[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H5954-H5955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND HIS ROYAL 
 HIGHNESS, PRINCE PHILIP, DUKE OF EDINBURGH, FOR THEIR STATE VISIT TO 
                           THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 412) expressing gratitude to Her Majesty Queen 
Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, 
for their State Visit to the United States and reaffirming the 
friendship that exists between the United States and the United 
Kingdom, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 412

       Whereas Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal 
     Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, traveled to the 
     United States for a State Visit from May 3 to May 8, 2007, 
     celebrating the special relationship that exists between the 
     United States and the United Kingdom;
       Whereas the United States and the United Kingdom enjoy a 
     trans-Atlantic friendship sustained by a commitment to 
     democratic traditions, liberty, and the spread of freedom, as 
     well as common economic and cultural foundations;

[[Page H5955]]

       Whereas in a rapidly changing world, Queen Elizabeth II has 
     been a force of stability and constancy and has provided 
     inspiration to the world in times both peaceful and 
     tumultuous; and
       Whereas Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip serve as 
     ambassadors for the British people and the goodwill 
     engendered by their visit serves as a reminder, for the 
     people of the United States and the United Kingdom alike, of 
     our joint values and priorities: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives is deeply 
     appreciative of the State Visit recently conducted by Her 
     Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness, Prince 
     Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and celebrates the State Visit as 
     having been an occasion to reaffirm the value and depth of 
     the friendship that exists between the United States and the 
     United Kingdom.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days 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 Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, and I 
yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Two hundred and thirty years ago, Americans threw off the yoke of the 
British monarch with much fanfare, as everyone knows. But, since then, 
the American people have celebrated the royals, and they have watched 
and observed the demeanor of the royal family of Great Britain 
throughout the years. As a matter of fact, we gave a coveted film award 
to a woman portraying the Queen just not long ago.
  But, anyway, a few short weeks ago, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 
and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, were greeted 
by enormous crowds visiting the United States. This was the Queen's 
fourth State visit following previous visits in 1991, 1976 and first in 
1957.
  Her most recent trip was highlighted by her commemoration of the 
400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown, the first permanent 
English settlement in the New World. When 108 London entrepreneurs set 
sail on orders from King James I to settle Virginia, that would set the 
stage for one of the most, if not the most, successful and lasting 
alliance in modern history.
  The Queen praised such historic links and bonds of friendship between 
our two countries when she was here and referred to the fact that our 
relationship has been built on a shared commitment to democratic 
traditions and liberty.
  During her visit, she also noted, as well, our shared future. Just as 
the settlers of 1607 set out to discover a new world, researchers on 
both sides of the Atlantic are now seeking to explore new frontiers in 
medicine and space. This collaboration between British and American 
scientists is invaluable.
  The Queen has served tirelessly as an ambassador for the British 
people, and she has led her country through times of prosperity as well 
as times of turmoil. It is for these reasons and others that I am 
delighted to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I thank the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) for authoring the 
resolution before us; and I rise in support of his resolution, 412, 
which expresses gratitude to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His 
Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for their recent state 
visit to the United States and reaffirms the friendship that exists 
between the United States and the United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth's 
visit reminded us of the shared values that underpin the unique 
friendship and partnership of the United States and the United Kingdom.
  The extent to which the United States and the United Kingdom today 
share common goals in their foreign and defense policies as well is 
also quite remarkable. There is no other bilateral relationship that 
the United States has with another country that is routinely referred 
to as ``the special relationship.''
  In the time that Queen Elizabeth has reigned, more than half a 
century, America and Britain have continually strengthened their 
partnership and collaborated on threats to world peace and security, 
both large and small. That important collaboration continues today, as 
President Bush noted in his remarks in the dinner he held at the White 
House in the Queen's honor, when he stated the following: ``together we 
are supporting young democracies in Iraq and Afghanistan . . . 
confronting global challenges such as poverty and disease and 
terrorism, and together we're working to build a world in which more 
people can enjoy prosperity and security and peace.''
  Mr. Speaker, I should note as well the significance of how closely 
the economies of the United States and the United Kingdom are linked. 
The United Kingdom is the fourth largest market for exports, such 
exports totaling more than $36 billion in the year 2004 alone. Just as 
significant, the United States and the United Kingdom are each other's 
biggest foreign investors.
  This resolution gives us an opportunity to reflect upon the strength 
and the value of a trans-Atlantic relationship that has proven critical 
to safeguarding the community of democracies in Europe and, indeed, 
throughout the world.
  I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution, expressing 
appreciation to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip for their 
recent visit and the bonds that tie our two nations together.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the author of the 
resolution, Mr. Boozman of Arkansas.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support this bill that 
expresses our appreciation to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His 
Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for visiting the 
United States over the last month.
  Over the course of her lifetime and during her 55 years on the 
throne, Queen Elizabeth has played a vital role in the United Kingdom's 
successes through her strong leadership in diplomacy. She has been a 
great source of stability for her nation.
  During times of peace and times of unrest, Queen Elizabeth and Prince 
Philip have displayed amazing courage and have inspired the world 
community. The relationship between the United States and the United 
Kingdom is a special one. The Americans and British have been working 
together for generations, furthering the deep-rooted commitment each 
country has for peace and security.
  I would like to thank Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and Prince 
Philip for reaffirming the trans-Atlantic friendship between our two 
countries with their visit last month to the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this bill.

                              {time}  1600

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of our time.
  Mr. TANNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 412, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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