[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.

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