[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 116 (Friday, July 29, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1456]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           CONGRATULATING RECIPIENTS OF THE WORLD PEACE PRIZE

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. MELVIN L. WATT

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2011

  Mr. WATT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to make sure that we acknowledge 
in our official record an important event that took place on June 14, 
2011 in the Gold Room of the Rayburn House Office Building, the award 
by the World Peace Council of the 2010 World Peace Prize.
  The World Peace Corps Mission confers World Peace Awards to 
individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions 
to peacemaking efforts around the world. This year the Top Honor Prize 
was given to His Holiness Dorje Chang Buddha Ill and to Hon. Benjamin 
A. Gilman. The 2010 Roving Ambassador for Peace Award was awarded to 
the Civil Air Patrol.
  H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the highest leader of Buddhism in the 
world. He was recognized for his support of a wide variety of healing 
and rescue-relief activities around the world, as well as for his art 
and poetry, through which he has promoted nonviolence, charity and love 
for humanity. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III is the first Buddhist leader 
to be awarded the World Peace Prize. In his acceptance speech, H.H. 
Dorje Chang Buddha III said, ``I believe this is not an affirmation of 
me personally. Rather, it is an affirmation of all human beings who 
seek happiness, freedom and equality. It is an affirmation of all 
efforts to selflessly benefit and help others.''
  Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman served 15 terms in the United States House of 
Representatives. He was recognized for championing human rights, 
fighting world hunger and fighting drug abuse and trafficking. While in 
Congress he served as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, 
as Congressional Delegate to the United Nations, on the Ukrainian 
Famine Commission and as Vice Chairman of the Select Committee on POWs. 
He organized successful ``prisoner exchanges'' which freed American 
citizens held in East Germany, Mozambique, Cuba and several other 
countries.
  The Civil Air Patrol is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. 
It was recognized for providing disaster relief and emergency services 
following natural and man-made disasters. The CAP performs 90 percent 
of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the 
Air Force Regional Coordination Center. It was credited with saving 113 
lives in fiscal year 2010.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating H.H. 
Dorje Chang Buddha III, Hon. Benjamin Gilman and the Civil Air Patrol 
for receiving these awards.

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