[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 186 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE BIRTHDAY OF KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ OF THAILAND

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 6, 2011

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
congratulations and best wishes to the world's longest serving monarch, 
King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, on the occasion of his 84th 
birthday this past Monday, December 5th. King Bhumibol is beloved by 
his people and esteemed for his great humility, compassion and 
proactive engagement with everyday Thais.
  King Bhumibol has spent decades in virtually every corner of 
Thailand, engaging with the Thai people face-to-face, seeking new and 
improved ways to make their lives better. Since the early years of his 
now 65-year reign, he has been mindful of the livelihood of farmers and 
others dependent on agriculture. He made water management a key 
priority in royal development projects, with the first such project 
initiated in 1963. Taking a holistic approach, the King's projects also 
sought to ensure local residents understand the importance of proper 
water management to avoid flooding, droughts and pollution.
  The King has also promoted sustainable agricultural practices along 
with soil resource management, to maximize economic success in rural 
areas and to help farmers become self-reliant. His economic advice 
based on the ``Sufficiency Economy'' philosophy, which calls on 
individuals and businesses to practice moderation and reasonableness, 
and seek self-immunity against external factors in their pursuit of 
growth, has been embraced by rural farmers and private businesses 
alike.
  Agriculture, environmental conservation and sustainable development 
are among the many other areas of King Bhumibol's initiatives to 
contribute to the progress of Thailand and its people. During the 1960s 
and 1970s, the King developed an opium crop substitution program that 
encourages hilltribe people to grow cash crops so that they abandon the 
drug trade. His initiatives on health--started even earlier in the 
1950s--helped Thailand's efforts to eradicate and combat diseases such 
as leprosy, cholera, tuberculosis and smallpox. These and the 
scholarship programs he created to support Thais to study medicine and 
medical advancement overseas have contributed to the development of the 
country's public health system--today one of the most advanced in 
Southeast Asia.
  King Bhumibol's values, initiatives, and passion for improving life 
for all Thais have earned him the respect of the people of Thailand. He 
has also been recognized internationally for his unique leadership, 
which has uplifted the people of Thailand during difficult times.
  Mr. Speaker, I am honored to join the people of Thailand--America's 
friend and oldest treaty ally in Asia--as they pay tribute to King 
Bhumibol and celebrate his 84th birthday this week.

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