[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 13234]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          HELPING REFUGEES REBUILD--INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

  (Mr. HULTGREN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today, on International Day of 
Peace, to applaud the efforts of Connect2Peace, the Peace Coalition the 
Rock River Valley, to draw attention to the plight of children and 
refugees whose lives have been forever disrupted by war.
  Tonight, Rockford University and Connect2Peace will host a 
conversation on ``How to Help Refugees Rebuild their World,'' featuring 
Melissa Fleming, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
  As chief spokesperson, Ms. Fleming speaks around the world on behalf 
of the more than 65 million vulnerable and voiceless people, half of 
which are children who are displaced from their homes by war, conflict, 
and persecution.
  Helping refugees rebuild amid war and poverty is difficult and 
complicated, but there is hope. Groups like Kids Around the World in 
Rockford have stepped in to feed children and help them enjoy their 
disrupted childhood through donated playground sets.
  People like Denny Johnson, founder of Kids Around the World, and U.N. 
Commissioner Melissa Fleming work tirelessly to bring hope into 
seemingly hopeless situations.
  As an executive committee member for the Tom Lantos Human Rights 
Commission, today I urge us to pray and act for peace in our world.

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