[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 20, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE LIFE ACHIEVEMENTS OF MR. RAY MAHMOOD ON HIS 60TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. SHELLEY BERKLEY

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 20, 2012

  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, today I join with my distinguished 
colleagues, Congressman Howard Berman of California and Congressman Jim 
Moran of Virginia, to honor the outstanding life achievements of Mr. 
Ray Mahmood, as he celebrates his 60th birthday on March 23, 2012.
  Ray began his ``American Dream'' story when he moved from Pakistan to 
Alexandria, Virginia in the early 1970s, bringing with him a belief 
that anything is possible in America. Starting out with nothing, Ray 
saved $5,000 to invest in a gas station in Alexandria. His hard work 
turned the business venture into a success, and he seized the 
opportunity to earn his real estate license and establish Mahmood 
Investment Corporation. Ray proved to have the genius and creativity to 
rapidly expand his enterprises into a broad array of developments. His 
projects have revitalized numerous locations, creating economic 
activity and employment through his developments in the residential, 
hotel, and commercial sectors of the real estate industry.
  We congratulate Ray on his remarkable success in business, but we 
believe his greatest achievements are found in his tireless dedication 
to civic, political, and diplomatic work. Ray and his wife, Shaista, 
have made it their mission to bring people together to meet the 
challenges of United States-Pakistan relations. Ray's passion for this 
important diplomatic work and his ability to unite people of many 
backgrounds, have made him an indispensable factor in efforts to 
strengthen ties between America and south Asia. His unique talent to 
work with community leaders, and with all levels of government make him 
a legend as a problem-solver and as a citizen-statesman. As Ambassador-
at-Large for Pakistan to the United States, Ray is an integral part of 
crafting effective foreign policy, and building person-to-person 
relationships between the two countries.
  Ray and Shaista have turned their home into a hub of political 
discussion, hospitality, and a place where countless friendships are 
made. We are proud to be among the many, many friends of Ray Mahmood. 
On the occasion of his birthday celebration, Congressman Berman, 
Congressman Moran and I honor Ray's innumerable achievements in 
business and political life, and wish Ray and Shaista all the best in 
the coming years.

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