[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H6389-H6390]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING FORMER PRESIDENT WILLIAM JEFFERSON CLINTON ON THE OCCASION OF
HIS 59TH BIRTHDAY
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 329) honoring former President William Jefferson
Clinton on the occasion of his 59th birthday.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 329
Whereas former President William Jefferson Clinton was born
in Hope, Arkansas, on August 19, 1946;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton attended Georgetown
University as an undergraduate and received a Rhodes
Scholarship in 1968;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton received a law degree
from Yale University in 1973;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton established a record of
public service as Attorney General of Arkansas, Governor of
Arkansas, and Chairman of the National Governors Association;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton campaigned for and won
the Democratic nomination for President in 1992;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton was elected the 42d
President of the United States in 1992 and was reelected for
a second term in 1996;
Whereas during William Jefferson Clinton's time in office
the United States experienced 8 years of economic expansion,
job growth, and the transformation of a budget deficit into a
budget surplus;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton rallied the members of
the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to put an end to
ethnic cleansing in the Balkans and to depose the murderous
regime of Slobodan Milosevic, actions which eventually led to
the signing of the Dayton Peace Accords;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton played a major role in
the Good Friday Peace Accords which finally brought peace to
war-torn Northern Ireland;
Whereas William Jefferson Clinton and former President
George H. W. Bush were appointed to lead the United States
effort to provide private aid to the victims of the
devastating tsunami that struck southeast Asia on December
26, 2004; and
Whereas, in the words of President George W. Bush, William
Jefferson Clinton ``showed a deep and far-ranging knowledge
of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and
the forward-looking spirit the Americans like in a
President'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors former
President William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his
59th birthday on August 19, 2005, and extends best wishes to
him and his family.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Issa) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa).
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the distinguished author of House
Resolution 329, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and the
entire House of Representatives, I wish President William Jefferson
Clinton a happy 59th birthday.
House Resolution 329 would honor President Clinton on the occasion of
his 59th birthday on August 19th. It would furthermore commend
President Clinton's continued commitment to public service and world
leadership. Since the House will be out of session in August, I would
like to thank the House leadership for scheduling this resolution for
early consideration today and support the resolution's adoption.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, as someone who grew up, went to school, and still have
strong family ties in the State of Arkansas, it is with great pride
that I stand to celebrate and honor the life of a man who epitomizes
the American dream: President William Jefferson Clinton.
[[Page H6390]]
Born in the tiny town of Hope, Arkansas, on August 19, 1946,
President Clinton demonstrated from an early age the determination and
vision that would ultimately take him to the White House and enable him
to lead our country to a period of economic prosperity that has been
unrivaled in American history.
As a man who always fought for those who could not always fight for
themselves, Bill Clinton spurned private practice after graduating from
Yale Law School and began a career in public service. He began his
political career after being elected attorney general of Arkansas in
1976. He went on to serve as Governor and by the time Governor Clinton
left Arkansas for the White House, the State of Arkansas had been
transformed from a State that faced large deficits and polarizing
issues into a shining example of what government can do for its
citizens when those in government put aside partisan differences in the
interest of what is right.
As America's 42nd President, Bill Clinton faced an even more daunting
task than the one he faced as Governor. In 1992, the American people
were fed up with government. The economy was in bad shape, unemployment
was at a record high, and it was a time when many American parents
struggled with basic financial decisions, such as what holiday presents
they could afford to buy their children. By the time President Clinton
left office 8 years later, he had led our country out of this darkness
and into one of the brightest eras in American history, a time that was
marked by the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest
inflation rate in 30 years, the highest homeownership rate in United
States history, and dropping crime rates in many American cities.
Contrary to the unjustified stereotype thrown at Democrats, President
Clinton proposed the first balanced budget in decades. He balanced the
budget, and then went on to produce a surplus.
Since leaving office, President Clinton has continued his lifelong
odyssey of working for those in need. Working from his office in
Harlem, President Clinton has remained engaged in many social issues.
In July, President Clinton addressed the United Nations Economic and
Social Council in an effort to sustain the momentum on the recovery
efforts in regions devastated by last December's tsunami. In 2003, he
brokered an historic agreement with four generic drug companies in
order to provide low-cost AIDS drugs in developing countries.
The world is a better place today because of the 59 years President
Clinton has given us so far, and we look forward to many more.
Mr. Speaker, oftentimes in a country where we put great emphasis on
personal wealth, as one having the ability to emerge and rise to high
public office, I have searched and searched, and nowhere did I find in
Bill Clinton's history any great personal wealth before he got involved
in doing public service. Noplace did I find any great family pedigree.
He was simply a person who used himself as effectively as he could to
become one of the most influential persons in the history of our
country. I wish him a happy birthday.
Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Record the statement of the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, on August 19th, William Jefferson Clinton,
our 43rd president, will celebrate his 59th birthday--today, we honor
him. We honor him not just for being one of 43 Americans to have led
history's greatest Nation from its highest office, we honor him for the
legacy the current President Bush described as, ``a deep and far-
ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in
need, and the forward-looking spirit Americans like in a President.''
Since his last birthday, President Clinton characteristically
responded to one of the most devastating natural disasters in modem
history with the compassion for people in need that President Bush
talked about. In the aftermath of the tsunami in Southeast Asia,
President Clinton showed the diplomacy and humanity he has always
displayed in a career filled with good works. Together with former
President Bush, President Clinton helped generate billions of dollars
in donations for the tsunami-torn nations. As a representative of our
generous and caring Nation, he showed the world America's compassion.
And he and former President Bush rolled up their sleeves and lent
helping hands to the recovery efforts when they traveled to southeast
Asia.
In two terms in the White House, President Clinton stewarded our
Nation's longest-ever economic expansion, largest-ever budget surplus,
and the growth of 22 million jobs. He helped broker the Good Friday
Accords for Northern Ireland, engaged in Middle East peace talks, and
brought an end to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. And he encouraged
Americans to care for their fellow man and woman, creating AmeriCorps,
which engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in community
service.
We in Congress are thankful that President Clinton's health has
improved since his recent heart surgeries, and we pray that he
continues to be healthy and strong.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Davis and the House
leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor in time for
President Clinton's birthday.
Mr. Speaker, from his birth in a town called Hope in the State of
Arkansas, to his education at Georgetown University, Oxford and Yale
Law School, to his service in Arkansas as attorney general, Governor
and chairman of the National Governors Association, to his two terms as
President of the United States to now, as a private citizen still
showing the world humanity and compassion, we honor President Clinton.
President Clinton, happy birthday.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
{time} 1430
Mr. ISSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, approximately a year ago, we honored former President
William Jefferson Clinton in a very similar way on his 58th birthday.
Then we were doing it, to a great extent, because of his quadruple
bypass. It seemed appropriate to honor this immediate former President
in a time of personal and family concern.
This year, though, we honor President Clinton for what he has done
since that time, coming out of the hospital, coming to the aid of
people around the world, but particularly in Asia after the December 26
earthquake and tsunami. President Clinton and President Bush, former
President Bush, have shown the value of former Presidents.
President Clinton's leadership in this very elite former Presidents'
club is a tribute to what can be done by people who stay engaged and
involved. And so although it is likely that most people know that I
probably did not vote for President Clinton in either of his elections,
I certainly would be happy to vote today to honor the President on his
59th birthday because of what he has done since leaving the White
House.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kolbe). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 329.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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