[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 28269]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR IRAQI ELECTION

  (Mr. BASS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BASS. Mr. Speaker, today I commend and congratulate the Iraqi 
people on the occasion of the election which is going to be held there 
tomorrow. This election represents not only the successful liberation 
of the Iraqi people from decades of tyranny and oppression but it also 
is a great leap forward in solidifying democratic institutions in Iraq.
  Perhaps more than our Constitution, our flag or our national anthem, 
it is our elections that best display the enduring success of our 
American democracy. From the formation of political parties and 
ideologies to spirited debates on critical issues, it is the symbolic 
act of casting ballots that continues to make our democracy a beacon of 
freedom and prosperity to the global community.
  The Iraqi people will now have the opportunity to comprehend what 
Americans have learned over two centuries, that nations are more stable 
and more peace loving when a multitude of voices share in its 
operation.
  I am confident that democracy will continue to flourish as Iraqis 
make their opinions heard, rally in support of their visions, and 
experience for the first time the many liberties that Americans hold 
dear.

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