[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2100
IN SUPPORT OF H. CON. RES. 322, RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
                 FOUNDING OF THE MODERN STATE OF ISRAEL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Space). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Garrett) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise now to honor an ally 
who has stood with us in the global war on terrorism. An ally who knows 
what it's like to fight for peace and for freedom. An ally that 
continues to pursue liberty even amid increased threats. That ally is 
Israel.
  A millennia ago the Israelites providentially escaped from captivity 
in Egypt. That event is remembered this week as Jews around the world 
celebrate Passover. Yet their struggles, of course, did not end after 
Moses' leadership.
  Less than 10 decades ago, Israel was one of the most violent spots on 
the planet as various governments sought to destroy the fledgling 
nation. Today, just 60 years after its establishment, Israel has 
prospered and contributed to the economic, scientific, medical, and 
agricultural success of nations both in the Middle East and around the 
world.
  I am a proud cosponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 322, which 
recognizes the 60th anniversary of the founding of the modern State of 
Israel, and it reaffirms the bonds of close friendship and cooperation 
between the United States and Israel.
  Tonight I also want to recognize Israel's achievement in one 
particular area as well, and that is agriculture. And maybe it's 
fitting, with Earth Day here, this topic is especially relevant.
  Israel is 60 percent desert, and yet scientists have found innovative 
farming methods that have allowed the desert there to bloom. Not only 
has Israel shared its newfound knowledge with the United States, but 
they have also shared technology and techniques with other nations 
which contain desert regions.
  For example, the world's first surface drip irrigation system was 
developed in a Kibbutz near Beersheba in the 1960s. It was after an 
Israeli water engineer noticed a hedge that was noticeably different, 
healthier and taller. The man, Simcha Blass, used his discovery to 
create an irrigation device that uses friction and water pressure loss 
to leak drops of water at regular intervals. So today fruits and 
vegetable growers in many dry areas around the world use this drip 
irrigation method thanks to Israel.
  In addition, scientists in Israel have developed genetically 
modified, disease-resistant fruits like bananas and peppers and other 
crops. These fruits and vegetables help expand the world's supply of 
food and maintain low prices at grocery stores here and abroad.
  Since the 1970s Israel has partnered with the U.S. in several joint 
scientific ventures, including the Bi-national Agricultural Research 
Development Fund, BARD. This group basically focuses on enhancing 
agricultural productivity.
  Israel has also pioneered advances in desalination. It was in Eilat, 
an arid city located at the intersection of the desert and the Red Sea, 
and it used to be a really barren settlement due to shortages in the 
water supply. Back then visitors had to bring their own water and wash 
their laundry in buckets. But today residents own swimming pools, plant 
flower gardens, and relax in shaded, grassy yards. It is due to 
desalination, and now the city is self-sufficient in maintaining its 
own water supply.
  Desalination, which turns seawater into freshwater by separating 
salty compounds from water molecules, is now being considered here in 
the U.S. in places like Georgia and Texas and Florida. And according to 
the International Desalination Association, desalination makes up more 
than half of the freshwater used in the Middle East and North Africa, 
again thanks to Israel.
  Clearly, Israel has demonstrated expertise in agricultural 
innovation. And as representative of the great State of New Jersey's 
Fifth District, which is home to many small farms, and New Jersey is 
called the Garden State, I appreciate Israel's agricultural 
developments and its willingness to disseminate research and to share 
that across international boundaries.
  So I conclude simply by saying I salute Israel on its anniversary and 
its many achievements, and I thank that nation for making that nation 
what it is and for making the United States a better country as well.

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