[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H11114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               FANG ZHENG

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I had the honor to celebrate with 
Fang Zheng, a man from China who recently walked for the first time in 
20 years. Twenty years ago, I remember the whole world was watching on 
TV with such hope as peaceful demonstrators poured into Tiananmen 
Square in China, calling for freedom. Fang was among those brave 
activists. When the tanks rolled in to break up the demonstration, one 
of them rolled over him, causing him to lose both of his legs. This 
young man, who had been an Olympic hopeful, was now wheelchair-bound.
  Last year he finally was able to travel to the United States and seek 
asylum. Moved by his story, the owners of a prosthesis center that 
worked with wounded war veterans offered to design him new legs; and 
yesterday here in the Capitol, these new legs allowed him to dance with 
his wife for the first time ever.
  That celebration was a powerful symbol that the American people have 
not forgotten the Chinese struggle for freedom and the courage of 
people like Fang Zheng who speak out and who long to enjoy the same 
freedoms we hold so dear. You can see his story on YouTube.

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