 
York Harbor is the Nation's largest celebration of ethnic pride. 
Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay 
tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural 
mosaic. To date, approximately 1400 American citizens have received 
medals.
  NECO is the largest organization of its kind in the U.S. serving as 
an umbrella group for over 250 ethnic organizations and whose mandate 
is to preserve ethnic diversity, promote ethnic and religious equality, 
tolerance and harmony, and to combat injustice, hatred and bigotry. 
NECO has a new goal in its humanitarian mission: saving the lives of 
children with life-threatening medical conditions. NECO has founded The 
Forum's Children Foundation, which brings children from developing 
nations needing life-saving surgery to the United States for treatment.
  Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients are selected each year 
through a national nomination process. Screening committees from NECO's 
member organizations select the final nominees, who are then considered 
by the Board of Directors. Past Ellis Island Medals of Honor recipients 
have included several U.S. Presidents, entertainers, athletes, 
entrepreneurs, religious leaders and business executives, such as Bill 
Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Richard 
Nixon, George Pataki, Mario Cuomo, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Michael 
Douglas, Gloria Estefan, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, Elie Wiesel, 
Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, General Normal Schwarzkopf, Barbara 
Walters, Terry Anderson, Dr. Michael DeBakey, Senator John McCain, and 
Attorney General Janet Reno.
  I would like to close by expressing my deepest gratitude to my good 
friends Bill Fugazy and Rosemarie Taglione and everyone associated with 
NECO and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I have no other requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield back the balance 
of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 377.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and 
nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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