[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E373-E374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  ROSS PEROT RECEIVES EISENHOWER AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 16, 2004

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. H. Ross 
Perot on his receipt

[[Page E374]]

of the Business Executives for National Security Eisenhower Award. BENS 
was founded to serve as a nationwide, nonpartisan organization as a 
primary channel for senior business executives to enhance the Nation's 
security.
  The Eisenhower award is offered only to those unique individuals who 
contribute their time and energy to making the United States a safe 
place to live in. In President Eisenhower's farewell address he stated, 
``alert and knowledgeable citizens'' are the foundations for ``liberty 
and security.'' Mr. Perot meets these criteria.
  Born on June 27, 1930, in Texarkana, Texas, H. Texas Ross Perot, Sr. 
attended Texarkana's Junior College. Upon graduation, he went on to 
serve his country at the United States Naval Academy. Later, Mr. Perot 
went to work for IBM's data processing division as a salesman. In 1962 
Mr. Perot borrowed $1,000 from his wife Margot and began his company, 
Electronic Data Systems (EDS). The new company grew to be a 
multibillion dollar corporation with more than 50,000 employees.
  By 1969, President Nixon's administration asked H. Ross Perot, Sr. to 
determine what actions might be taken to improve the treatment of 
United States' prisoners of war in Southeast Asia. His contributions 
helped to secure the release of the POWs after Vietnam had concluded in 
1972. For this action he was awarded the highest honor for a civilian, 
the Medal for Distinguished Public Service.
  Again in 1979, H. Ross Perot Sr. rose to intervene when two of his 
EDS employees were taken hostage by the Iranian Government. Mr. Perot 
directed a rescue mission composed of EDS employees and led by Colonel 
Arthur ``Bull'' Simons. All of Perot's associates returned to the 
United States unharmed.
  Again in the 1980s he was asked to serve as a member of Ronald 
Reagan's ``President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board,'' where he 
participated in the approval process required of all U.S. covert 
operations internationally. Also, he donated resources to the rescue of 
U.S. Brigadier General James Dozier, who was kidnapped by the Red 
Brigade in Italy. This mission led to Mr. Perot's close ties to the 
Pentagon's Intelligence Support Activity.
  In 1995, after donating much of his time and efforts to his new 
business of Perot Systems, H. Ross Perot Sr. made an energetic bid for 
the White House in the 1992 Presidential elections. Perot's Reform 
party and platform popularity was evident with soaring ratings for 
televised debates and high voter turnout where he captured a staggering 
19% of the vote.
  On a personal note, I heard Mr. Perot speak in front of the Texas 
Medical Association in June of 1998 and it was at that meeting that I 
realized it was time for me to become involved in helping the larger 
community around me.
  H. Ross Perot Sr. has dedicated his life to making this the land of 
American dreams. With his humble beginning in Texarkana, Texas, he has 
managed to create thousands of jobs and better our Nation's citizenry. 
He has served our country's defense in all angles, and for that he is 
without a doubt beyond worth of the BENS Eisenhower Award. 
Congratulations, Mr. Perot.

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