Commending the Government of Portugal and the Portuguese people for their long-standing friendship, stalwart leadership, and unwavering support of the United States in the effort to combat international terrorism.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 688. Mr. Speaker, this important resolution commends the government of Portugal and the people of Portugal for the long-time friendship and support in the war on international terrorism.

I would like to thank my California colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) for introducing this important initiative.

Mr. Speaker, the United States and Portugal have shared a long history of friendship and mutual support. I owe a special personal debt of gratitude to Portugal because of my wife, Annette. Portuguese consuls in several European capitals during the second World War extended protections to Jews, including in my own native city of Budapest, Hungary. Portuguese Consul General Branquinho together with the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg were responsible for saving the life of my wife, Annette, during that period.

Portugal admitted thousands of Jewish refugees during 1940 and 1941 and allowed rescue organization to operate in Lisbon. One of the heroes of the Holocaust was the Portuguese Consul General in Bordeaux, France, Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who issued as many as 10,000 Portuguese transit visas to refugees stranded in France in order that they might cross the Spanish frontier. In spite of the fact that he did not have his country's support for that action at that time, he courageously did the right thing and made a difference in saving the lives of so many potential Holocaust victims.

I am particularly grateful to the current government of Portugal for their steadfast support of the United States in our fight against terrorism. Portugal has not only committed military personnel to fight against terrorism but also medical teams, police and others to assist in this effort.

Portugal, our NATO ally, has authorized our forces to use their air base in the Azores for strategic staging, which is particularly critical in the War on Terrorism.

Portugal is truly a friend who has stepped up to the plate to help the United States and the rest of the civilized community of nations many times and in many ways. We are grateful to have such a strong and steadfast ally, and we have every expectation and desire that the friendship between Portugal and the United States will continue to grow and to flourish for many years to come. I strongly support passage of this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 688) commending the Government of Portugal and the Portuguese people for their long-standing friendship, stalwart leadership, and unwavering support of the United States in the effort to combat international terrorism, as amended.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 688. This resolution was introduced by the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes). House Resolution 688 commends the government of Portugal and the Portuguese people for their long-standing friendship with the United States and their unwavering support in the effort to combat international terrorism. Portugal has been a resolute and steadfast ally of the United States for many years.

As an important friend and ally, Portugal has recently exercised leadership within Europe in confronting terrorism and the threats of a post-September 11 world. Portugal has sent soldiers, medical teams, police and other personnel to Iraq and has continued to authorize the use of Lajes Air Base in the Azores for strategic staging and other requirements in the global war on terrorism.

Indeed, the government of Portugal and the Portuguese people have committed a significant array of their country's resources to fight the terrorist threat all over the world.

The support of the government of Portugal and the Portuguese people is of paramount importance to the United States, and we would like to recognize that tonight.

Portugal and the people of Portugal deserve to be commended, and I commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes) for his efforts in bringing this resolution to the House floor tonight. I urge the adoption of this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mario Diaz-Balart).

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 688, which I drafted myself along with my good friends and colleagues, the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza).

The purpose of this House resolution is to thank the Portuguese people for their steadfast support in the War on Terrorism. This is particularly important to me because, being an American of Portuguese decent, I am proud to see our two countries stand shoulder to shoulder in the fight for freedom and democracy. Portugal was there to support the United States from the first hour of terrorism and continues to stand with us in our effort to bring peace and democracy to Iraq.

Thanks to their courageous and valiant leadership, Portugal has continued to help our coalition forces not only in the Middle East but in Africa and Southeast Asia. From working with our intelligence agencies and also to allowing us to use the important Lajes Air Force base in the Azores, Portugal has never wavered when asked to support military missions abroad. In this day and age, the need for such a steadfast partner is key to our Nation's, and the entire free world's, fight against global terrorism.

I would also like to thank the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), and others for taking an interest in this important piece of legislation.

I think it is also appropriate at this time to thank and congratulate now the former Prime Minister Barroso, who has been a steadfast ally of the United States, for his new appointment as head of the EU.

So, with that, Mr. Speaker, I thank the committee members again for their help on this.

Mr. Speaker, during the 60th anniversary of the U.S. Air Base in the Azores, the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes) led the Congressional delegation to that event. He did a masterful job.

At that time, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza) was also involved in that delegation; and I was

privileged to join these two gentlemen in that trip. I was able to see firsthand the incredible cooperation that exists between the United States and Portugal. Also, the respect, the friendship, the close ties that the people of Portugal have with us here in the United States.

I am incredibly grateful and all of us have to be incredibly grateful for the way that Portugal has been such a steadfast ally of the United States throughout many, many years. But particularly now in these very difficult times in this war against international terrorism, they have been strong allies. They have been courageous allies.

I am extremely grateful to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen) and also in particular to the gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), the gentleman from California (Mr. Cardoza), and the gentleman from California (Mr. Pombo) for this opportunity to thank the people of Portugal for their leadership, for their courage, for their friendship in these very difficult times.

When we need them the most, the people of Portugal said, we are here. We cannot forget. I want to thank these wonderful Members of Congress and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for giving us the opportunity to also say ``thank you.''

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 688; and I want to just commend my colleague, the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Nunes), for his offering up this amendment.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa of the Committee on International Relations, I can attest to the importance of Portugal engagement not only in Africa on the War on Terror but also, as a member of the Committee on International Relations, we have seen their engagement in Europe and in Southeast Asia. They have been at the vanguard of confronting terrorism and confronting the threats that we in the entire world community have faced post-September 11. They have continued to allow the United States access and use of the Lajes Air Base, and we are deeply appreciative of that but also certainly very appreciative of the friendship that Portugal has shown the United States.

We want to commend the people of Portugal and, at the same time, we also want to recognize in this resolution the many contributions made to our Nation by the Portuguese-American population here in the United States.

As we focus on Iraq, we again also appreciate the Portuguese forces that serve there, the military forces, the medical personnel, the police that have been such an asset to us.

So, with that said, in conclusion, I would like to again thank the government of Portugal and the Portuguese people for their friendship, their support as an ally and also for their leadership in Europe and worldwide. I urge the adoption of this resolution.