[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[House]
[Page 26266]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           DUTCH-AMERICAN DAY

  (Mr. HOEKSTRA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the more than 4.5 million 
Americans with Dutch roots who today, Dutch-American Day, reflect upon 
their heritage and the contributions of the Netherlands to the United 
States.
  In 1609, the industrious and seafaring Dutch settled the colony of 
New Netherlands and named their capital New Amsterdam. However, the 
influence of the early colonists was not limited to the shores of 
Manhattan, Breukelyn or even Lang Eylandt, Long Island as we know it 
today.
  Indeed, the colony ranged across the middle Atlantic region to cover 
parts of five States, including my own State of Michigan. Holland, 
Michigan may be a long way from my birthplace of Groningen in the 
Netherlands, but I still identify with my homeland.
  The ties between the Netherlands and the United States are 
significant and long-standing. Centuries before the U.S. Declaration of 
Independence, William of Orange--the Dutch version of George 
Washington--set forth his grievances with the ruling Spanish 
government.
  The grievances grew out of the Spanish government's tax policies and 
religious intolerance. Many years later, a similar scenario played out 
in the U.S., and Thomas Jefferson used the Dutch ``Proclamation of 
Abjuration'' as a model for the Declaration of Independence.
  The common bonds of freedom, human rights and democracy inspire my 
pride in my heritage. But the Netherlands is also a humble and gentle 
country filled with canals, windmills, and tulips. It is a very 
forward-looking, modern country with unparalleled innovations in 
electronics, medicine, logistics, agriculture, and technology.
  Today, the Dutch embassy will host a reception in the Rayburn foyer 
to honor Dutch-American Heritage Day. I encourage my colleagues and 
members of their staffs to join me at the event to celebrate the 
historical ties with the Netherlands.

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