[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 22]
[House]
[Page 29981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    AWARDING CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO PRESIDENT JOSE MARIA AZNAR

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to again encourage my 
colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 2131, a resolution that will bestow 
President of the Government of Spain, Jose Maria Aznar, with the 
Congressional Gold Medal.
  Shortly after the September 11 attacks on the United States, 
President Aznar made the following comment: ``Our battle is a battle 
for the same ideas, for the same freedoms, for the same society and 
civilizations, and we will share all those efforts as long as it is 
necessary.''
  President Aznar of Spain has stood by the United States and, despite 
heavy political pressure, has never wavered from his staunch commitment 
to the ideals of freedom, liberty and democracy.
  I urge my fellow Members to join me and over 100 cosponsors of H.R. 
2131, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to President Aznar. 
Join us in honoring a man who is a great leader in global democracy, a 
great leader in the war on terrorism, a notable ally of the United 
States, and a champion of freedom.

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