[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10755-10756]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE BEGINNING OF THE DIAMOND JUBILEE FOR THE ISMAILI 
                            MUSLIM COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 12, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
commemorate the beginning of the Diamond Jubilee for the North Texas 
lsmaili Muslim community, and the broader Ismaili Muslim community 
across the world.
  On July 11, 1957, The Aga Khan became the 49th hereditary Imam of the 
Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili Muslims. In these past six decades, the Aga 
Khan has guided the world's 15

[[Page 10756]]

million Ismaili Muslims in both their spiritual and material lives, 
providing religious interpretation, ensuring their safety, and 
improving the quality of life for the community.
  While serving as the leader of the Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan has 
also played a major role in the philanthropic arena. The Aga Khan 
Foundation, established by the Aga Khan in 1967, works on projects such 
as disaster relief and historical restoration of cities and artifacts 
through the various programs in the Aga Khan Development Network. The 
AKDN along with its partners across the globe provides quality 
education and healthcare, along with promoting social and economic 
development to some of the world's most impoverished and isolated 
communities.
  The Ismaili Muslim community has contributed greatly to the cultural 
diversification and economic development in North Texas. Their 
volunteers have served the North Texas community by participating in 
local cleanups efforts after severe weather. The volunteers have also 
worked alongside other faith based groups and local nonprofits to 
provide meals to those who are less fortunate.
  Mr. Speaker, the Diamond Jubilee presents an opportunity to the 
Ismaili Muslim community to reaffirm their faith and serve the 
communities in which they live through various programs established by 
the Aga Khan. I congratulate the Aga Khan and the Ismaili Muslim 
community on this momentous milestone.

                          ____________________