Honoring former President William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

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

Mr. Speaker, as someone who grew up, went to school, and still have strong family ties in the State of Arkansas, it is with great pride that I stand to celebrate and honor the life of a man who epitomizes the American dream: President William Jefferson Clinton.

Born in the tiny town of Hope, Arkansas, on August 19, 1946, President Clinton demonstrated from an early age the determination and vision that would ultimately take him to the White House and enable him to lead our country to a period of economic prosperity that has been unrivaled in American history.

As a man who always fought for those who could not always fight for themselves, Bill Clinton spurned private practice after graduating from Yale Law School and began a career in public service. He began his political career after being elected attorney general of Arkansas in 1976. He went on to serve as Governor and by the time Governor Clinton left Arkansas for the White House, the State of Arkansas had been transformed from a State that faced large deficits and polarizing issues into a shining example of what government can do for its citizens when those in government put aside partisan differences in the interest of what is right.

As America's 42nd President, Bill Clinton faced an even more daunting task than the one he faced as Governor. In 1992, the American people were fed up with government. The economy was in bad shape, unemployment was at a record high, and it was a time when many American parents struggled with basic financial decisions, such as what holiday presents they could afford to buy their children. By the time President Clinton left office 8 years later, he had led our country out of this darkness and into one of the brightest eras in American history, a time that was marked by the lowest unemployment rate in modern times, the lowest inflation rate in 30 years, the highest homeownership rate in United States history, and dropping crime rates in many American cities. Contrary to the unjustified stereotype thrown at Democrats, President Clinton proposed the first balanced budget in decades. He balanced the budget, and then went on to produce a surplus.

Since leaving office, President Clinton has continued his lifelong odyssey of working for those in need. Working from his office in Harlem, President Clinton has remained engaged in many social issues. In July, President Clinton addressed the United Nations Economic and Social Council in an effort to sustain the momentum on the recovery efforts in regions devastated by last December's tsunami. In 2003, he brokered an historic agreement with four generic drug companies in order to provide low-cost AIDS drugs in developing countries.

The world is a better place today because of the 59 years President Clinton has given us so far, and we look forward to many more.

Mr. Speaker, oftentimes in a country where we put great emphasis on personal wealth, as one having the ability to emerge and rise to high public office, I have searched and searched, and nowhere did I find in Bill Clinton's history any great personal wealth before he got involved in doing public service. Noplace did I find any great family pedigree. He was simply a person who used himself as effectively as he could to become one of the most influential persons in the history of our country. I wish him a happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I will include for the Record the statement of the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).

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

Mr. Speaker, on August 19th, William Jefferson Clinton, our 43rd president, will celebrate his 59th birthday--today, we honor him. We honor him not just for being one of 43 Americans to have led history's greatest Nation from its highest office, we honor him for the legacy the current President Bush described as, ``a deep and far- ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit Americans like in a President.''

Since his last birthday, President Clinton characteristically responded to one of the most devastating natural disasters in modem history with the compassion for people in need that President Bush talked about. In the aftermath of the tsunami in Southeast Asia, President Clinton showed the diplomacy and humanity he has always displayed in a career filled with good works. Together with former President Bush, President Clinton helped generate billions of dollars in donations for the tsunami-torn nations. As a representative of our generous and caring Nation, he showed the world America's compassion. And he and former President Bush rolled up their sleeves and lent helping hands to the recovery efforts when they traveled to southeast Asia.

In two terms in the White House, President Clinton stewarded our Nation's longest-ever economic expansion, largest-ever budget surplus, and the growth of 22 million jobs. He helped broker the Good Friday Accords for Northern Ireland, engaged in Middle East peace talks, and brought an end to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. And he encouraged Americans to care for their fellow man and woman, creating AmeriCorps, which engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in community service.

We in Congress are thankful that President Clinton's health has improved since his recent heart surgeries, and we pray that he continues to be healthy and strong.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Davis and the House leadership for bringing this resolution to the floor in time for President Clinton's birthday.

Mr. Speaker, from his birth in a town called Hope in the State of Arkansas, to his education at Georgetown University, Oxford and Yale Law School, to his service in Arkansas as attorney general, Governor and chairman of the National Governors Association, to his two terms as President of the United States to now, as a private citizen still showing the world humanity and compassion, we honor President Clinton.

President Clinton, happy birthday.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 329) honoring former President William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his 59th birthday.

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

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the distinguished author of House Resolution 329, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and the entire House of Representatives, I wish President William Jefferson Clinton a happy 59th birthday.

House Resolution 329 would honor President Clinton on the occasion of his 59th birthday on August 19th. It would furthermore commend President Clinton's continued commitment to public service and world leadership. Since the House will be out of session in August, I would like to thank the House leadership for scheduling this resolution for early consideration today and support the resolution's adoption.

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

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

Mr. Speaker, approximately a year ago, we honored former President William Jefferson Clinton in a very similar way on his 58th birthday. Then we were doing it, to a great extent, because of his quadruple bypass. It seemed appropriate to honor this immediate former President in a time of personal and family concern.

This year, though, we honor President Clinton for what he has done since that time, coming out of the hospital, coming to the aid of people around the world, but particularly in Asia after the December 26 earthquake and tsunami. President Clinton and President Bush, former President Bush, have shown the value of former Presidents.

President Clinton's leadership in this very elite former Presidents' club is a tribute to what can be done by people who stay engaged and involved. And so although it is likely that most people know that I probably did not vote for President Clinton in either of his elections, I certainly would be happy to vote today to honor the President on his 59th birthday because of what he has done since leaving the White House.

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

Mr. 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 H.J. Res. 59, H. Con. Res. 181, H. Res. 329, H. Res. 289, H. Res. 294, H.R. 2977, H.R. 2894, S. 775, S. 571, and H.R. 3339.