[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 238-239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 REQUEST FOR JOINT MEETING OF CONGRESS

  (Mr. ROHRABACHER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, one of the great honors this body can 
bestow upon a foreign leader is an invitation to address a joint 
meeting of Congress.
  As co-chairman of the Friends of Egypt Caucus, Tulsi Gabbard and I 
have delivered a letter today to the Speaker of the House, Paul D. 
Ryan, urging him to invite Egyptian President el-Sisi to give such an 
address.
  General el-Sisi came to power amidst chaos and restored order to his 
country. He was then democratically elected as President of Egypt. He 
is a pivotal figure in the Middle East during this time of great 
danger. He is a champion of the Egyptian people and a friend to the 
people of the United States.
  Most importantly, he is a voice for respect and reconciliation 
between people of all faiths. Thus, he is a force for peace and 
stability in a region plagued with terrorism and religious persecution. 
He and the people of Egypt have earned our moral and strategic support.
  I will include in the Record the official request that the Friends of 
Egypt Caucus have made to Speaker Ryan to invite President el-Sisi to 
be invited to address a joint meeting of Congress.

                                Congress of the United States,

                                  Washington, DC, January 8, 2016.
     Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
     Speaker of the House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Speaker: As co-chairs of the Friends for Egypt 
     Caucus we request that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah elSisi 
     be invited to address a Joint Meeting of Congress during the 
     second session of the 114th Congress.
       Egypt under President el-Sisi's leadership is playing a 
     pivotal role in North Africa and the Middle East. Egypt is a 
     bulwark against a barbaric and fanatic Islamic state and its 
     ilk. El Sisi's courage and commitment to peace and stability 
     is a dramatic and positive force that deserves to be 
     recognized. His call for tolerance and respect of people of 
     all religions has been a dramatic step towards reconciliation 
     and stability in the Middle

[[Page 239]]

     East. His visits to Christian gatherings have been historic 
     and worthy of praise by all people of good will.
       The United States and Egypt have had a long and mutually 
     beneficial relationship. We need to bolster relations between 
     our people now in this time of crisis and radical terrorist 
     attacks in the region and throughout the world.
       Having President el Sisi address the United States Congress 
     would be a message to the world of our solidarity with 
     moderate Muslim leaders who share our goal of a more peaceful 
     and stable world. His appearance before a Joint Meeting of 
     Congress will underscore our gratitude for his leadership in 
     this time of turmoil.
       We appreciate your consideration of this request.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Dana Rohrabacher,
                                               Member of Congress.
                                                    Tulsi Gabbard,
     Member of Congress.

                          ____________________