[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 3753]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




THANKING INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCING THE MARCH OF 
                                FREEDOM

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, one of my life goals in 
public service has been to promote democracy and freedom throughout the 
world. A leading proponent of this goal is the International Republican 
Institute, widely revered as IRI. Founded in 1983, this visionary 
nonprofit organization responded to President Ronald Reagan's call in 
1982 that ``we must be staunch in our conviction that freedom is not 
the sole prerogative of a lucky few, but the inalienable and universal 
right of all human beings.''
  IRI has advanced the march of freedom by teaching nations recovering 
from Communist and authoritarian totalitarian regimes how to self-
govern through the rule of law. IRI adheres to the fundamental American 
principles of individual freedom, equal opportunity, and 
entrepreneurial spirit that foster economic development.
  I have seen IRI's success firsthand in Bulgaria, as I joined a 
delegation to observe their first free elections since victory in the 
Cold War. They have democracy efforts in 56 countries, including Iraq, 
Afghanistan, China, Slovakia, and Russia.
  I want to personally thank IRI's president, George A. Folsom, for his 
commitment to bringing the hope of freedom to people all over the 
world.
  In conclusion, may God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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