[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 10227-10228]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   COMMEMORATING 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASCENSION TO THE THRONE OF HIS 
              MAJESTY KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ OF THAILAND

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 409) commemorating the 60th 
anniversary of the ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol 
Adulyadej of Thailand, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 409

       Whereas on June 9, 1946, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej 
     ascended the throne and this year celebrates his 60th year as 
     King of Thailand;
       Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol is the longest-serving 
     monarch in the world;
       Whereas on May 26, 2006, His Majesty King Bhumibol received 
     the inaugural special Human Development Lifetime Achievement 
     Award from the United Nations Development Agency for his 
     dedication to social justice, growth with equity, human 
     security, democratic governance, and sustainability;
       Whereas during the reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol, 
     Thailand has become a democratically governed constitutional 
     democracy in which Thai citizens enjoy the right to change 
     their government through periodic free and fair elections 
     held on the basis of universal suffrage;
       Whereas His Majesty King Bhumibol has enjoyed a special 
     relationship with the United States, having been born in 1927 
     in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where his father, Prince Mahidol 
     of Songkla, was studying medicine at the Harvard Medical 
     School;
       Whereas the United States and Thailand have enjoyed over 
     170 years of friendship since the signing of the Treaty of 
     Amity and Commerce in 1833, the first such treaty signed 
     between the United States and any Asian country;
       Whereas the United States and Thailand are treaty allies, 
     and on December 30, 2003, President George W. Bush designated 
     the Kingdom of Thailand as a major non-NATO ally; and
       Whereas the bonds of friendship and mutual respect are 
     strong between the United States and Thailand: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),
       (1) commemorates the 60th anniversary of the ascension to 
     the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of 
     Thailand;
       (2) offers its sincere congratulations to His Majesty King 
     Bhumibol and best wishes for continued prosperity to his 
     Majesty and the Kingdom of Thailand; and
       (3) looks forward to continued, enduring ties of friendship 
     between the Thai and American people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Iowa (Mr. Leach) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Iowa.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 409.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Iowa?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of this timely resolution honoring Thailand's long-
serving monarch, who commands enormous popular respect and moral 
authority among the Thai people.
  At the outset, I would like to express my appreciation to our 
distinguished ranking member, Mr. Lantos, as well as the gentleman from 
American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for their assistance and support in 
crafting this measure.
  As many Members are aware, Thailand is one of America's oldest and 
closest allies. Formal diplomatic relations extend back to the signing 
of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between our two nations in 1833, 
during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson. Since then, Thailand has been 
a steadfast friend and ally. Thai King Mongkut offered President 
Lincoln elephants to use in battle during the Civil War, and Thai 
troops fought alongside American soldiers in World War I, Korea, and 
Vietnam. Since 9/11, Thailand has provided overflight rights and access 
to facilities to facilitate U.S. and coalition efforts in Afghanistan, 
sent an engineering battalion to help rebuild Bagram airfield, and 
deployed nearly 500 troops to provide reconstruction and medical 
assistance in Iraq. President Bush recognized the importance of our 
alliance when he designated Thailand as a major nonNATO ally in 2003.
  Thailand and the United States also share robust commercial ties, 
with two-way trade totaling a little over $21 billion and cumulative 
U.S. investment in Thailand of over $20 billion. Our cultural and 
people-to-people ties are extensive and multifaceted, including more 
than 10,000 Thai students in institutions of learning in the United 
States. Indeed, our people-to-people ties even extend to His Majesty 
the King, who was born nearly 80 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 
where his father was studying medicine at the Harvard Medical School.
  Our two people also forged common bonds during times of tragedy; 
Americans will never forget the astounding generosity of the Thai 
people in assisting foreign survivors of the terrible tsunami of 2004, 
despite suffering devastating losses of their own.
  The tie that has been developed between the Thai people and the 
families from abroad who lost their fathers and mothers, sons and 
daughters while guests in Thailand during one of nature's most 
extraordinary acts, has solidified in mutual respect and humanitarian 
appreciation.
  As a congressional visitor in the wake of the tsunami, I could not 
have been more impressed with the thoughtfulness of the Thai 
government, and the stories of Thai goodwill extended to those who lost 
their loved ones.
  America and Thailand share many common vested interests and values, 
including a belief in democracy and human rights. Thailand enjoys a 
well-deserved reputation for tolerance, religious freedom and civil 
liberties. During the reign of the King, Thailand has become a 
democratically governed constitutional monarchy. Indeed, since 1992, 
there have been more than half a dozen national multiparty elections,

[[Page 10228]]

which transferred power to successive governments through peaceful, 
democratic processes.
  In this context, while the King has circumscribed constitutional 
powers, he also exerts strong informal influence, which he has used 
from time to time to resolve political disputes that jeopardize 
national stability.
  In closing, I would note that the resolution before us is being 
amended to reflect the fact that late last month, Secretary-General 
Kofi Annan presented the United Nations first Human Development 
Lifetime Achievement Award to the King, hailing the Thai monarch's 
efforts to help the poorest and most vulnerable people in his kingdom 
as an example for the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support for this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend my dear colleague and chairman of the 
Asia Pacific Subcommittee on International Relations, the distinguished 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach), for his authorship of this important 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, as the world's oldest democracy, the American Government 
rarely takes the time to mark important events in the lives of the 
world's few remaining monarchs. The key decisions affecting the 
livelihood of nations and the stability of the world system are made in 
the halls of parliaments and in the offices of presidents and prime 
ministers around the world.
  But a handful of the world's monarchs continue to play a critically 
important role in the lives of their nations, and are worthy of our 
praise and admiration. The King of Thailand is just such a monarch.
  As Thailand celebrates the 60th anniversary of the King's ascension 
to the throne, it is important to remember the King's many 
contributions to the prosperity and stability of our closest ally in 
Southeast Asia.
  While Thailand is governed by democratically elected parliament and 
prime minister, the King has kept a firm hand on the tiller of the 
nation.

                              {time}  1500

  After a military coup in 1992 in which hundreds of Thai citizens were 
killed in the streets of Bangkok, the King summoned the general to a 
nationally televised audience. The Thai people watched as the general 
crawled across a carpet to the feet of the monarch where he was 
promptly upbraided for his actions which threatened the stability of 
the nation. The general promptly resigned and democracy was restored.
  Just over the past few months the King again has played an important 
role in resolving a political crisis which had led to large street 
demonstrations in Bangkok. After strong words from the King, Thailand's 
judiciary moved to approve a new round of national elections in which 
all of the major political parties will participate.
  The King's ability to influence the outcome of these two events is 
directly related to the enormous esteem in which he is held by the good 
people of Thailand. The Thais, from all walks of life, greatly respect 
and admire the King and give much credence to his words as well as his 
actions.
  Thailand's democratic development under the King's leadership has 
greatly enhanced U.S.-Thai relations. Our two nations remain treaty 
allies, and Thailand was designated as a major non-NATO ally in 2003.
  Mr. Speaker, Thailand also made significant contributions to the 
reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq and has participated in many 
vital United Nations peacekeeping missions. Economic ties between the 
United States and Thailand have also grown significantly over the past 
decade.
  With the passage of this resolution, Congress not only commemorates 
the 60th anniversary of the King's ascension to the throne, it also 
celebrates the strength of the U.S.-Thai relationship and Thailand's 
many contributions to regional and international security.
  It has been my personal experience also, you know who your friends 
are, and I remember this as a Vietnam veteran, Thailand was there and 
stood with us.
  It might also be of interest to our colleagues, it so happens that 
the number one golfer in the world's mother is from Thailand, Mr. Tiger 
Woods.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I know that our relationship between our two 
nations could not be closer. And again, I commend the gentleman from 
Iowa for introducing this resolution.
  I also want to commend the chairman of our committee, Mr. Hyde, and 
our senior ranking member, Mr. Lantos, for their support and leadership 
in bringing this resolution to the floor.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 
409, Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the ascension to the throne 
of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand. This resolution 
honors His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, his accomplishments toward 
social justice, growth with equity, human security, democratic 
governance, and sustainability for his county and people, and the 
special relationship between the United States and Thailand.
  King Adulyadej led Thailand as it adopted a democratic form of 
government. This is an important accomplishment and one that is greatly 
valued by the United States. Thailand's commitment to strengthening its 
democracy is representative of the shared values between the people of 
our two countries.
  Also, Thailand's commitment to fighting terrorism in Asia and its 
cooperation in the Global War on Terror is further representative of 
the strong relationship between our governments. Further I commend King 
Adulyadej's dedication to social justice and human rights. That the 
United Nations is awarding him the Human Development Lifetime 
Achievement Award is representative of his leadership on these issues.
  The people of Guam join in celebrating the 60th anniversary of the 
ascension to the throne of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej of 
Thailand. We look forward to continued prosperity for both his Majesty 
and the people of Thailand. And it is my sincerest hope that the 
special relationship shared by our countries will grow stronger in the 
years to come.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEACH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Leach) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 409, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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