[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H7879-H7881]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1345
   COMMEMORATING BHUTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE 
                                FESTIVAL

  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1307) commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's 
participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending 
the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their 
commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.

[[Page H7880]]

  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1307

       Whereas Bhutan is a nation cloistered among some of the 
     highest peaks in the eastern Himalayas and has for hundreds 
     of years served as a sanctuary for the rich and unique 
     Bhutanese culture;
       Whereas Bhutan hosts some of the most pristine and 
     biologically diverse natural environments in the modern 
     world, owing to the agrarian society's unique farming 
     traditions that are rooted in a deep appreciation for the 
     land and humble devotion to its protection;
       Whereas Bhutan participated in the 2008 Smithsonian 
     Folklife Festival and shared with the people of the United 
     States many aspects of its unique culture and traditions, 
     including its special approach towards life, described in 
     national policy as the pursuit of ``Gross National 
     Happiness'';
       Whereas Bhutan was only in recent decades accessible by 
     road and airplane but is now sharing with people throughout 
     the world its special cultural traditions that include 13 
     traditional arts, zorig chusum, monastic dancers who perform 
     ritual dances from sacred tsechus festivals, and weavers who 
     create some of the most coveted textiles in the world;
       Whereas Bhutan is transitioning to a parliamentary 
     democracy, owing to the leadership of King Jigme Singye 
     Wangchuck, who abdicated his throne on December 14, 2006, and 
     his son King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, who is committed 
     to conducting parliamentary elections; and
       Whereas King Jigme Singye Wangchuck devolved all executive 
     authority from the throne to the cabinet in 1998, initiated 
     the process of drafting a constitution in 2001, ordered by 
     royal decree an end to Bhutan's absolute monarchy and the 
     establishment of a parliamentary democracy in 2008, and 
     issued to the people of Bhutan a historic document, or 
     tsathrim, stating that ``Bhutan is a sovereign Kingdom and 
     the Sovereign power belongs to the people of Bhutan'': Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) commemorates Bhutan's participation in the 2008 
     Smithsonian Folklife Festival;
       (2) recognizes the important cultural, artistic, 
     agricultural, and environmental achievements of Bhutan and 
     the Bhutanese people;
       (3) commends the Bhutanese people, the Government of the 
     Kingdom of Bhutan, and His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel 
     Wangchuck for their commitment to conducting parliamentary 
     elections and transitioning from an absolute monarchy to a 
     parliamentary democracy; and
       (4) remains committed to working with Bhutan, should it so 
     desire, to foster cultural exchange and to assist in 
     promoting democratic reform.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BAIRD. 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I am very pleased to be here today to speak in support of H. Res. 
1307, commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 
Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the 
Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding 
elections and broadening political participation.
  I want to pay special thanks to my colleague Fred Upton for his 
assistance with this legislation as well.
  I had the honor of visiting the Kingdom of Bhutan in August of 2006. 
It is truly a magnificent and beautiful country with delightful people. 
I am proud to have authored this resolution and urge its passage.
  Throughout modern history, Bhutan has been one of the most 
geographically isolated nations in the world. Nestled among the highest 
peaks in the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan was inaccessible by road, rail, 
and air throughout the greater portion of the 20th century.
  This unique seclusion fostered in Bhutan a distinctive culture marked 
by rich artistic tradition, deep spirituality, and an agrarian heritage 
emphasizing conservation and environmental stewardship.
  Bhutan has adopted a principle to guide its development and preserve 
its rich cultural heritage--the principle of ``gross national 
happiness,'' or as the King informed us, contentment. This unique 
philosophy, enshrined as Bhutan's national objective by King Jigme 
Singye Wanghuck in 1982, measures progress not only in terms of 
economic gains or technological achievement, but as a complete balance 
of many important factors encompassing the well-being and prosperity of 
the communities and individuals who make up the kingdom.
  The pursuit of gross national happiness promotes Bhutanese cultural 
values as the key to the nation's development and has enabled Bhutan to 
progress in the modern world while maintaining its commitment to 
itself. By respecting these traditions, Bhutan has preserved not only 
its culture but its pristine national environment and enabled the 
kingdom to remain one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on 
the planet.
  As Bhutan continued on its careful path of development under the 
leadership of King Jigme Wangchuck, the kingdom began to pursue 
political reforms. In 2008, Bhutan observes an important milestone and 
celebrates a historical achievement: 2008 marks not only the 100th 
anniversary of the kingdom's monarchy but also the dawn of Bhutan's 
emergence as a democratic constitutional monarchy.
  This process of democratization began in 1998 when King Wangchuck 
devolved executive authority from the throne to the cabinet and 
initiated the drafting of a constitution by royal decree.
  On December 14, 2006, King Wangchuck honored his pledge and abdicated 
the throne, abolished Bhutan's absolute monarchy, and transferred the 
throne to his son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
  The new King has continued to oversee the democratization of his 
country. In March of 2008, Bhutan held its first parliamentary 
elections, embarking on the final step in its decade-long transition to 
full constitutional democracy. There are plans for a grant coronation 
in November of this year. At that time, Bhutan's first constitutional 
monarch will formally ascend to the throne.
  H. Res. 1307 recognizes the political achievements of the Kingdom of 
Bhutan and commends the people and the leadership of the kingdom for 
their ability to pursue development while serving the nation's gross 
national happiness. We also commemorate the participation of Bhutan at 
the 2008 Folklife Festival, marking a unique opportunity for thousands 
of Americans to appreciate the Bhutanese culture that continues to 
flourish along Bhutan's path of development.
  I urge passage of the resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1307, a 
resolution commemorating Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian 
Folklife Festival and commending the people and leaders of that 
isolated and mountainous country for their commitment to democratic 
reform.
  Mr. Speaker, the Kingdom of Bhutan, called by its people ``the Land 
of the Thunder Dragon,'' is one of the most hauntingly beautiful and 
remarkable countries in the world.
  If the diversity of its peoples, geography, and ecosystems weren't 
enough to make Bhutan stand out, this traditional society is also 
experiencing an extraordinary political evolution.
  Due to the perceptive policies of its two most recent rulers, Bhutan 
has been transformed from one of the world's most reclusive poor 
countries to one of its more enlightened. The economy has grown at an 
average annual rate of 7 percent over the past 25 years. With huge 
investments in public health, life expectancy rose during the King's 
reign from 40 to 66. During the 1990s, the primary school enrollment 
rate rose by over a quarter to 72 percent.
  This March, Bhutan held successful elections for the lower house of 
parliament. This event, which built upon the historic and peaceful 
elections for the upper house of parliament in December 2007, marked 
another positive

[[Page H7881]]

step in Bhutan's transition to a democratic, constitutional monarchy.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this well-crafted and 
noncontroversial resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his kind words. It 
is truly a marvelous story, the development of Bhutan into a democratic 
monarchy. The effort of the King and his son and the entire Bhutanese 
people is really astonishing and a great story to tell. It is also a 
remarkably beautiful country.
  So I would urge passage of this.
  I have no further speakers at this time, and I reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance 
of my time and commend my colleague from Washington State.
  Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman. With that, I yield back the balance 
of my time as well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1307, 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. BAIRD. 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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