[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1748]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING BHUTAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE SMITHSONIAN FOLKLIFE 
                                FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my support for H. Res. 
1307, a resolution 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.
  The Kingdom of Bhutan has a very special relationship with the 
University of Texas at El Paso, UTEP, community and the people of El 
Paso, TX. This year's Smithsonian Folklife Festival presented a truly 
rare opportunity for UTEP and the El Paso community to join with the 
Kingdom of Bhutan to showcase our two cultures in the Nation's Capital. 
People had the opportunity to listen to El Paso mariachis and watch 
traditional Bhutanese dances at the National Mall. The show was one-of-
a-kind.
  Bhutan is currently transitioning to parliamentary democracy, and the 
resolution under consideration today commends the Bhutanese people, and 
in particular King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, for advancing democratic 
institutions in the Himalayan nation.
  During this critical time in Bhutan's history, it is fitting that the 
Kingdom was included in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The 
Folklife Festival is the largest annual cultural event in the U.S. 
Capital, featuring a different nation, region, State, and theme each 
year. This year's festival showcased the Kingdom of Bhutan, the State 
of Texas, and commemorated the 50th anniversary of NASA.
  The festival also celebrated UTEP's ties to the Kingdom of Bhutan, 
and featured El Paso mariachi band Los Arrieros and musicians and 
dancers from Bhutan. UTEP President Diana Natalico and City 
Representative Susie Byrd welcomed the standing-room-only crowd to the 
performance.
  As an added bonus, Bhutanese carpenters and skilled artisans 
constructed a traditional Bhutanese structure on the National Mall as 
gift of friendship for the people of the United States. The structure, 
one of the largest traditional buildings ever constructed on the 
National Mall, will be housed at UTEP for permanent display. UTEP 
students traveled to Washington, DC, to film a documentary about the 
30-foot structure and the Folklife Festival.
  Following the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, several Bhutanese 
performers traveled to El Paso to perform at the 2008 Bhutan Festival 
at UTEP. The event gave El Pasoans the opportunity to learn about 
Bhutanese culture and traditions.
  These cooperative efforts between our two nations enrich both the 
United States and the Kingdom of Bhutan, and I rise today to join my 
colleagues in honoring the people of Bhutan as they shift to a more 
representative form of government.

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