[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 653 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
June 14, 2004.
Whereas President George Herbert Walker Bush served as the Forty-First President
of the United States and brought to the White House a dedication to
traditional American values and a commitment to use American strength as
a force for good;
Whereas, during his Presidency, the Communist empire dissolved, the Soviet Union
ceased to exist, and the Berlin Wall fell;
Whereas, during his Presidency, American troops overthrew the corrupt regime of
General Manuel Noriega;
Whereas President George H.W. Bush rallied the United States people, the United
Nations, and Congress and sent over 500,000 American military personnel,
who were joined by approximately 200,000 military and other personnel
from allied nations, as part of Operation Desert Storm, to defeat Iraqi
President Saddam Hussein's million-man army which invaded Kuwait and
threatened to move into Saudi Arabia;
Whereas President Bush and his very able Secretary of State secured military and
financial support from the United Nations, resulting in many nations
participating, for the first time ever, in paying their share of the
cost of a major war;
Whereas, during World War II, George H.W. Bush answered the call to duty by
enlisting in the armed forces on his 18th birthday, becoming the
youngest pilot in the Navy when he received his wings, and flying 58
combat missions, including being shot down by Japanese antiaircraft fire
and rescued by a United States submarine, for which he was awarded,
among other decorations, the Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery in
action;
Whereas George H.W. Bush continued his commitment to public service by serving
two terms as a Representative in the United States Congress from Texas,
serving as Ambassador to the United Nations, Chairman of the Republican
National Committee, Chief of the United States Liaison Office in the
People's Republic of China, and Director of the Central Intelligence
Agency;
Whereas George H.W. Bush campaigned for the Republican nomination for President
in 1980 and thereafter was chosen by Ronald Reagan to be his running
mate, and subsequently served as Vice President of the United States
with responsibility for several domestic areas, including Federal
deregulation and anti-drug programs; and
Whereas, in 1988, George H.W. Bush won the Republican nomination for President
and was elected as the Forty-First President of the United States,
probably brought the greatest portfolio to the office of the Presidency
since Thomas Jefferson, and served our Nation for four years with
distinction and integrity: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors former President George
H.W. Bush on the occasion of his 80th birthday on June 12, 2004, extends its
congratulations and best wishes to him and to his family, former First Lady
Barbara Bush, and his children, President George W. Bush, the Honorable Jeb
Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, and Dorothy Bush Koch, and pays tribute to his
lifetime of service on behalf of the Nation.
Attest:
Clerk.