[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 20, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H4318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WORLD REFUGEE DAY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. McDermott) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Speaker, of all the urgent matters in the world 
today, and there are many, none is more poignant than the plight of 
millions of homeless refugees in countries like Africa, Asia and Latin 
America, and here in the United States.
  There are 8.4 million refugees worldwide. Some were displaced because 
of natural disasters. Most were forced to flee their homes and their 
homeland and loved ones to avoid being killed because of persecution, 
civil war and outright genocide.
  They were forced to flee through no fault of their own, and were 
forced to abandon their belongings and their lives. They fled with the 
clothes on their back, memories and hopes that one day they would go 
home again.
  Today we meet some of these people. This is World Refugee Day, 
organized by the United Nations to focus attention on the millions of 
innocent people who are entitled to live and not merely survive.

                              {time}  2230

  Every one of those 8.4 million refugees has a personal story. They 
hope, as we do, for healthy children, a bright future and peace and 
security in their lives. They long for a standard of living measured by 
dignity, not by personal possessions.
  And it is within our power to make a difference. I think of it this 
way: if a million people make one small difference today, the world 
will wake up tomorrow a much different place.
  Almost every day I wear a tie from Save the Children, although I left 
it off today, because Save the Children does, and lots of Americans 
help them. There are other noble organizations just like them. 
Organizations like World Vision in my congressional district respond 
every day to the needs of people in places like Darfur. The need always 
outstrips the available resources. But no one gives up. They just dig 
deeper. They have been there on the ground in camps next to people who 
are just like us. Once that happens, you never forget.
  I know. I went to the refugee camps in Darfur last year as part of a 
bipartisan congressional delegation. You don't forget people jammed 
into a refugee camp who pass you handwritten notes asking you to tell 
the world that they exist and not to forget them.
  There are those who refuse to forget. A megastar like Angelina Jolie 
willingly trades on her name to focus global attention on poverty and 
homelessness. Angelina is a U.N. goodwill ambassador whose works speak 
louder than words and whose words echo through capitols, including this 
one. Angie is redefining the phrase, ``one person can make a 
difference.'' She will make a difference again tonight as she goes on 
CNN to tell the world firsthand about the millions of people around the 
world who want nothing more than to go home. But they cannot do it 
alone. Watch, learn, and listen.
  In a world united by technology, we remain divided by brutal 
conflicts with millions of innocent victims homeless and held hostage, 
and that is where they will remain until the nations of the world 
intercede.
  Nations rally behind leaders, political or otherwise, and nations are 
beginning to hear the voices of people like Ms. Jolie.
  The United Nations tells us that 6 million people have returned to 
their homelands in recent years. That is dramatic progress, but the 
world has a long way to go before human liberty is protected in every 
nation.
  All too often, refugees return home to find their towns and villages 
completely destroyed. And all too often, new conflicts disenfranchise 
or endanger new people.
  From afar it seems almost impossible to believe that one person can 
make a difference. Then I remember the scraps of paper with personal 
notes handed to me in Darfur. You recognize the work of organizations 
like Save the Children representing millions of Americans. You meet 
people like Bono and get to know people like Angelina, and pretty soon 
you realize that we are all in this together. You recognize that 
refugees haven't given up. How can we?
  Today is the day to see the faces and hear the voices of those who 
don't have a home, but do have a heart.
  Today is the day to meet the people who are worth fighting for, who 
believe that hope can triumph over despair and that courage can 
overcome adversity and that every person on Earth is entitled to a life 
of dignity.
  Do the world a favor. Change the television channel tonight. Watch 
and learn the news on CNN as they help us face the world in which we 
live. Listen to humanitarian leaders like Angelina. She will help you 
understand and change the world that we can all make a difference. 
There is no one who can't make a difference for a refugee in this 
world.

                          ____________________