[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 125 (Thursday, September 16, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1669]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING HIS HOLINESS THE GYALWANG DRUKPA ON HIS VISIT TO THE UNITED 
                                 STATES

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 16, 2010

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend a warm 
welcome and friendship to His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa during his 
visit to the United States. His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa is the 
supreme head of the Drukpa Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism and the founder 
of Live to Love International--a global non-profit organization.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing this outstanding 
humanitarian and leader for his commitment to service. His projects 
embody the profound spirit of compassion and action expressed through 
the collective works of Live to Love. This week, the United Nations 
Millennium Development Goals Awards Committee in conjunction with the 
United Nations Millennium Campaign and the United Nations Office for 
Partnerships recognized this remarkable spiritual leader and his work 
through Live to Love at the tenth anniversary of the Millennium 
Development Goals Awards Ceremony.
  The mission of Live to Love is to blend traditional Himalayan 
philosophy with innovative contemporary solutions to provide concrete 
solutions to humanitarian problems. Live to Love focuses on five areas: 
(1) education, (2) medical services, (3) relief aid, (4) heritage 
preservation and (5) environmental sustainability. The organization is 
headquartered in Hong Kong with support chapters in Bhutan, France, 
Germany, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Poland, Singapore, 
Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, and the United 
States.
  In furthering the five goals of Live to Love, the organization builds 
the world's greenest schools and educates young girls in remote regions 
empowering them with leadership skills and confidence. Additionally, 
these schools teach a sustainable way of life. Live to Love also 
combines the best of Eastern and Western medicine to deliver vital 
health care to underserved groups. Live to Love builds and operates 
urgently needed medical clinics that serve poor rural areas at little 
or no cost. These clinics perform eye surgeries, distribute medicine, 
aid burn victims, as well as administer health and wellness programs. 
They also train local volunteers to assist resident medical 
specialists, helping them gain valuable skills that are in strong 
demand in the workplace and increases their employment prospects. Also, 
in an effort to preserve traditional Himalayan heritage, Live to Love 
provides educational services that celebrate indigenous cultures; helps 
conserve and restore ancient art, artifacts, and structures; and trains 
community leaders to protect their culture and history.
  His Holiness teaches that in serving others, we nurture ourselves. 
The example and actions of His Holiness and Live to Love serve as a 
clarion that can rouse the best and highest within us. Indeed, his life 
and the organization's mission are an inspiration from which we can all 
draw as we endeavor to lift and strengthen others, and this is why I am 
pleased to recognize him on this occasion and bring his work and the 
work of his organization to the attention of the U.S. Congress.

                          ____________________