[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 22, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MALALA YOSAFZAI

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 22, 2013

  Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Malala Yosafzai, 
who today was awarded the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize for 
Freedom of Thought.
   I join our European counterparts in honoring Malala's tremendous 
bravery in the face of repeated and unconscionable threats, including 
an assassination attempt last year, when she was shot by Taliban gunmen 
while returning home from school.
   Malala's courageous advocacy for the rights of girls to have the 
same education as boys inspires us all.
   Throughout our history, Americans have understood the importance of 
education. Put simply, we are a stronger, healthier, and more 
prosperous nation because we have made quality primary and secondary 
education available to all our children.
   The same is not true in other parts of the world, especially in 
societies torn apart by conflict, violent extremism, and poverty. There 
are tens of millions of girls out of school around the world, and women 
make up nearly two thirds--almost 500 million--of the world's 
illiterate adults. In her address to the United Nations, Malala 
reminded the world of the power of education to combat ignorance, 
intolerance, and violent extremism by promoting human dignity and 
creating undreamed-of opportunity.
   Mr. Speaker, I join Malala in her call on the world's leaders to 
ensure that all children--girls and boys alike--have access to a 
quality education. By working with our international partners to 
achieve this goal, we can help families around the world lift 
themselves out of dire poverty and, in so doing, make the world a safer 
and more prosperous place.

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