[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 87 (Tuesday, June 18, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CELEBRATING DIA DE PORTUGAL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 2013

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today along with my colleagues Mr. 
Valadao of California, Mr. Cicilline of Rhode Island, Mr. Nunes of 
California, Mr. Honda of California, Mr. Langevin of Rhode Island, and 
Ms. Lofgren of California to recognize Dia de Portugal and to again 
state the importance of a strong relationship between the United States 
and Portugal. Dia de Portugal celebrates the heritage of the Portuguese 
people and their descendants and is recognized around the world on June 
10th.
  Vibrant Portuguese communities are scattered across the United States 
from Massachusetts and Rhode Island to California and Hawaii. The 
latest census estimates that more than 1.3 million individuals living 
in the United States are of Portuguese ancestry, and they have been 
making positive contributions to our society for decades.
  The ties between the United States and Portugal are critical and date 
from the earliest years of the United States. Following the 
Revolutionary War, Portugal was among the first countries to recognize 
the United States. On February 21, 1791, President George Washington 
opened formal diplomatic relations, and the oldest continuously-
operating U.S. Consulate in the world, since 1795, is in Ponta Delgada 
on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores.
  Portugal is an integral member of the European Union, a founding 
member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and an 
important strategic partner in the Mediterranean and beyond. As such, 
the United States-Portugal defense relationship is strong and must 
remain so. Central to this relationship is the U.S. Air Force's 65th 
Air Base Wing at Lajes Field on Terceira Island in the Azores. Having 
bolstered the United States' and its allies' control of the Atlantic 
since World War II, Lajes Field is a valuable asset that must be 
maintained.
  Mr. Speaker, we join with the people of Portugal and our Portuguese 
American constituents in wishing everyone celebrating across the globe 
a wonderful Dia de Portugal.

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