[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 21]
[House]
[Page 29644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF ETHIOPIA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Honda) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HONDA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the passage of 
H. Res. 550, congratulating the people of Ethiopia on the second 
millennium of Ethiopia. I introduced this resolution, along with my 
colleague and fellow member of the Congressional Ethiopian American 
Caucus, Congressman Donald Payne.
  Ethiopia's calendar is based on the Orthodox Tewahedo calendar which 
is derived from the Julian calendar. The West follows the Gregorian 
calendar. On September 11 of this year, Ethiopians around the world 
celebrated a new millennium according to their official calendar.
  H. Res. 550 demonstrates congressional support for the Ethiopian 
American community, and I plan to use the attention surrounding the 
millennium to highlight priority issues, including political 
reconciliation and peace in the Horn of Africa.
  True reconciliation includes the speedy release of political 
prisoners and granting members of opposition parties the right to 
participate in a democratic society. Peace in that part of the word 
will have to involve a final demarcation and implementation of the 
border between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
  In the spirit of new beginnings, it is my hope that the Ethiopian 
Government and members of the political opposition take every necessary 
step toward true reconciliation. It is my hope that Eritrea and 
Ethiopia will come to a peaceful and fair resolution and finally be 
able to work together to encourage stability in the region.
  Members of the Congressional Ethiopian American Caucus are eager to 
use the millennium as an opportunity to bring national attention to 
Ethiopia, the original homes of hundred of thousands of Ethiopian 
Americans. Ethiopia is a symbol of freedom. It is a country with rich 
history and culture. Ethiopians made important contributions for the 
freedom of many African countries and fought courageously to defend its 
own.
  This resolution pays tribute to the many sacrifices made by 
Ethiopians over the centuries. In the wake of a tumultuous period in 
Ethiopian history, it was important for me to do more to increase 
visibility around this country that has meant so much to an important, 
but largely overlooked, minority constituency.
  We want to do more to show our appreciation to the Ethiopian American 
community for all that they continue to contribute to our society and, 
more importantly, to support their efforts to bring national attention 
to the issues that matter to them.
  Ethiopian Americans make up the second largest African immigrant 
community in the United States, with U.S.-Ethiopian relations initiated 
in 1903. Recognizing Ethiopia's role in the formation of a Pan-African 
movement and defeating colonial rule are key points in the resolution, 
and a significant aspect of Ethiopian identity.
  The resolution also recognizes the efforts of all those who organized 
the millennium celebrations. The African Union has already declared the 
Ethiopia Millennium as the African Millennium and acknowledges the 
critical role Ethiopia plays in keeping peace on the continent. I thank 
my colleagues for passing H. Res. 550, and I look forward to the Senate 
vote.

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