[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 91 (Thursday, June 23, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1187]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE OF HUNGARY

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 23, 2011

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
people of Hungary whose longstanding commitment to freedom is a 
testament to the world that freedom and democracy are attainable goals 
for all people. As Americans, we celebrate with the people of Hungary 
as they unveil a statue of Ronald Reagan to commemorate his centennial 
birthday. Hungary is one of America's greatest allies and it warms my 
heart to know that they rejoice with us in the memory of this hero of 
freedom.
  The U.S.-Hungarian friendship is one of our oldest and most enduring. 
Throughout this relationship, many Hungarians have also stood for the 
cause of liberty and are worthy of our recognition here in the House of 
Representatives.
  A Hungarian by the name of Michael Kovats de Fabriczy volunteered his 
services to Benjamin Franklin, then the American Ambassador in Paris, 
during the Revolutionary War. This Hungarian patriot, who was essential 
in creating America's first cavalry unit, was killed in battle near 
Charleston, South Carolina. Soon after Fabriczy's death Americans 
gained their independence; unfortunately, freedom for Hungary and her 
people would require a much longer fight.
  A bust of Lajos Kossuth, a politician and journalist who fought for 
freedom in the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, sits in a vestibule just 
outside of the crypt of this building. Exiled from Hungary, Kossuth 
came to America and became just the second foreigner to address a joint 
session of the United States Congress. An inspiring speaker, Kossuth 
then traveled across the United States to promote the principle of 
democratic government.
  Nearly two hundred years after our own revolution, in 1956, the 
people of Hungary rose up against communist rule and succeeded in 
toppling the government before being crushed by Soviet troops. In the 
face of that defeat, the courageous people of Hungary continued their 
fight. Victory came in 1989, when Hungary opened its border with the 
West. Hungary then became the first of the former Soviet bloc countries 
to transition to a Western-style parliamentary democracy, holding its 
first free parliamentary elections in 1990.
  In the last twenty years Hungarians have embraced their freedom. The 
country privatized its economy, adopted free-market principles and 
joined both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In 
1999, Hungary acceded to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and 
formally became a military ally of the United States. In 2004, Hungary 
acceded to the European Union and for the first six months of this year 
Hungary held the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
  In the past three decades, the United States, home to more than 1.5 
million Hungarian-Americans, offered Hungary assistance and expertise 
as the country established a constitutional, democratic political 
system, and a free market economy. The United States Government 
provided expert and financial assistance for the development of modern 
western institutions in Hungary, including those responsible for 
national security, law enforcement, free media, environmental 
regulations, education, and health care.
  With the Iron Curtain lifted, the Support for East European Democracy 
Act provided more than $136 Million for economic restructuring while 
the Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund offered loans, equity capital, 
and technical assistance to promote private-sector development. Most 
importantly, direct investment from the United States has had a 
positive impact on the Hungarian economy.
  The progress of freedom within Hungary has also allowed Hungary to 
support freedom around the globe. Hungary played a critical role in 
implementing the Dayton Peace Accords in the Balkans by allowing its 
airbase at Taszar to be used by coalition forces transiting the region. 
This support has continued, in 2008, the Hungarian military took 
command of a joint battalion in the Balkans that operates in support of 
NATO missions in the region.
  In 2003, Hungary helped the coalition in Iraq by deploying a 300-
strong battalion as part of the Multi-National Force, and by allowing 
the Taszar airbase again to be used in training the Free Iraqi Forces. 
In Afghanistan, Hungary leads a Provincial Reconstruction Team and has 
deployed an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, which works in 
partnership with the Ohio National Guard and other United States 
military personnel. Perhaps most importantly, Hungary's Papa Airbase is 
the home to the C-17 operations of the Multinational Strategic Airlift 
Consortium which supports the International Security Assistance Force 
in Afghanistan, as well as various U.S., EU and NATO peacekeeping and 
humanitarian operations around the world.
  The Hungarian people's longstanding commitment to freedom has allowed 
Hungary to become a key American ally and an important strategic 
partner in Europe. Our common commitment to freedom is based on our 
common belief in the values of democracy, rule of law, diversity, 
tolerance, and social mobility. I call on all Hungarians and Americans 
to continue to uphold these values as our countries continue to work 
closely to advance freedom across the globe.

                          ____________________