Expressing gratitude to the cities of Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York, for their extraordinary hospitality and successful planning and hosting of the 2004 national political conventions.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 765) expressing gratitude to the cities of Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City, New York, for their extraordinary hospitality and successful planning and hosting of the 2004 national political conventions.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 765, and I am joined on the floor by our ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson); and it is good to be here to express the gratitude of the House of Representatives to the cities of Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, New York, for their extraordinary hospitality and successful planning and hosting of the 2004 national political conventions.

Mr. Speaker, I think I speak for everyone in the House in thanking the people of the cities of Boston and New York, their cities' host committees, and the countless volunteers for making both cities open and welcoming to the many Members of the Congress, delegates from across the Nation, and all other interested parties who participated in our great conventions.

Special recognition needs to go to the Boston Police Department and the New York City Police Department, whose professionalism and constant vigilance guaranteed not only the safety of the residents they routinely protect on a day-by-day basis but the many visitors who attended the conventions.

In addition, we have to thank the countless city, State, regional and nationwide agencies who cooperated to ensure the safety of everyone involved with both conventions. I would also like to recognize the exceptional efforts of the hundreds of United States Capitol Police Officers who provided around-the-clock security for all Members during the convention and who coordinated, of course, with the Secret Service, the FBI and, again, the New York City Police Department. And we cannot forget the firefighters in both New York and Boston that were on hand.

So I am here on a bipartisan basis, though I would note, Mr. Speaker, for the record, I did not see my colleague, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson), at the New York convention. But I am glad to be with him here tonight to thank both cities and everyone involved in both conventions.

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

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to say that I am sure the minority leader, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), did a wonderful job at the convention in Boston; and as far as our convention in New York, I want to thank the Speaker and also Scott Palmer, Ted Van Der Meid, and Bill Pitts, who did the rules and carried out the process at the convention and service to the Members.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Reynolds).

(Mr. REYNOLDS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the cities and residents of Boston and New York City for their tremendous efforts in hosting this year's national political conventions. With two of the Nation's most historic and vibrant cities as their backdrops, the Democrat and Republican conventions were both great successes.

Boston and New York have long been known as centers of culture, education, and heritage. After this summer's conventions, it is apparent why they are also recognized for their hospitality, charm, and warm spirit. As tens of thousands of delegates, elected officials, volunteers, and tourists converged on these great cities, countless others worked behind the scenes and on the front lines to make sure programs ran smoothly and safely. These individuals labored tirelessly, not just during the conventions but for several weeks prior, crossing every ``T'' and dotting every ``I.''

These events would not have been possible without the efforts of everyone involved. A special thanks to those at the city, State, and regional, as well as national, levels who coordinated and secured the safety of Boston and New York. This includes, of course, the city police and fire departments, the United States Secret Service, the United States Capitol Police, and numerous other agencies that coordinated protective services for both convention-goers and city residents alike.

As the first political conventions held in the post-9/11 world, our police, firefighters, and first responders faced security risks never before envisioned. True to their great reputations, the respective agencies of New York and Boston exhibited consummate professionalism and ensured the safety and security of all those attending and visiting these greats cities.

Those accolades extend as well to our Capitol Police and those Federal agencies that worked side by side with their brethren in New York and Boston to ensure a seamless coordination.

Mr. Speaker, the cities of Boston and New York have long represented the freedoms and liberty that nurtured democracy in this country. Today, several hundred years later, one of the best enduring examples of these fundamental rights is the ability to participate in the political process. National political conventions provide a forum for this participation like no other.

To all those who helped make the conventions possible, and to the gracious residents of Boston and New York, I wish to extend a heartfelt thanks on behalf of the House for helping to foster greater political participation.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution and join me in expressing gratitude to the cities of Boston and New York.

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

(Mr. LARSON of Connecticut asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Ney), my brilliant co- chair. And I also did not see him at the Boston convention; but, nonetheless, he would have been welcome, as was everybody there.

This is indeed a moment for us to celebrate the outstanding job that was done both in Boston and New York, led by Mayors Thomas Menino and Michael Bloomberg, respectively. Their tireless efforts to make the 2004 major-party conventions such successful events are deeply appreciated.

Mr. Speaker, I commend the two police commissioners, Kathleen O'Toole of Boston and Raymond Kelly of New York, now there is diversity for you, for making it possible for the delegates to nominate their candidates, which of course is the purpose of the convention.

I also want to thank the thousands of other public employees who helped to make this possible, not only the Boston and New York municipal governments but also at all levels, Federal, State, and local; and of course as the chairman has already pointed out, the outstanding job that was done by our Capitol Police and all the security that went into these two wonderful events.

I would especially like to thank the Massachusetts delegation for the hospitality that they provided for each and every one of us, and of course their two great Senators, Senator Kennedy, for which this was a homecoming, and Senator Kerry as well, who was featured prominently in Boston as well, and our outstanding House delegation here from Boston as well. So I thank the chairman and join him in these remarks.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the subject of House Resolution 765, the resolution just agreed to.