[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                OPENING OF CLINTON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY

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                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 18, 2004

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, having just returned from the opening 
ceremony in Little Rock, Arkansas today, I rise to congratulate 
President Bill Clinton on the opening of the William J. Clinton 
Presidential Center. The library, an architectural triumph that evokes 
President Clinton's ``Bridge to the 21st Century,'' is a superb 
accomplishment worthy of the outstanding presidency it documents.
  Containing 80 million pages of records, nearly 2 million photographs, 
nearly 80,000 artifacts and 21 million emails, it is the largest 
presidential library ever. It covers every aspect of his eight years in 
office, including domestic and international issues, legislative 
achievements, and personal triumphs and challenges.
  The thoroughness of the library, however, is no surprise. President 
Clinton has always been known for his love of learning. The 
construction of this library and the opportunity to make resources 
available to scholars and the public is a personal joy to him.
  In the library, visitors will learn the story of a great presidency 
that lifted the lives of so many Americans. During President Clinton's 
two terms in office, he created 22 million new jobs, and median 
household income was the highest in history. With an expansion of the 
Earned Income Tax Credit and an increase in the minimum wage, America 
had the lowest poverty rate in 20 years. At the same time, President 
Clinton's responsible economic policies eliminated the deficit, and we 
had three years in a row of budget surpluses. More Americans were able 
to access health care and to own their own homes. We modernized our 
defenses, while strengthening our role in the world.
  Bill Clinton's presidency is a powerful example of what we can 
accomplish when we ``put people first.'' Future Presidents and leaders 
should study his example.
  Also characteristic of President Clinton, the library exists not for 
its own sake but as part of a larger effort to continue the good work 
of his presidency. Through the library and the Clinton Foundation, he 
is continuing to fight against HIV/AIDS, to promote racial and 
religious reconciliation, to encourage economic empowerment, and to 
support citizen service and leadership development. The library itself 
has helped revitalize Little Rock and has spurred more than $1 billion 
in economic development.
  Bill Clinton's love of learning is infectious. He reminds us all of 
what a dedicated individual with drive and conviction can accomplish. I 
am confident that the Clinton Presidential Center library will be a 
valuable asset to scholars for generations to come and a destination 
for his many admirers from around the world.




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