[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8051-8052]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SUPPORT ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 1, 2003

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of more than 25,000 of my 
constituents who are of Irish descent, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
1208, which recognizes the importance of funding the peace process in 
Northern Ireland.
  The people of Ireland, the people of Great Britain are long-standing 
friends and allies of the United States and the American people. In 
these difficult times, we are deeply grateful for their partnership in 
the coalition against terror and their invaluable contributions in the 
war in Iraq.

[[Page 8052]]

  Our investment in the International Fund for Ireland contributes to 
strengthening relations and creating thousands of new jobs and 
businesses for Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. 
Importantly, more than 80 percent of the Fund's contributions have 
targeted disadvantaged areas by offering job training programs for 
unemployed youth and through the economic, social, and physical 
regeneration of deprived areas.
  We should continue to support the Fund's community-building programs 
promoting greater dialogue and understanding between Catholics and 
Protestants. We should also help advance the Fund's role in the 
development of a new generation of leaders in Northern Ireland in order 
to bring about a more peaceful and prosperous future in the region.
  The Good Friday Agreement of 1998, which called for basic human 
rights and marked the first meaningful step toward reconciliation in 
Northern Ireland was suspended last year. Elections in May will 
determine the future prospects of the agreement, which makes this 
resolution especially relevant and timely.
  Mr. Speaker, our shared goal with Ireland is for all Catholic and 
Protestant families to live in peace, free from discrimination, 
terrorism, and intolerance. That is why I strongly support fully 
funding the International Fund for Ireland and encourage my colleagues 
to vote for this legislation.

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