[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20174-20175]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1015
                            THANKS TO QATAR

  (Mr. ROHRABACHER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 
we as a people should take note of those who immediately rushed forward 
to help. As a senior member of the International Relations Committee, I 
rise today to express my personal gratitude as well as that of my 
fellow Americans to the royal family and to the people of Qatar who 
once again demonstrated their generosity, friendship, and solidarity 
with the people of the United States at a time of our maximum 
suffering.
  When it really counted, Qatar stepped forward with a generous gift of 
$100 million to the American victims of Hurricane Katrina.
  Qatar is a small country, yet it must rank near the top of America's 
list of friends and allies. With the leadership

[[Page 20175]]

of a thoughtful and progressive royal family, Qatar is building 
democratic institutions including elections, freedom of press and 
religion, and a recognition of the rights of women.
  Furthermore, after 9/11, our military was permitted to establish its 
headquarters in Qatar, which is vital to the safety of our troops and 
the success of America's operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
  Thank you, Qatar. You have proven to be friends when we needed you 
the most, and we will not forget it.

                          ____________________