[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 81 (Monday, June 14, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H3905-H3907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH ON HIS 80TH
BIRTHDAY
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 653) honoring former President George Herbert
Walker Bush on the occasion of his 80th birthday, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 653
Whereas President George Herbert Walker Bush served as the
Forty-First President of the United States and brought to the
White House a dedication to traditional American values and a
commitment to use American strength as a force for good;
Whereas, during his Presidency, the Communist empire
dissolved, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and the Berlin
Wall fell;
Whereas, during his Presidency, American troops overthrew
the corrupt regime of General Manuel Noriega;
Whereas President George H.W. Bush rallied the United
States people, the United Nations, and Congress and sent over
500,000 American military personnel, who were joined by
approximately 200,000 military and other personnel from
allied nations, as part of Operation Desert Storm, to defeat
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's million-man army which
invaded Kuwait and threatened to move into Saudi Arabia;
Whereas President Bush and his very able Secretary of State
secured military and financial support from the United
Nations, resulting in many nations participating, for the
first time ever, in paying their share of the cost of a major
war;
Whereas, during World War II, George H.W. Bush answered the
call to duty by enlisting in the armed forces on his 18th
birthday, becoming the youngest pilot in the Navy when he
received his wings, and flying 58 combat missions, including
being shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire and rescued by
a United States submarine, for which he was awarded, among
other decorations, the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery
in action;
Whereas George H.W. Bush continued his commitment to public
service by serving two terms as a Representative in the
United
[[Page H3906]]
States Congress from Texas, serving as Ambassador to the
United Nations, Chairman of the Republican National
Committee, Chief of the United States Liaison Office in the
People's Republic of China, and Director of the Central
Intelligence Agency;
Whereas George H.W. Bush campaigned for the Republican
nomination for President in 1980 and thereafter was chosen by
Ronald Reagan to be his running mate, and subsequently served
as Vice President of the United States with responsibility
for several domestic areas, including Federal deregulation
and anti-drug programs; and
Whereas, in 1988, George H.W. Bush won the Republican
nomination for President and was elected as the Forty-First
President of the United States, probably brought the greatest
portfolio to the office of the Presidency since Thomas
Jefferson, and served our Nation for four years with
distinction and integrity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors former
President George H.W. Bush on the occasion of his 80th
birthday on June 12, 2004, extends its congratulations and
best wishes to him and to his family, former First Lady
Barbara Bush, and his children, President George W. Bush, the
Honorable Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, and Dorothy Bush
Koch, and pays tribute to his lifetime of service on behalf
of the Nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Carter) and the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia
(Ms. Norton) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter).
General Leave
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, last week was a somber one for America. The Nation
mourned the loss of its beloved 40th President, Ronald Wilson Reagan.
All heard numerous revealing accounts of President Reagan's leadership,
compassion, and humor.
One of the most touching stories told during the past week was one by
the one-time political rival of President Reagan, who ultimately became
a close associate and friend. The story took place when President
Reagan was recuperating at George Washington University Hospital
following the assassination attempt on his life on March 30, 1981, just
over 2 months after he took office.
The story went like this: ``Days after being shot, weak from wounds,
(President Reagan) spilled water from a sink, and entering the hospital
room, aides saw him on his hands and knees wiping water from the floor.
(The President) worried that his nurse would get in trouble.''
Mr. Speaker, the eloquent speaker of these words was George H.W. Bush
at President Reagan's funeral last Friday at the National Cathedral.
Many people may not have heard that President George Bush, Bush ``41,''
turned 80 years of age on Saturday because of the Nation's week-long
celebration of President Reagan's life, which overshadowed President
Bush's birthday. But today the House returns to its normal legislative
business as we consider House Resolution 653 that honors President
George H.W. Bush on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Mr. Speaker, few Presidents have ever moved into the White House as
qualified to lead this Nation as one of Texas's most distinguished
citizens, George Herbert Walker Bush. As the youngest pilot in the
Navy, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after flying 58
combat missions during World War II before returning home to graduate
as a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Yale University, where he also
captained the baseball team.
After college, he became a successful businessman in west Texas,
earned two terms as a Member of this House, and served such high-
profile positions as ambassador to the United Nations, ambassador to
China, chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Director of
the Central Intelligence Agency.
In 1980 George H.W. Bush was elected as part of the national
Republican ticket with Ronald Reagan and served as Vice President for 8
years. Vice President Bush became President Bush 41 when he was elected
in 1988. In the White House, President Bush was perhaps best known for
working to inspire a ``kinder, gentler America'' at home and leading
the Nation to free Kuwait overseas. Following the August 1990 invasion
of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi forces, President Bush rallied the world
community, the U.S. Armed Forces, and the American people to dislodge
Saddam Hussein's army from its control of neighboring Kuwait.
I want to thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall), my good friend,
for introducing this meaningful resolution that wishes our 41st
President, George Herbert Walker Bush, a happy 80th birthday, and that
birthday was on Saturday, June 12. And on Sunday, June 13, I watched
him jump out of an airplane at College Station, and he still has got
plenty of spark.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, many of us looked in awe as former President George
Herbert Walker Bush parachuted from a plane yesterday to celebrate his
80th birthday. Today I am pleased to join my colleagues to celebrate
the entire life of our former President on his 80th birthday.
Born into a family known for its tradition of public service and
having served his country in many important posts, George Bush enlisted
in the armed services at the age of 18. The youngest pilot in the Navy
when he earned his wings, George Bush flew 58 combat missions during
World War II. So we can see the former President was only continuing
what he had first done as a young pilot when he parachuted from that
plane yesterday.
After being shot down during a mission in the Pacific, he was awarded
the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in action. As President,
George H.W. Bush presided over the Nation through major events in our
history. These events included the dissolution of the Soviet Union; the
tearing down of the Berlin Wall; and the first war with Iraq, Operation
Desert Storm. Through all of these events, President Bush served his
country with remarkable dedication.
Today it is my privilege to thank him for his hard work for our
country and to wish him a happy 80th birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1630
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I know the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall)
wanted to be here very badly for consideration of H. Res. 653 today,
but his flight was delayed, which I had a bad experience with that last
week so I know exactly what he is going through, and he is unable to be
present. But I want to highly commend him for putting forth this
resolution and doing all the work on this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the adoption of House
Resolution 653.
Mr. HALL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 653, honoring
former President George Herbert Walker Bush on the occasion of his 80th
birthday on June 12.
Thousands of friends and supporters celebrated the former President's
birthday in Houston and in College Station this past weekend. In true
George H.W. Bush style, the former President capped the festivities in
college Station by jumping from an airplane above his presidential
library at Texas A&M University and earning his U.S. Army parachutist
wings. He had trained to make a solo jump, but wind and cloud
conditions required that it be a tandem jump. With a practice jump made
earlier Sunday, Mr. Bush has now made five jumps, earning the
parachutist badge. One of those jumps was a solo skydive on his 75th
birthday, and we can only assume that he is likely to consider another
solo jump in the future.
This ability to rise to any challenge--fearlessly and with a sense of
determination--characterizes the life of our Forty-first President, who
dedicated a lifetime to public service and probably brought to the
Nation's highest office the greatest portfolio of any President since
Thomas Jefferson.
His service began during World War II, when he enlisted in the armed
forces on his 18th birthday and was the youngest pilot in the Navy when
he received his wings. He flew 58 combat missions and was shot down by
Japanese anti-aircraft fire and rescued by a United States submarine,
for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
His service to his country continued as a Unites States
Representative from Texas for
[[Page H3907]]
two terms. Thereafter he served as Ambassador to the United Nations,
Chairman of the Republican National Committee, Chief of the United
States Liaison Office in the People's Republic of China, and Director
of the Central Intelligence Agency.
From 1980 through 1988, he served President Ronald Reagan and our
Nation with distinction as Vice President, with responsibility for
multiple areas of government. His eloquent tribute to Mr. Reagan at the
National Cathedral last Friday reflected his great friendship and
working relationship with President Reagan as well as the late
President's values and sense of humor.
In 1988 George H.W. Bush won the Republican nomination for President
and was elected as the Forty-First President of the United States. His
Administration was marked by a magnitude of historic change as well as
challenge. During his Presidency, building on the policies and
achievements of President Reagan and previous Administrations, the
Communist empire dissolved, the Soviet Union ceased to exist, and the
Berlin Wall fell.
During his Presidency, American troops overthrew the corrupt regime
of General Manuel Noriega. And during his Administration President Bush
launched what would become one of the most successful military
campaigns of the late 20th century--Operation Desert Storm. President
Bush rallied the United States, Congress, and the United Nations in a
campaign that would defeat Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's million-man
army which invaded Kuwait and threatened to move into Saudi Arabia.
Over 500,000 American military personnel were joined by 200,000
military and other personnel from allied nations, and the cost of the
war was shared by many nations who participated.
I remember this time well, not only for what it meant to our Nation,
but because it also occurred during a time of personal challenge for my
family. On the day that President Bush announced Desert Storm--just
before he went on national television to announce the campaign--he took
time from the immense pressures of the day to call and extend his best
wishes to my family who were gathered at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston. This gesture speaks volumes about his character and the
compassion he demonstrated in countless ways and in his Points of Light
vision for the country. It is one of the most poignant moments in my
family's life and one for which I will be eternally grateful.
George H.W. Bush has been my friend for many years. We were both Navy
pilots, and we are from the same generation and close to the same age.
He has been an inspiration to me and to so many, as he gave so much of
himself to his country--and at the same time also was a devoted husband
to Barbara and a great father to his children, our current President
George W. Bush, the Honorable Jeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy
Bush Koch, and for a brief but precious time to his little girl, Robin,
who died tragically in early childhood.
Mr. Speaker, today I am honored to join my colleagues in the House of
Representatives to pay tribute to former President George H.W. Bush for
his lifetime of service on behalf of our Nation and to honor him on the
occasion of his 80th birthday. May God continue to bless him and his
family--and may he be blessed with the opportunity to make another solo
jump.
Mr. CARTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Carter) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 653, as amended.
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. CARTER. 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.
____________________