[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14211]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY TO THE UNITED STATES MILITARY

  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, we have had a vigorous 
legislative week that included a resolution affirming and applauding 
the Iraqi transitional government. It was a vigorous debate because 
many of us were pained to go to the floor to acknowledge a war that we 
had such great concern and opposition to. I voted for that resolution, 
with qualifications as to some of the language, but no qualifications 
on the affirmation of the young men and women on the front line. To be 
able to recognize their service, to thank their families, and to pray 
for those families who have lost loved ones.
  I could not leave this body this week without acknowledging, as this 
country celebrates its anniversary of independence, the importance of 
recognizing freedom and how much and how long we fought for it and the 
way that we should lead our foreign policy to reflect on the principles 
of that freedom.
  I will spend time, Mr. Speaker, this week with returning veterans and 
their families and families of those who have lost loved ones in Iraq. 
But most of all, I think it is important that we take this somewhat 
holiday week to reflect on the freedom that we as Americans have in 
this country and to never stray away from the rights of freedom, 
protesting when we believe it is wrong, supporting when we believe it 
is right, but, most of all, embracing the Constitution that allows us 
the freedom of expression, the freedom of speech, and the freedom to 
move and the freedom to debate and, most of all, a country that is 
grounded in the principles of democracy because if we are to show that 
to others, we must show it amongst ourselves.
  Congratulations and happy Independence Day to the United States of 
America and to all of those serving in the United States military. I 
thank them for their service. And to our fallen heroes, again to their 
families and for their loss and the loss of their lives, we will 
protect the freedom of this Nation.

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