[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 170 (Monday, November 5, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H12464-H12465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CONGRATULATING NICOLAS SARKOZY ON HIS ELECTION TO THE PRESIDENCY OF 
                                 FRANCE

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 379) congratulating Nicolas Sarkozy on his election 
to the presidency of France, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 379

       Whereas the Marquis de Lafayette and the people of France 
     offered unparalleled friendship to the people of the United 
     States in their pursuit of freedom and democracy during the 
     American Revolution;
       Whereas there are deep cultural ties between the American 
     and French people, as exemplified by the large flow of 
     visitors each year between the two nations, as well as 
     extensive exchanges between United States and French academic 
     institutions, museums, and sister cities;
       Whereas the United States is France's 6th largest export 
     market, and its top export market outside of the European 
     Union, and for the United States, France is its 9th largest 
     trading partner, and the United States is the largest foreign 
     investor in France;
       Whereas the United States and France are working together 
     to solve important international crises;
       Whereas Nicolas Sarkozy, upon winning the election to 
     become the next President of France, said that the United 
     States can count on France as a friend; and
       Whereas the people of the United States support any effort 
     by the Governments of France and the United States to 
     maintain and grow a spirit of friendship and cooperation: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Mr. Nicolas Sarkozy on his election to the presidency of 
     France and welcomes President Sarkozy on the occasion of his 
     appearance before a Joint Meeting of Congress.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Engel) and the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would first like to commend our distinguished colleague, the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe), for introducing this important 
resolution that congratulates Mr. Sarkozy on being elected the next 
President of France.
  Over two centuries ago, the people of France assisted the people of 
the United States in their pursuit of independence during the American 
Revolution. Since then, the U.S. and France have shared an extensive 
and mutually beneficial relationship. Today, the United States and 
France are major economic partners, with nearly $1 billion in trade 
taking place between the two countries each and every day.

[[Page H12465]]

  France is the United States' ninth largest partner for trade in goods 
and sixth largest partner for trade and services. The United States and 
France are scientific and technical partners as well. Research 
institutions and private companies in both countries participate in 
extensive scientific collaboration on a wide range of issues, including 
computer development, biotechnology, and space exploration.
  This spirit of cooperation also typifies the cultural exchange that 
takes place between American and French academic institutions, museums, 
and theatres. In light of our continued friendship between the people 
of the United States and France, we are honored that President Sarkozy 
will be appearing before a joint session of Congress this week on 
November 7, 2007.
  I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, which congratulates 
Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy on his election to the presidency of France and 
welcomes President Sarkozy to Washington.
  I might also add that it is especially nice that the leader of France 
has demonstrated time and time again that he has warm feelings towards 
the United States of America and is, indeed, a pro-American leader of 
France. The relations between the United States and France in the past 
several years has been a little frosty, and it's nice to see that those 
frosty relations have thawed. It's nice to see a leader of France who 
understands and wants to work with the United States and understands 
that we have a very close, long-standing relationship between our 
people.
  I welcome President Sarkozy. I look forward to hearing him when he 
speaks before a joint session of the House and Congress later on this 
week. I think that this resolution is a fitting tribute to him, and I 
believe that the United States and France, under his leadership, will 
enjoy warm ties.
  If I can think a bit about my French from grammar school, I could 
say, Vive la France.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  The great nation of France and the United States of America have a 
shared heritage of commitment to freedom and independence. From time to 
time, of course, we have made different choices or followed different 
paths in our commitment to the rule of law, human rights and democracy, 
but we in the United States are always grateful to have France's 
collaboration in advancing important foreign policy and security 
objectives. The newly elected President of France, Mr. Nicholas 
Sarkozy, is this week paying an official visit to Washington and will 
address a joint meeting of this Congress during his visit.
  His visit prompts us to recall some of the expressions of support Mr. 
Sarkozy has offered to our country and some of the concrete steps he 
has, indeed, taken to join with the United States in addressing key 
issues of our day.
  On the eve of the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks, 
then-French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy traveled to New York 
City to demonstrate solidarity with the American people on that 
occasion. During his visit, Mr. Sarkozy paid tribute to New York City's 
Police and Fire Departments as part of the commemoration of the 
anniversary and noted as part of his remarks the following: ``One thing 
is sure in the history of our two peoples, each time we faced a 
challenge, France was able to count on the United States of America.''
  He then presented to the New York Fire Department the French Medal of 
Honor, the very first time that the medal, the highest award for French 
firefighters, has been awarded to foreigners. By taking such actions, 
as both Minister of the Interior and now as the President of France, 
Mr. Sarkozy has won the appreciation of the American people.
  I note that his attitude regarding the necessity of preventing Iran 
from achieving its nuclear ambitions, his expressed support for the 
nation of Israel and his praise for the United States as a land of 
opportunity are very much appreciated as well.
  Mr. Speaker, we are glad to have France as an ally, and we hope to 
deepen the friendship and partnership that the United States and France 
have enjoyed so many times in the history of our two countries. As the 
cochair of the Congressional French Caucus, I believe that the 
resolution before us today helps send a message of continued friendship 
with the people of France while congratulating President Sarkozy on his 
election and welcoming him to the United States.
  I ask all of my colleagues to join in supporting this very timely 
resolution.
  I have one additional speaker.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I would continue to reserve the balance of my 
time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Dreier) as much time as he may consume.
  Mr. DREIER. I thank my good friend from Arkansas, the cochair of the 
U.S.-French Caucus, and appreciate his thoughtful remarks as well as 
the remarks of my friend from New York.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise because I think it is really a great day that we 
are once again, after what could only be considered as somewhat of a 
hiatus in this institution, underscoring the importance of the 
relationship between the United States and France. It's very clear that 
there was a period of time when we were quite critical of France and, 
in fact, we all know that the sort of the politically correct thing to 
do was to engage in French bashing.
  I always had a tough time with that myself. One of the reasons is 
that as we are here in this Chamber, the portrait just to my right is 
of the man who underwrote the American Revolution, Marquis de 
Lafayette. In fact, his portrait is the only portrait of a non- 
American that hangs anywhere in this great building, the U.S. Capitol.
  For us to recognize, as my friend from Arkansas just has said in his 
remarks, the great new, renewed friendship with the election of 
President Sarkozy between the United States and France is, I think, a 
great thing. I am very enthused about 11 o'clock Wednesday morning when 
we are in this very Chamber going to hear the words of France's new 
President.
  As my friend said, for Nicholas Sarkozy, before he became President, 
when he was a minister on the fifth anniversary of September 11, to go 
to New York and demonstrate his solidarity with those who stood up to 
the terrorists and, again, his great assistance in working with us in 
supporting the State of Israel, in making sure that we do everything 
that we can to diminish the threat of the potential nuclear buildup in 
Iran; of course, the kinds of missions that Nicholas Sarkozy has 
embarked on most recently to return the hostages of many conflicts 
around is something that, I believe, is to be heralded. We just had the 
news this morning that President Sarkozy personally was able to see the 
return of, I think it was seven nurses, who had been held hostage.
  So his commitment to the cause of freedom and liberty, and I will 
say, yes, his underscoring the great importance of the relationship and 
the alliance between France and the United States of America is a great 
thing for us. I congratulate my colleagues for their support and urge 
everyone to support this resolution.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 379, as amended.
  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. BOOZMAN. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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