[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 52 (Thursday, April 3, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H1993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              ISRAEL AT 60

  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the State 
of Israel on its 60th anniversary and help kick off a series of weekly 
bipartisan speeches leading up to Israel's 60th anniversary.
  As cochair of the Democratic Israel Working Group, I want to thank my 
colleague, Congressman Reynolds, and other members of the Republican 
Israel Caucus for joining us in this effort to honor and recognize the 
contributions Israel has made during the last 60 years.
  I've been to Israel several times and can personally vouch for 
Israel's contributions to the global community, particularly to 
agriculture techniques, solar power generation, seawater desalination, 
academia, telecommunications, and medical technology.
  In my home State of Texas, we have an economic cooperative agreement 
with Israel, which is one of the oldest state-to-state relationships in 
our country. Israel's success in innovative programs constantly serve 
as ideas for addressing problems facing citizens in Texas.
  In the last 60 years, Israel has faced many struggles, conflicts with 
its neighbors, terrorism on its borders and in its neighborhoods, and 
led peace efforts by leaving Gaza and southern Lebanon only to be 
attacked from these locations.
  Despite these struggles, Israel has grown from a state of less than 1 
million people in 1948 to a state of over 7 million people committed to 
promoting human rights, protecting the rule of law, and to open and 
fair elections.
  Israel is truly an inspiration to people around the globe. And I 
would like to again congratulate the Israeli people and join them in 
celebrating the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence.

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