[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2414-H2416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ESTABLISHING DUTCH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP DAY

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 89) expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American 
Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and 
the Netherlands.
  The Clerk read as follows

                               H. Res. 89

       Whereas, 225 years ago, on the 19th of April, 1782 in the 
     City of the Hague, the Ambassadorial credentials of John 
     Adams were officially recognized by Prince William V of 
     Orange and the States-General, thus establishing formal 
     diplomatic ties between the new government of the United 
     States and the Republic of the Netherlands.
       Whereas the historical ties between the Dutch and American 
     people go back nearly 200 years earlier to the period when 
     the Pilgrims resided for almost 11 years in the Netherlands 
     before sailing to the new world;
       Whereas the diplomatic ties between the governments of the 
     United States and the Netherlands are the longest continuous 
     ties between the United States and any country of the world;
       Whereas the Dutch contribution to the American melting pot 
     has played such a significant role in the life of America as 
     exemplified by Presidents Martin Van Buren, Theodore 
     Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt;
       Whereas the bonds of friendship linking the Dutch and 
     American people continue to grow in strength and affection; 
     and
       Whereas the heritage of this friendship between peoples 
     serves as a laudable example for the kinds of relations that 
     should link all the peoples of the earth and should be 
     properly extolled: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-
     American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the 
     United States and the Netherlands.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, every year we and the Dutch-American community in the 
Netherlands celebrate the bilateral relations between the Netherlands 
and the United States. On April 19, 1782, John Adams, the second 
President of the United States, was received by the State's General in 
The Hague and recognized as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United 
States of America.
  Also, this was the day that Mr. Adams purchased a house at Fluwelen 
Burgwal 18 in The Hague, which became the first American embassy in the 
world. This day is known by many people as the Dutch-American 
Friendship Day that reminds us how the Dutch played a role in America's 
history and traditions.
  Prior to 1782, America had always had a long-standing relationship 
with the Dutch going back as far as 1609 when Henry Hudson, an explorer 
hired by a Dutch-based United East India Company, traveled up a river 
that now bears his name and made a land claim for his employer in the 
area known as New York.

                              {time}  1500

  His exploration helped the Dutch to continue to be the foremost 
traders and merchant mariners in the world and expanded their influence 
in setting up a trading post on the southern end of Manhattan Island. 
In 1625, the Dutch used beads to purchase Manhattan from the Indians 
for 60 guilders, about $24, and renamed it New Amsterdam.
  It became the center for trade and commerce that attracted the best 
and brightest people from different walks of life, culture, and creeds. 
New Amsterdam received an official charter and officially became a city 
in 1653, making it to the first city in North America where citizens 
freely elected their city council. This was one of the first acts to 
help establish a platform for democracy in the United States.
  In 1776, the Dutch played a major role in financing the Revolutionary 
War, and it was repaid by the U.S. Government with stock certificates, 
an action that eventually led to the establishment of the New York 
Stock Exchange in 1791. Many prominent Americans from Dutch ancestry 
have made significant contributions to our country, like Presidents 
Martin van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. All 
were great Americans who dedicated their lives to help shape America to 
be the land of the free and home of the brave.
  The Dutch contributions to America are part of our customs and 
traditions that have enriched our lives for over 200 years. So it is 
very easy to support H. Res. 89. I do so and urge all of my colleagues 
to give their support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, America began its relationship with the Dutch in 1609 
when Captain Henry Hudson, searching for a faster route to Asia, sailed 
up what is now known as the Hudson River. Although he did not find his 
way to Asia, he and other Dutch traders quickly saw the potential and 
opportunity of this country and established the second European 
settlement in America named Fort Nassau near Albany, New York.
  Their growth continued, and eventually a large portion of the early 
eastern United States was settled by the Dutch. The Dutch and the 
United States have proven to be extraordinary allies over the past 200 
years, where in many instances they came to each other's aid at 
critical times in history.
  Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the Netherlands presented a 
risky and courageous act by being the first country to salute the 
American flag. A few years later, on April 19, 1782, John Adams secured 
the recognition of the United States as an independent government at 
The Hague. He was the first U.S. envoy to the Netherlands and brokered 
the first loan for Congress from three banks in the Netherlands, which 
amounted to the entire U.S. foreign debt at that time.
  Consequently, the Netherlands followed France to become the second 
country in the world to establish formal diplomatic relations with the 
United States. Also during this time, John Adams purchased a home that 
became the first American embassy on

[[Page H2415]]

foreign soil anywhere in the world. These ties still remain strong and, 
in fact, constitute one of the longest, unbroken diplomatic 
relationships between the United States and any foreign country right 
up until the present time.
  The Netherlands have demonstrated its commitment to the United 
States, even in modern times, by being one of the first countries to 
ally itself with the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was one 
of the first to assist in the war on terror; and in the wake of 
Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, the Netherlands graciously 
provided Members of Congress access to their unique and innovative 
perspective on water management and flood protection.
  I would also like to point out that Dutch Americans have contributed 
greatly to our fine country and have played a significant role in the 
life of America. This is exemplified by our three Presidents of Dutch 
descent, Presidents Martin van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin 
Roosevelt. Dutch Americans have served at all levels of our government 
and have served us well in this distinguished body, including the two 
sponsors of this bill, Mr. Hoekstra, and my colleague on the committee, 
Mr. Van Hollen.
  Dutch Americans and our rich history have many firsts with the 
Netherlands, and it continues to strengthen our tie with this true 
diplomatic friend working side by side with the United States to bring 
peace, freedom, and commerce in the world at large.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 89.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 
such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney).
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H. Res. 89. New York City 
was first founded by the Dutch, and they made a tremendous contribution 
to the city I am honored to represent and to our country. Two of the 
Dutch Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 
both came from New York.
  If you go to the City Museum of New York, there is really a beautiful 
exhibit that pays tribute to the many contributions in our early days 
by the Dutch.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution and to the preceding 
resolution, which honors the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. I 
really rise today to honor the 95 years of educating, nurturing, and 
empowering our Nation's girls through the Girl Scout programs. Its 3.6 
million members learn skills and develop character that help them 
succeed in the real world.
  The Girl Scouts' Web site highlights the organization's focus on the 
leadership, strong values, social conscience and conviction about their 
own potential and self-worth of its members. These are vital attributes 
that help girls grow into the women who will lead our country and 
inspire the next generation of scouts.
  I know personally about the power of being a Girl Scout, because I 
was one. The basic character and skills I learned then have served me 
my entire life, and they even serve me now in Congress.
  For that I owe the Girl Scouts and the great Juliette Gordon, who 
founded the organization in 1912, a great debt of gratitude. I am proud 
that my hometown, New York City, is home to the Girl Scouts' national 
headquarters. I applaud the scouts for 95 years of empowerment and 
excellence, and I wish them many more years of helping nurture 
America's girls.
  I rise in support of these two resolutions and applaud the leadership 
of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for bringing them before 
this body today, and I urge unanimous support for them.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield as much 
time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from Michigan (Mr. 
Hoekstra).
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 89, 
which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a day 
should be established as Dutch American Friendship Day.
  On April 19, 2007, the United States and the Netherlands will mark 
225 years of unbroken diplomatic relations. It is the United States' 
longest existing diplomatic relationship.
  My parents emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands when I 
was 3 years old. I am deeply proud of my Dutch heritage and feel that I 
have a special connection to both countries. As Russell Shorto notes in 
``The Island at the Center of the World,'' Americans are indebted to 
the culture of tolerance that was present in 17th-century Dutch 
Manhattan, where men and women of diverse races and religions lived in 
relative peace for the first time in the New World.
  Dutch ideals such as individuality, freedom, hard work, and human 
rights have flourished in the United States; and our two countries can 
and have worked together to confront common challenges to our very 
similar societies. Last year, my colleague on the other side of the 
aisle, Chris Van Hollen, and I created a bipartisan Congressional 
Caucus on the Netherlands, a group that I hope will deepen our 
understanding of the ways in which we can continue to keep working 
together as allies for the mutual benefit of our countries.
  The United States and the Dutch have proven to be outstanding allies, 
allies for over 200 years. The Netherlands was the first country to 
salute the American flag after the Revolutionary War. It was one of the 
first to assist the United States and recognize the threat from radical 
militant Islamists and has graciously provided Members of Congress and 
others with critical access to their unique and innovative perspective 
on water management and flood protection in the wake of Hurricane 
Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
  Put simply, the value of the relationship between our two countries 
and the opportunities that exist to learn from each other should be 
deeply appreciated and recognized.
  I encourage all Members to support H. Res. 89 to honor Dutch and 
American friendship and celebrate the historic ties between our 
countries
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor in strong support of 
H. Res. 89, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a 
day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day, to 
celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands.
  My district in West Michigan has some of the deepest roots of Dutch-
American history and heritage in the country. Dutch explorers, traders 
and settlers were a significant part of the earliest European 
exploration of the New World, especially in New York and New Jersey. 
However, the first major wave of Dutch immigration began in the 1840s 
with the Dissentings (later on known as Calvinists), a new group of 
religious people in the Netherlands. Like so many of the original 
settlers here in America, they wanted more religious liberty than they 
experienced in their home country. They were also seeking prosperity in 
a time of economic downturn and agricultural hardship in Europe. So the 
Dutch pilgrims dared the journey across the Atlantic to New York and 
then moved across northern New York and finally settled near the shores 
of Lake Michigan. Waves of Dutch settlers soon found Grand Rapids and 
Holland, Michigan, to be the places of job growth and the religious 
liberty they were seeking.
  I am proud to report that the traditions of a ``Dutch work ethic'' 
and religious devotion still permeate Grand Rapids and the West 
Michigan region today. Generations of Dutch immigrants have enriched 
our area with the unique customs and traditions of their ancestral 
homeland. They are a people that have given the world great artists, 
celebrated philosophers, noted theologians, and leaders of 
international business.
  The Dutch-American Friendship Day called for in this resolution would 
be an honorable response to annual celebrations in the Netherlands. 
Every year, the Dutch-American community in the Netherlands 
commemorates the bilateral relations between the Netherlands and the 
United States. Celebrated on April 19, the Dutch-American Friendship 
Day remembers the day that John Adams, the second president of the 
United States, was received by the States General in The Hague and 
recognized as an ambassador of the United States of America. It was 
also the day that the house he had purchased at Fluwelen Burgwal 18 in 
The Hague became the first American Embassy in the world. Today, the 
diplomatic ties between our two governments are the longest continuous 
ties between the U.S. and any other country in the world.

[[Page H2416]]

  This long history of diplomacy, cooperation and friendship should be 
lauded as an example for all nations. I congratulate my colleague from 
West Michigan, Peter Hoekstra--himself a Dutch-American--for 
introducing this resolution. I am proud of my family's and my wife's 
family's Dutch roots, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise today in support of 
House Resolution 89, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American 
Friendship Day.
  The Dutch/American relationship is the longest unbroken diplomatic 
relationship in the history of the United States of America. The 
relationship actually began years before the Pilgrims landed in America 
as they first resided for almost 11 years in the Netherlands before 
sailing for the New World.
  On November 16, 1776, only 4 months after declaring our independence 
from Great Britain, an American ship sailed into the West Indies Dutch 
harbor of St. Eustatius and was greeted by a cannon salute in 
recognition of the American flag. It was the first official recognition 
by any sovereign nation of the United States.
  On April 19, 1789, Ambassador John Adams officially presented his 
credentials to Prince William of Orange, thus establishing the 
diplomatic ties between the United States and the Republic of the 
Netherlands that we enjoy today.
  The U.S./Dutch relationship has stood the test of time and has 
strengthened in the crucible of conflict as the Dutch have stood beside 
us in times of peace and war. The Dutch supported us in our war for 
independence. Sixty years ago Dutch and American servicemen stood side 
by side during World War II and today the Dutch stand by us still in 
the Global War on Terror.
  The debt we owe to our Dutch friends is seen not only in our people, 
and in the persons of such famous Dutch Americans as Presidents Martin 
VanBuren, and Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, but also in our 
experience as a Nation. Our traditions of religious freedom and 
tolerance as well as our system of government, all have spiritual and 
legal roots in our relationship with the Dutch Republic.
  That is why I stand today to thank the Dutch people for their support 
over these centuries and to encourage the founding of a Dutch-American 
Friendship Day.
  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the 
passage of H. Res. 89, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I support and strongly urge the 
passage of H. Res. 89, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 89.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. 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 question will 
be postponed.

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