[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. TIMOTHY V. JOHNSON

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 18, 2005

  Mr. JOHNSON of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, unfortunately today, July 18, 
2005, I was delayed at O'Hare Airport due to severe thunderstorms in 
between Chicago and Washington, DC. I was stuck on the runway for hours 
and unfortunately I was unable to arrive in Washington before the votes 
occurred on H. Res. 328 (Rollcall No. 380), H. Con. Res. 175 (Rollcall 
No. 381), and H. Res. 364 (Rollcall No. 382). Had I been here to cast 
my votes, I would have voted ``aye'' on these three bills and wish the 
Record to reflect as such.
  H. Res. 328 recognizes the 25th anniversary of the workers' strikes 
in Poland in 1980, starting a chain of events that helped destroy the 
communist rule of Poland and the Soviet Union. The courage and strength 
of those workers showed the world that democracy can, will and must be 
allowed to flourish. The freedoms these workers strived for and vision 
that helped create the Solidarity Trade Union are freedoms that are 
fundamental to every human being and I rise today to honor these 
workers and the courage that they showed. May their example show other 
oppressed citizens throughout the world that there. is hope and 
freedom.
  H. Con. Res. 175 expresses the sense that Congress recognizes and 
honors African descendants in the Americas for their contributions to 
the economic, social, and cultural fabric of the countries in the 
Americas, particularly in Latin American and Caribbean societies. It 
recognizes that as a result of their skin color and ancestry, African 
descendants in the Americas have wrongfully experienced economic, 
social, and political injustices. For far too long these injustices 
have continued and this bill is a great show of Congress that we will 
no longer stand for it and we must continue to promote ways to destroy 
barriers and racial injustices that divide our citizens and the 
citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean. I rise in strong support 
of this resolution.
  H. Res. 364 commends the continuing improvement in relations between 
the United States and the Republic of India. With Prime Minister 
Manmohan Singh in Washington this week to meet with the President and 
address us in a joint session of Congress, I can think of nothing 
better than to recognize the relations our two countries have recently 
been fostering. I would like to take this time to welcome Prime 
Minister Singh and look forward to working with him to see that our 
relations with him and his country continue to progress.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you again for allowing me to express my support 
for these three bills as I was unfortunately delayed on my way to 
Washington.

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