[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 10243-10244]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    AUTHORIZING USE OF ROTUNDA FOR CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 37) authorizing the use of the 
rotunda of the United States Capitol in commemoration of the Shimon 
Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 37

       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring),

     SECTION 1. USE OF THE ROTUNDA OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL IN 
                   COMMEMORATION OF THE SHIMON PERES CONGRESSIONAL 
                   GOLD MEDAL CEREMONY.

       (a) Authorization.--The rotunda of the United States 
     Capitol is authorized to be used on June 26, 2014, for the 
     commemoration of the award of the Congressional Gold Medal to 
     Shimon Peres.
       (b) Preparations.--Physical preparations for the conduct of 
     the ceremony described in subsection (a) shall be carried out 
     in accordance with such conditions as may be prescribed by 
     the Architect of the Capitol.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Mississippi (Mr. Harper) and the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. 
Kennedy) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on the 
Senate concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Mississippi?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate concurrent resolution 
permitting the use of the rotunda of the United States Capitol in 
commemoration of the Shimon Peres Congressional Gold Medal ceremony.
  The presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal is a physical 
recognition given by Congress to express our Nation's highest 
appreciation for an individual's distinguished achievements and 
contributions. The man we rise to discuss today is one who has many 
significant achievements and who holds a lifelong extraordinary record 
of public service.
  Israeli President Shimon Peres was born in Poland in 1923, in a town 
which is now a part of Belarus. To escape the persecution of the Jewish 
people there at the time, he and his family immigrated to Palestine in 
1934. There, Peres took up his calling for public service, and in 1947, 
he joined the Zionist Party, led by David Ben Gurion.
  Once Israel achieved its independence in 1948, Peres was appointed to 
the head of Israel's navy and rose to become the Minister of Defense. 
Peres went on to serve in several high-level positions in the cabinet 
of Israel's government.
  His career spans more than 70 years, including serving as Prime 
Minister twice and, now, as President of Israel. Throughout his career, 
he has been an integral hand in guiding his nation into the future.
  His long career is marked by numerous events where Peres exercised 
his determination for peace. In 1993, Peres participated in secret 
negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis, which are known as 
the Oslo Accords, an agreement that was designed to reconcile both 
Israelis and Palestinians.
  The next year, he was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his 
role serving as lead negotiator for Israel, while he served as Foreign 
Minister during these negotiations.
  Peres is a statesman who has dedicated most of his life to the 
service of others. He has worked for the betterment of his nation where 
he lives, and he has taken seriously the calling and responsibilities 
of what it means to be a member on the world stage.
  This was no more apparent than earlier this month, when Peres joined 
Pope Francis and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in 
praying for peace at the Vatican and offered his own invocation:

       Without peace, we are not complete. We have yet to achieve 
     this mission of humanity. Even when peace seems distant, we 
     must pursue it to bring it closer.

  The United States has a longstanding and close relationship with the 
people of Israel. Israel is our friend and closest ally in the Middle 
East. Through President Peres' leadership, this relationship and our 
international cooperation has only deepened and persevered.
  Our two nations stand shoulder to shoulder when it comes to our 
commitments towards the pursuit of peace, democracy, liberty, and the 
furthering of human rights.
  Later this month, on June 26, the Congress will meet together to 
honor this man--a man who has set an example of courage and 
perseverance for us all--and award him with the Congressional Gold 
Medal. It is fitting to present him with Congress' most prestigious 
award as a sign of our deep respect and admiration.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to start, Mr. Speaker, by thanking my colleague from 
Mississippi for coming down to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, this simple resolution, which passed the Senate by 
unanimous consent last week, would authorize the use of the Capitol 
rotunda for a ceremony to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon 
Peres. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian 
honors; and Shimon Peres, Israel's President, is most deserving of this 
noteworthy award.
  During a recent trip to Israel last year, I had the distinct honor of 
meeting President Peres who, even at 90 years of age, is as devoted as 
ever to a strong and unbreakable bond between our two nations.
  Awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Shimon Peres will put him in 
a distinguished category of only nine individuals who have ever been 
awarded both the Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of 
Freedom, which President Obama awarded Peres in 2012. Of the dual 
medalists, four are also Nobel Peace Prize laureates, an honor also 
bestowed on President Peres.
  The resolution before us today is particularly timely, as President 
Peres is scheduled to visit the United States next week. With passage 
of this resolution, Congress will be able to hold the commemoration 
ceremony with him in attendance.
  I would also like to take this time, Mr. Speaker, to thank the 
hardworking folks at the U.S. Mint, who have been working around the 
clock to be sure the medal will be ready on time.
  Also, I thank the staff on the Financial Services Committee and 
members of leadership from both sides of the aisle in the House and the 
Senate, as well as their staff, for their support.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, I would add that, throughout Israeli 
President Peres' Presidency and decades of service, he has stood as the 
Israeli people's unifying figure and upholder of the nation's moral 
compass. No one could have embodied those attributes more fully than 
Peres.
  As he ends his term as President, our Nation joins his in thanking 
him for his honorable service and his unfailing humanitarian efforts.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Harper) that the House suspend the

[[Page 10244]]

rules and concur in the concurrent resolution, S. Con. Res. 37.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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