[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 7, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2786-S2787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING ISRAELI PRESIDENT SHIMON PERES

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, today I was honored to take part in a 
ceremony honoring Israeli President Shimon Peres. I ask unanimous 
consent that the remarks I made at the ceremony be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             [May 7, 2014]

                   Luncheon in Honor of Shimon Peres


                     Remarks by Senator John McCain

       It is my pleasure to join all of you today as we honor 
     President Shimon Peres, one of the bravest and most 
     principled political leaders of our time. I was honored to 
     join with my colleagues in the Senate to pass legislation 
     bestowing the congressional gold medal on this great man. I 
     was not surprised when that legislation passed unanimously, 
     and it my hope that our colleagues in the House will move 
     forward with their own legislation soon.
       President Peres deserves this honor. The story of his life 
     is entwined with the story of

[[Page S2787]]

     the birth and development of the State of Israel, and in him 
     we see the essence of Israel itself--an invincible spirit 
     that cannot be denied. Through his determination, his 
     strength and perseverance, and his profound compassion, 
     President Peres enabled a seemingly impossible dream to 
     become a reality and changed forever the destiny of the 
     Jewish people.
       Even as a young man, Shimon Peres showed a dedication to 
     public service and a commitment to the pursuit of justice and 
     peace. He was an active leader in the ``Working Youth'' 
     group, he founded a kibbutz in the Jordan Valley, and became 
     a member of the Haganah [hah-gah-nah]--all before he reached 
     21.
       Over the course of his seventy years of public service, 
     President Peres has served as a member of the Knesset for 48 
     years and held virtually every position in dozens of 
     cabinets, serving in nearly two dozen ministerial posts 
     including twice as Prime Minister, and as Defense Minister, 
     Treasury Minister, and Foreign Minister. He was then elected 
     as the ninth President of the State of Israel, the position 
     he holds today.
       I have met many brave and inspiring people in my life, but 
     there are few who have done more to preserve freedom for 
     future generations than Shimon Peres. He recognized that the 
     highest duty of leaders is to protect and preserve the 
     freedom and security of their people, even in the face of 
     hostility and in the face of doubt and disappointment. And 
     this is just what President Peres has done, not only for the 
     Jewish people but for all people.
       He has been a leader for strength, building Israel's 
     military and defense capabilities. He has been a leader for 
     prosperity, helping make Israel one of the strongest 
     economies in the world today. And he has been a leader for 
     peace, making difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions in 
     persuading the Palestinians to pursue negotiations and find 
     peace for all, standing by his belief that all children, both 
     Israeli and Arab alike, deserve the chance to grow up and 
     grow old free from the threat of violence and tyranny.
       In the time that I have known Shimon Peres, I have been 
     inspired by his statesmanship, leadership, courage and 
     civility. And among his many virtues, I have been most 
     inspired by his idealism. Shimon Peres has always been a 
     dreamer. He once said that ``dreaming is only being 
     pragmatic''--words that drew criticism from some and laughter 
     from others.
       But he is right, of course. It is difficult to understand 
     how someone who has witnessed such unspeakable horrors in his 
     life can still place such faith in dreams. But it is due in 
     part to his optimism and idealism, and his willingness to 
     serve on behalf of those dreams, that Israel exists today. By 
     never giving up on his dreams, Shimon Peres reminds us that 
     we do not need to give in to complacency or cynicism--and why 
     we can't afford to.
       So I join all of you in recognizing the great achievements 
     of Shimon Peres. And I thank you for devoting your time to 
     honor this great man. With your help, it is my hope that our 
     friends in the House will complete the necessary legislation, 
     and all of us in Congress will be able to join together to 
     express the abiding affection and admiration that we and the 
     American people have for one of Israel's most distinguished 
     sons--a man whose inspiration and impact will endure far 
     beyond the generations who have witnessed them.

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