[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18177-18178]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING GRATITUDE TO CITIES OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND NEW YORK 
    CITY, NEW YORK, FOR HOSTING 2004 NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTIONS

  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 765) expressing gratitude to the cities of Boston, 
Massachusetts, and New York City, New York, for their extraordinary 
hospitality and successful planning and hosting of the 2004 national 
political conventions.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 765

       Whereas the Democratic National Convention was held from 
     July 26 through July 29, 2004, in Boston, Massachusetts;
       Whereas the Republican National Convention was held from 
     August 30 through September 2, 2004, in New York City, New 
     York;
       Whereas Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the Boston 2004 Host 
     Committee, and the people of Boston, including a large number 
     of dedicated volunteers, were extremely gracious in their 
     hospitality;
       Whereas Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, the New York City Host 
     Committee 2004, and the people of New York City, including a 
     large number of dedicated volunteers, were extremely gracious 
     in their hospitality;
       Whereas Police Commissioner Kathleen M. O'Toole and the 
     entire Boston Police Department went to extraordinary lengths 
     to keep Boston safe throughout the duration of the Democratic 
     Convention;
       Whereas Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and the entire 
     New York City Police Department went to extraordinary lengths 
     to keep New York safe throughout the duration of the 
     Republican Convention;
       Whereas countless city, State, regional, and nationwide 
     agencies cooperated to ensure the safety of each Convention, 
     including the United States Capitol Police, which assisted 
     the local jurisdictions, and the United States Secret 
     Service, which coordinated Federal anti-terrorism and 
     counter-terrorism assets for each of the Conventions as 
     National Security Special Events;
       Whereas Members of Congress, delegates from across the 
     Nation, and other interested parties participated in the 
     Conventions and benefited from the secure environments; and
       Whereas millions of Americans watched, heard, or read about 
     the Conventions and thereby participated in our national 
     political process: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives thanks, pays 
     tribute to, and expresses gratitude to all of those who 
     assisted in the significant hospitality, logistical, and 
     security efforts to successfully execute the 2004 national 
     political conventions in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York 
     City, New York.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Ohio (Mr. Ney) and the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney).
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 765, and I 
am joined on the floor by our ranking member, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Larson); and it is good to be here to express the 
gratitude of the House of Representatives to the cities of Boston, 
Massachusetts, and New York, New York, for their extraordinary 
hospitality and successful planning and hosting of the 2004 national 
political conventions.
  Mr. Speaker, I think I speak for everyone in the House in thanking 
the people of the cities of Boston and New York, their cities' host 
committees, and the countless volunteers for making both cities open 
and welcoming to the many Members of the Congress, delegates from 
across the Nation, and all other interested parties who participated in 
our great conventions.
  Special recognition needs to go to the Boston Police Department and 
the New York City Police Department, whose professionalism and constant 
vigilance guaranteed not only the safety of the residents they 
routinely protect on a day-by-day basis but the many visitors who 
attended the conventions.
  In addition, we have to thank the countless city, State, regional and 
nationwide agencies who cooperated to ensure the safety of everyone 
involved with both conventions. I would also like to recognize the 
exceptional efforts of the hundreds of United States Capitol Police 
Officers who provided around-the-clock security for all Members during 
the convention and who coordinated, of course, with the Secret Service, 
the FBI and, again, the New York City Police Department. And we cannot 
forget the firefighters in both New York and Boston that were on hand.
  So I am here on a bipartisan basis, though I would note, Mr. Speaker, 
for the record, I did not see my colleague, the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Larson), at the New York convention. But I am glad to 
be with him here tonight to thank both cities and everyone involved in 
both conventions.

[[Page 18178]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), my brilliant co-chair. And I also did 
not see him at the Boston convention; but, nonetheless, he would have 
been welcome, as was everybody there.
  This is indeed a moment for us to celebrate the outstanding job that 
was done both in Boston and New York, led by Mayors Thomas Menino and 
Michael Bloomberg, respectively. Their tireless efforts to make the 
2004 major-party conventions such successful events are deeply 
appreciated.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the two police commissioners, Kathleen O'Toole 
of Boston and Raymond Kelly of New York, now there is diversity for 
you, for making it possible for the delegates to nominate their 
candidates, which of course is the purpose of the convention.
  I also want to thank the thousands of other public employees who 
helped to make this possible, not only the Boston and New York 
municipal governments but also at all levels, Federal, State, and 
local; and of course as the chairman has already pointed out, the 
outstanding job that was done by our Capitol Police and all the 
security that went into these two wonderful events.
  I would especially like to thank the Massachusetts delegation for the 
hospitality that they provided for each and every one of us, and of 
course their two great Senators, Senator Kennedy, for which this was a 
homecoming, and Senator Kerry as well, who was featured prominently in 
Boston as well, and our outstanding House delegation here from Boston 
as well. So I thank the chairman and join him in these remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to 
say that I am sure the minority leader, the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Pelosi), did a wonderful job at the convention in Boston; and as 
far as our convention in New York, I want to thank the Speaker and also 
Scott Palmer, Ted Van Der Meid, and Bill Pitts, who did the rules and 
carried out the process at the convention and service to the Members.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Reynolds).
  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the cities and 
residents of Boston and New York City for their tremendous efforts in 
hosting this year's national political conventions. With two of the 
Nation's most historic and vibrant cities as their backdrops, the 
Democrat and Republican conventions were both great successes.
  Boston and New York have long been known as centers of culture, 
education, and heritage. After this summer's conventions, it is 
apparent why they are also recognized for their hospitality, charm, and 
warm spirit. As tens of thousands of delegates, elected officials, 
volunteers, and tourists converged on these great cities, countless 
others worked behind the scenes and on the front lines to make sure 
programs ran smoothly and safely. These individuals labored tirelessly, 
not just during the conventions but for several weeks prior, crossing 
every ``T'' and dotting every ``I.''
  These events would not have been possible without the efforts of 
everyone involved. A special thanks to those at the city, State, and 
regional, as well as national, levels who coordinated and secured the 
safety of Boston and New York. This includes, of course, the city 
police and fire departments, the United States Secret Service, the 
United States Capitol Police, and numerous other agencies that 
coordinated protective services for both convention-goers and city 
residents alike.
  As the first political conventions held in the post-9/11 world, our 
police, firefighters, and first responders faced security risks never 
before envisioned. True to their great reputations, the respective 
agencies of New York and Boston exhibited consummate professionalism 
and ensured the safety and security of all those attending and visiting 
these greats cities.
  Those accolades extend as well to our Capitol Police and those 
Federal agencies that worked side by side with their brethren in New 
York and Boston to ensure a seamless coordination.
  Mr. Speaker, the cities of Boston and New York have long represented 
the freedoms and liberty that nurtured democracy in this country. 
Today, several hundred years later, one of the best enduring examples 
of these fundamental rights is the ability to participate in the 
political process. National political conventions provide a forum for 
this participation like no other.
  To all those who helped make the conventions possible, and to the 
gracious residents of Boston and New York, I wish to extend a heartfelt 
thanks on behalf of the House for helping to foster greater political 
participation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join 
me in expressing gratitude to the cities of Boston and New York.
  Mr. NEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, House Resolution 765.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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