[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 125 (Wednesday, August 1, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              STATEMENT ON THE ELECTION OF PRATIBHA PATIL

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2007

  Mr. CROWLEY. Madam Speaker, I rise to congratulate predident Pratibha 
Patil on her historic election.
  On July 19, 2007, delegates from the Indian Parliament and various 
State legislatures elected Pratibha Patil the new president of India. 
She is the first female elected to the office of the presidency since 
India gained independence from the British in 1947. This is a 
monumental achievement for this emerging democracy, and it demonstrates 
the progressive ideals and forward-thinking ways of the people of 
India.
  President Patil represents the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), the 
present coalition of ruling political parties that has had a strong and 
lasting presence in the Government of India since 2004, and she is a 
member of the Indian National Congress, which led the nation to 
Independence.
  She won by nearly two-thirds of votes cast by the election body, 
representing the overwhelming support that President Patil has garnered 
while being a member of the UAP.
  She has had a long history in elected office, her first victory 
coming in 1962 when she was elected the state of Maharashtra's 
legislature. Since then, she has demonstrated great skill in governing 
on both the state and national level. The turning point in her 
political career came in 2004 when she was elected the first female 
governor to the state of Rajasthan.
  As President, Patil will not only serve as the First Citizen and Head 
of State of India, but she will be the Supreme Commander of the Indian 
Army and hold all executive powers of the Central Government.
  The election of President Patil represents the merger of diversity 
and equality within the Government of India. She is not only the first 
woman president elected in the country, but also the first 
Maharashtrian to hold the position.
  As a strong advocate of India-U.S. relations, I believe the election 
of President Patil signifies the pluralism that drives and provides 
efficient functioning of democratic systems.
  I wish President Patil great success. She is a role model for all 
women around the world, and I hope her presidency helps to diminish 
some of the lingering discrimination against women in India. I also 
look forward to working with her and the Indian government on further 
developing a strong and lasting relationship between our two great 
democracies.

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