[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E608-E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   JOINT SESSION OF CONGRESS RECEIVING THE HONORABLE PARK GEUN HYE, 
                   PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 7, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, Congressman Israel 
and I asked Speaker Boehner to invite President Park Geun Hye (``Gun 
Hay''), South Korea's first female president, to address a Joint 
Session of Congress.
  Tomorrow, we officially welcome her here in this Chamber.
  Her visit is important to both of our nations, but also to my 
district in Texas where a vibrant and engaged Korean American community 
lives in Spring Branch and Houston.
  In stark contrast to its neighbor to the North led by media-hungry 
dictator, Junior,--South Korea shines as a beacon democracy and 
freedom.
  S. Korea is also an important trading partner--America's 7th 
largest--and with the implementation of our Free Trade Agreement, our 
trade relations will only get better.

[[Page E609]]

  Tomorrow, we celebrate our friendship and partnership, or as 
President Park recently said: ``the most successful alliance in 
history.''
  I couldn't agree more.
  America is here to help South Korea, as they are here to help us.
  That's what friends do for each other.
  And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________