[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18005]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             WELCOME TO PRIEST VENKATACHALAPATHI SAMULDRALA

  (Mr. BROWN of Ohio asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, today is a great day for Indian-
American relations. For the first time, a Hindu priest has given the 
opening prayer at a session of Congress, and the Prime Minister of 
India later this morning will address a joint session of Congress.
  India and the United States share the bonds of history and culture. 
Our two great nations share a commitment to both the ideals and the 
practice of democracy. The close ties between the world's oldest 
democracy and the world's largest democracy are invaluable to encourage 
free and fair elections throughout the world.
  The United States is also home to an Indian-American community of 1.4 
million people. I requested the House Chaplain and Speaker to invite 
Mr. Samuldrala to give today's prayer as a testimony to the religious 
diversity that is the hallmark of our great Nation.
  I want to thank Mr. Samuldrala for his thoughtful prayer that reminds 
us that, while we may differ in culture and traditions, we are all 
alike in the most basic aspiration of peace and righteousness.
  I thank the House Chaplain for inviting Mr. Samuldrala and look 
forward to future efforts to strengthen the bonds between our two great 
nations.

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