[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                HONORING THE CAREER OF DR. ELEZ BIBERAJ

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 2023

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Dr. Elez Biberaj, who 
is retiring after 43 years of service in the news organization Voice of 
America (VOA).
  Voice of America's mission and commitment to the highest journalistic 
standards have been the central focus of Dr. Biberaj's professional 
journey. Throughout his career, he's done his very best to uphold the 
values that have made VOA one of the world's most preeminent and most 
trusted journalistic organizations. He's had the privilege of serving 
in various roles, from being a radio broadcaster in the Albanian 
Service (1980-1982), to Senior Writer/Editor specializing in Soviet and 
East European Affairs in USIA's Press Division (1982-1986), Chief of 
the Albanian Service (1986-2004), Managing Editor of the Eurasia 
Division (2004-2005), and since 2005, Director of the Eurasia Division. 
He also served as VOA's Acting Director from June to December 2020.
  Through Voice of America, Dr. Biberaj witnessed and covered 
consequential world events. Dr. Biberaj covered the Cold War to the 
collapse of communism, the rise of democracy in the former Soviet Union 
and Eastern Europe, the Balkan wars, the integration of East European 
nations into Euro-Atlantic institutions, Russia's shift towards an 
authoritarian regime, and more recently, Russia's brutal invasion of 
Ukraine. He is honored and privileged to have worked alongside so many 
remarkable colleagues as he advanced the noble mission of delivering 
accurate and objective news and information to global audiences, 
telling America's compelling story, and championing its democratic 
values.
  Dr. Biberaj accelerated the Eurasia Division's shift in Voice of 
America toward engaging digital audiences and harnessing the power of 
mobile and social platforms. He also worked closely with his 
counterparts at Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty to create the Current 
Time network, the first joint VOA/RFE/RL programming brand in the 
history of U.S. international broadcasting, launched to provide fact-
based alternatives to Russian-language disinformation.
  Dr. Biberaj's commitment to the fundamental ethos of promoting 
freedom, democracy and providing independent fact-based reporting 
serves as a source of hope and a shining beacon of truth for millions 
of people around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Dr. 
Elez Biberaj on his longstanding career as a leader in journalism.

                          ____________________