[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11725]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              MANDELA DAY

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, today, I want to wish a happy 95th birthday 
to President Nelson Mandela and ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the fifth annual Mandela International Day.
  It is a day on which we celebrate the incredible dedication of 
President Mandela and his gifts of leadership to South Africa and to 
the world. In fact, in the face of extreme adversity, he relentlessly 
fought for democracy and peace in South Africa, and has become a model 
of leadership for me and for millions around the globe.
  Last night, I had the pleasure of meeting youngsters from all over 
South Africa at the South Africa-Washington International Program 
Forum. Because of President Mandela, these youngsters and many others 
have dedicated themselves to public service and to carrying on his 
vision of spreading peace, democracy and diversity.
  Presidential Mandela has proven that one person can change the tide 
of oppression, that one person can change the course of an entire 
country and, in turn, of the entire world. People all around the globe 
who are suffering from oppression, hatred, and discrimination will 
forever be grateful for the incredible leadership of Nelson Mandela.
  Happy birthday, Madiba.

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