Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives in response to the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 372 and urge all of my colleagues to do so as well.

If it were not a violation of House rules, I would be pleased to recognize the presence in the Chamber of the distinguished Ambassador of Sweden, but since it is, I shall not do so.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to my lead cosponsors, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) and the many other cosponsors supporting this legislation.

Madam Speaker, many of our colleagues on the Committee on International Relations will remember as long as they live meeting, about a year ago, with Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We had an extraordinarily sophisticated and lively discussion on the broader spectrum of international issues. We disagreed on some matters and agreed on others, but I know all of us found her to be extremely impressive, charming and intelligent as the top foreign policy person, as our friend, Sweden.

Less than a year ago at the NATO summit in Prague, by chance my wife, Annette, and I were seated next to Foreign Minister Lindh at the banquet given in Prague Castle by the distinguished President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Havel. I simply cannot tell you how much I enjoyed the lively conversation these two extraordinary women had, both of them passionately committed to human rights and public service.

Madam Speaker, as my colleagues painfully know, just recently Anna Lindh was murdered by an assailant in a Stockholm department store. Her inexplicable and untimely tragic death was a shock to all of her countrymen in Sweden and to all of us who knew her and admired her and who have worked with her ever since she began her service as Foreign Minister of Sweden.

Her death was a blow to the peace-loving people of Sweden. The shock had an even greater impact, Madam Speaker, because former Swedish Prime Minister Olaf Palme, who had been Anna's role model, was murdered on a Stockholm street in 1986 under similar and still-unresolved circumstances.

Madam Speaker, House Resolution 372 expresses the condolences of the House of Representatives and of the American people to the family of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. We condemn all such senseless acts of violence against public officials, and we express our solidarity with the people of Sweden at this difficult time.

Madam Speaker, Anna was very young. She was a brilliant lawyer, who at age 37 became Minister for the Environment in Sweden, one of the most important cabinet posts in the Swedish Government, and at age 41 she became Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Madam Speaker, the distinguished Prime Minister of Sweden, Goran Persson made very poignant remarks at the memorial service for Anna which characterized her many gifts and talents.

I would like to share a few of Prime Minister Goran Persson's remarks during her eulogy.

``Anna Lindh lived out her vision for the world in her everyday life. She knew that good political leadership is about more than just lofty words. Anna Lindh believed in people. She believed in people as the remarkable beings they are, with an almost unlimited capacity to grow and to develop. She believed in people's inner-strength and potential, but she also knew how easily that strength can be lost. For Anna, people were at the core of every issue. Human rights were always her driving force. Violations and oppression were the opponents in the fight. Democracy was always the means and people were always the answer. That is the way she was, in big issues and small alike. She cared.''

Madam Speaker, I humbly ask for strong support of H. Res. 372, which sends our deepest condolences to Anna Lindh's family and to the people of Sweden, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in this effort.

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 372), expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives in response to the murder of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, this Member rises in support of H. Res. 372 expressing the condolences of the House in response to the death of Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh. As my colleagues will recall, Foreign Minister Lindh was senselessly attacked and murdered on September 10, 2003.

This Member commends the author of this resolution, his good friend and the ranking Democrat of the Committee on International Relations, the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for introducing this expression of our heartfelt sympathy to the people of Sweden on the loss of their foreign minister.

Although this Member did not have the pleasure and honor of meeting Foreign Minister Lindh, it is widely recognized that she represented the very best of Sweden. She was a strong advocate for her country as its leading diplomat.

Ms. Lindh possessed a passion for human rights and justice and was committed to world peace.

Throughout her tragically-shortened political career, Anna Lindh served as the head of the Social democrats youth movement, entered Parliament in 1982, became environment minister in 1994, and began serving as Foreign Minister in 1998. Many knowledgeable persons speculate that she would have been eventually serving as Sweden's Prime Minister.

As Foreign Minister, she worked tirelessly to promote a more active Sweden in international affairs and within the European Union. Over the past year, she became one of Sweden's strongest advocates for joining Europe's single currency.

Anna Lindh worked to have Sweden and NATO cooperate on defense matters, and she actively supported the admission of the Baltic states into both NATO and the European Union. And, of course, under her leadership, Sweden enjoyed friendly relations with the United States.

Madam Speaker, by her death, the people of Sweden, and of the world, have suffered the loss of a respected national leader.

In closing, the Member strongly urges passage of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor of this resolution expressing the House's condolences to the family of Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, to her many friends, and to the people of a country left a sadder place for her absence.

While her brutal murder shook the foundation of that proud and peaceful nation, it is her life--not her death--that is her legacy.

In only 46 years of life, Anna Lindh rapidly ascended the European political community to become one of its most capable, competent, and respected members. She was a singularly instrumental figure during the Swedish presidency of the European Union in 2001.

From joining the Swedish Social Democratic League at age 12, Ms. Lindh was destined for a career in public service. She was elected to the Swedish parliament the year she graduated from law school. She later became the Deputy Mayor of Stockholm, Minister of the Environment, and eventually, Foreign Minister.

The impact of her political skill and achievements touched people worldwide, most notably in the Balkans, where her remarkable talents helped prevent war in Macedonia.

Building coalitions was her calling, and her success in this critically important area earned the respect of leaders from around the globe. When asked once what he appreciated most about Sweden, our own Secretary Colin Powell once replied ``Abba, Volvo, and Anna.''

Anna Lindh truly epitomized a new generation of internationally- minded politicians. Her murder was a tragedy that cannot be forgotten, but it will not overshadow her achievements and her lasting contributions to the international community.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this important resolution. On behalf of more than 12,000 of my constituents of Swedish descent, I offer my sincere condolences.

Mr. Speaker, during rollcall vote No. 539 on H. Res. 372, expressing condolences for Swedish Foreign Minister Anna Lindh, I was unavoidably detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yea.''

Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.