Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in remembering the victims of the Armenian Genocide. April 24th will be the 90th anniversary of this human tragedy.

From 1915 to 1923, the world witnessed the first genocide of the 20th Century. This was clearly one of the world's greatest tragedies--the deliberate and systematic Ottoman annihilation of 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children.

Furthermore, another 500,000 refugees fled and escaped to various points around the world--effectively eliminating the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire.

From these ashes arose hope and promise in 1991--and I was blessed to see it. I was one of the four international observers from the United States Congress to monitor Armenia's independence referendum. I went to the communities in the northern part of Armenia, and I watched in awe as 95 percent of the people over the age of 18 went out and voted.

The Armenian people had been denied freedom for so many years and, clearly, they were very excited about this new opportunity. Almost no one stayed home. They were all out in the streets going to the polling places. I watched in amazement as people stood in line for hours to get into these small polling places and vote.

Then, after they voted, the other interesting thing was that they did not go home. They had brought covered dishes with them, and all of these polling places had little banquets afterward to celebrate what had just happened.

What a great thrill it was to join them the next day in the streets of Yerevan when they were celebrating their great victory. Ninety-eight percent of the people who voted cast their ballots in favor of independence. It was a wonderful experience to be there with them when they danced and sang and shouted, ``Ketse azat ankakh Hayastan''--long live free and independent Armenia! That should be the cry of freedom- loving people everywhere.

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

Mr. Speaker, I consider it a great honor to come to the floor today to nominate my friend Shirley Ann Jackson for the position of member of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution.

As the chairman pointed out, Dr. Jackson is the 18th President of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a leading national research university, which I am proud to say is located in my congressional district in the great city of Troy, New York, and I am also proud to say that Shirley Ann Jackson is a constituent.

Dr. Jackson is widely recognized for her intelligent, compassionate problem-solving abilities and her promotion of women and minorities in science. Dr. Jackson is currently the President of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is a director of many major corporations, including FedEx and AT&T.

She is also a member of the New York Stock Exchange Board of Directors, the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Advisory Council on Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at NIH, the U.S. Comptroller-General's Advisory Committee for the GAO, and the Executive Committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

She is also a Fellow at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and is a trustee of Georgetown University, Rockefeller University, Emma Willard School, and the Brookings Institution.

As the chairman pointed out, she is the recipient of many awards and honors, including life membership on the MIT Board of Trustees.

A native of Washington, D.C., Dr. Jackson received both her B.S. in physics and her Ph.D. in theoretical elementary particle physics from MIT. Dr. Jackson also holds 32 honorary doctoral degrees.

Mr. Speaker, as the chairman pointed out, Dr. Jackson is uniquely qualified for this position, and I urge adoption of the joint resolution.

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

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

I am delighted again to refer this resolution to my colleagues for their consideration and support. Dr. Jackson is a great friend. She is a constituent. She is an outstanding American and a great humanitarian, and I urge adoption of the joint resolution.

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

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

Before we proceed with this next nomination, I also want to congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra), the newest congressional regent at the Smithsonian Institution, who replaces our late friend and colleague, Bob Matsui.

Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman in urging the adoption of House Joint Resolution 20 to elect Robert P. Kogod, a renowned philanthropist and real estate developer, to a 6-year term as a citizen regent of the Smithsonian Institution.

Mr. Kogod has a long record of service with the Smithsonian Institution, having served as a member of the Smithsonian Washington Council; as a special adviser, as the chairman said, to Secretary Small; and as a member of the American Art Museum's American Art Forum.

Mr. and Mrs. Kogod, as the chairman pointed out, are noted collectors of American crafts, art deco, and American art and have provided major gifts to the American University School of Business, which is named for them; and to the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, which promotes Jewish thought and education; and to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, among many others.

Mr. Kogod also serves on the American University Board of Trustees. And for many years Mr. Kogod was co-chairman and chief executive officer of Charles E. Smith Realty Companies, which pioneered mixed-use real estate development in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

Mr. Speaker, I join the chairman in strongly urging my colleagues to support House Joint Resolution 20.

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

Mr. Speaker, I support S. 686, for the Relief of the Parents of Theresa Marie Schiavo.

While I continue to support the right of individuals (through living wills) and families (when no living will exists) to make such difficult decisions, this case is unusual in two ways. First, while most families are united in these judgments, this family is clearly divided. Second, Terri Schiavo is not unresponsive to those around her, as is typically the case when these decisions are made. According to her mother, Terri smiles, laughs, cries, and otherwise responds to the presence of her family and others.

S. 686 does not make medical decisions. It merely allows Terri Schiavo's family the right to have their case heard in Federal court--a right routinely accorded to death row inmates. That right certainly should be accorded to a disabled person.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I join today with many of my colleagues in extending my congratulations to the people of Nagorno Karabakh on the anniversary of the Nagorno Karabakh Freedom Movement.

On February 20, 1988, the people of Nagorno Karabakh officially petitioned the Soviet government to reunite with Armenia and reverse the injustice perpetrated by the Soviet dictator, Joseph Stalin.

This peaceful and legal request was met with violent reaction by the Soviet and Azerbaijani leadership, and escalated into full military aggression against Nagorno Karabakh. The people of Nagorno Karabakh bravely defended their right to live in freedom on their ancestral land.

Today, Nagorno Karabakh continues to strengthen its statehood with a democratically elected government, a capable armed forces and independent foreign policy.

I stand with the people of Nagorno Karabakh in celebrating their continuing freedom and democracy.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their explanation of the bill, and I also thank Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for her dedication to the memory of Kate Mullany. I also thank the gentleman from California (Chairman Radanovich), the gentleman from California (Chairman Pombo), and the ranking members, the gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentlewoman from the Virgin Islands (Mrs. Christensen), for their tremendous help.

Special thanks goes to my constituents, Paul Cole, Rachel Bliven, and Paul Bray for their years of work on this project. Most of all, I thank Kate Mullany for her courageous and daring leadership which forever changed the labor movement in America.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to comment on S. 1241, which will establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in Troy, New York, in my congressional district.

I was pleased to introduce the House companion to this legislation, H.R. 305. The bill before us today, S. 1241, was introduced by my good friend from New York, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. As First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton came to Troy in 1998 to unveil the National Historic Landmark designation at the Mullany House during her ``Save America's Treasures'' tour. I am incredibly grateful to Senator Clinton for her

tireless efforts on this legislation, and on behalf of American workers throughout the Nation.

I must thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Radanovich, Chairman of the Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands, and ranking Member Christensen, for holding a hearing on this bill.

And I must certainly thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Pombo, Chairman of the Resources Committee, and the Ranking Member, the gentleman from West Virginia, Mr. Rahall, for receiving this bill and moving it swiftly to the floor today.

Today we will finally and appropriately recognize a remarkable American and her legacy--as a determined immigrant, a tireless working women, a pioneer of the American labor movement, and a central figure in the rich industrial history of our country.

In its heyday, the city of Troy was a prosperous industrial city known around the world for its large iron works and textile factories. It was home to the world's first commercial laundry and had earned the nickname, ``The Collar City,'' for the many thousands of shirts, detachable shirt collars, and cuffs produced there.

Kate Mullany emigrated to America from Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century. She made her way to Upstate New York and settled in the city of Troy, eventually making her home at 350 Eighth Street. Like many women of the time, Kate Mullany found work in one of Troy's shirt factories. On a daily basis, she undertook physically demanding work steaming and pressing collars, earning minimal wages of just 3 to 4 dollars a day.

Kate quickly became a leader among her peers in the factory--among the women who felt as though they had no choice but to endure 12 to 14 hour workdays in awful conditions while receiving very little pay. These women who had no voice soon found one, and it belonged to Kate Mullany. In 1864, Kate led over 200 fellow female workers on strike, demanding better wages and improved working conditions--and they won. Kate secured a 25 percent wage increase--a remarkable figure at the time, particularly for a group of women.

This bargaining success led to the formation of the Collar Laundry Union--the first all-female labor union in the United States--with Kate Mullany in charge.

Kate's record of individual accomplishment continued as well. In 1868, she was elected a 2nd vice president of the National Labor Union--becoming the first woman ever to hold a national position in any labor organization. Kate became a national figure. Her death in 1906 was noted in newspapers around the Nation, a testament to her amazing story and groundbreaking accomplishments.

The bill before us, S. 1241, designates the Mullany House as a national historic site and as an ``Affiliated Site,'' authorizing the National Park Service to provide technical, planning, and financial assistance to the site's local cooperative partners. This approach responds to the concerns of, and relieves any potential burden placed upon, the Park Service.

I am pleased that the relevant House and Senate committees have recognized the great advantages of having the Park Service, the guardian and protector of our Nation's most treasured sites, involved with this project. This plan enjoys broad bipartisan support from our two Senators; my colleagues in the New York delegation, including Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Boehlert, and Mr. Quinn; the Majority Leader of the New York State Senate, Joe Bruno; and the present and past Mayors of the City of Troy.

The Mullany House is now part of the American Labor Studies Center, a not-for-profit corporation which will continue to own, manage, and operate the site on a daily basis. Plans and funding are in place for the establishment of Kate Mullany Park on the adjacent lot.

Today, we ensure that the Mullany Home will continue to serve as a resource for students, researchers, and tourists for decades to come. This site will be an outstanding addition to the National Park System. I am so pleased to see this long effort and the hard work of so many-- such as Paul Cole, Paul Bray, and Rachel Bliven come to a successful conclusion.

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank Senator Schumer, Senator Clinton, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), and all the members of the New York delegation, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, and all of those who worked so hard to bring this legislation to the floor today.

John Finn was a police officer who was killed in the line of duty. He literally laid down his life for his friends. Mr. Speaker, we consider this bill today in memory of all of his service through the years to the Albany Police Department, and also for his wife, Maura, his children, Clara and Molly, and all of his fellow police officers and friends.

I ask all of my colleagues to approve this legislation as a small tribute to a true American hero, Lieutenant Finn.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to comment on S. 2693, which designates the United States Post Office at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.''

This bill was introduced by our former colleague, my good friend from New York, Senator Chuck Schumer.

I was pleased to introduce the House companion to this legislation, HR 5053, which passed the House unanimously on October 6th of this year.

I would also like to thank the gentleman from New York, Mr. Sweeney, for his steadfast support of this legislation and his leadership on issues of importance to the law enforcement community.

And I also thank Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings for his steadfast support for the entire Finn family.

Mr. Speaker, John Francis Finn was born in Port Jefferson on Long Island. He was the son of Bill and Mary Finn, and he was a great brother to Bill, Michael, Mary and Rose. He graduated from Smithtown High School, also on Long Island, and the University of Albany.

He joined the Albany Police Department on January 31, 1991. He had a 13-year career with the Albany Police Department with many diverse assignments. He completed them all with exemplary commitment, dedication, and compassion.

He was named a detective in the juvenile unit in 1993, promoted to sergeant in 1996, and promoted to lieutenant in 2001.

Mr. Speaker, on December 23, 2003, Lt. Finn responded to an armed robbery at a convenience store. Although he was wearing a protective vest, the suspect, armed with a semiautomatic weapon, struck Lt. Finn three times in the lower abdomen and leg.

Overe the next few weeks, John underwent numerous surgeries and received exceptional care at the Albany Medical Center.

He passed away 51 days later, on February 12th of this year, becoming the ninth member of the Albany Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, over 5,000 officers and mourners from around the northeastern United States attended the memorial service in February at the Pepsi Arena in Albany. The service recalled John's distinguished career and life of service and sacrifice. He had received two lifesaving awards from the Albany Police Department.

In 2000, the Kiwanis Club named him Officer of the Year, and the Albany County Youth Recognition Awards have been renamed in honor of Lt. Finn.

Governor Pataki named Lt. Finn Police Officer of the Year in 2003 and presented that award to Lt. Finn's wife, Maura McNulty-Finn, and to his two daughters, Clara and Molly.

Maura was the love of his life, and Clara and Molly were his pride and joy. He brought his daughters to work with him when he volunteered, as he frequently did.

He was also instrumental in creating the Children and Family Services Unit in the Albany Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, at John's memorial service, I quoted scripture in saying, ``No greater love can one man have than that he lay down his life for his friends.'' That is what John Finn did.

At this particular time, when we have many service personnel serving overseas, we are mindful of their sacrifice. We remember their service on a daily basis, as well we should.

We should always remember that had it not been for all the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military, the rest of us would not have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often do, about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the Earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a tremendous price for it.

I think we sometimes neglect to remember the sacrifices made by those protecting the homeland, who put themselves at risk every single day, just like John Finn did on December 23, 2003, when he gave his life for his friends.

So I am honored to be here today, Mr. Speaker, to recall John's life of service and sacrifice, to pay this small tribute to him, and to do what I know he would really like--to thank all police officers across the Nation who put their lives on the line for us every single day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time to comment on my bill, H.R. 5053, which designates the United States Post Office at 1475 Western Avenue in Albany, New York as the ``Lieutenant John F. Finn Post Office.''

Mr. Speaker, John Francis Finn was born in Port Jefferson on Long Island. He was the son of Bill and Mary Finn, and he was a great brother to Bill, Michael, Mary and Rose. He graduated from Smithtown High School, also on Long Island, and the University at Albany.

He joined the Albany Police Department on January 31, 1991. He had a 13-year career with the Albany Police Department with many diverse assignments. He completed them all with exemplary commitment, dedication, and compassion. He was named a detective in the juvenile unit in 1993, promoted to sergeant in 1996, and promoted to lieutenant in the year 2001.

Mr. Speaker, on December 23, 2003, Lt. Finn responded to an armed robbery at a convenience store. Although he was wearing a protective vest, the suspect, armed with a semiautomatic weapon, struck Lt. Finn three times in the lower abdomen and leg.

Over the next few weeks, John underwent numerous surgeries and received exceptional care at the Albany Medical Center. He passed away 51 days later, on February 12th of this year, becoming the ninth member of the Albany Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, over 5,000 officers and mourners from around the northeastern United States attended the memorial service in February at the Pepsi Arena in Albany. The service recalled John's distinguished career and life of service and sacrifice. He had received two lifesaving awards from the Albany Police Department. The Kiwanis Club named him Officer of the Year in the year 2000, and the Albany County Youth Recognition Awards have been renamed in honor of Lt. Finn.

Governor Pataki named Lt. Finn Police Officer of the Year in 2003 and presented that award to Lt. Finn's wife, Maura McNulty-Finn, and to his two daughters, Clara and Molly.

Maura was the love of his life, and Clara and Molly were his pride and joy. He brought his daughters to work with him when he volunteered, as he frequently did. He was also instrumental in creating the Children and Family Services Unit in the Albany Police Department.

Mr. Speaker, at John's memorial service, I quoted scripture in saying, ``No greater love can one man have than that he lay down his life for his friends.'' That is what John Finn did.

At this particular time, when we have many service personnel serving overseas, we are mindful of their sacrifice. We remember their service on a daily basis, as well we should. We should always remember that had it not been for all the men and women who wore the uniform of the United States military, the rest of us would not have the privilege of going around bragging, as I often do, about how we live in the freest and most open democracy on the Earth. Freedom is not free. We paid a tremendous price for it.

But while we do that, I think we sometimes neglect to remember the sacrifices made by the folks who are protecting the homeland security and who go out and take chances every single day, just like John Finn did last December 23 when he gave his life for his friends.

So I am honored to be here today, Mr. Speaker, to recall John's life of service and sacrifice, to pay this small tribute to him, and to do what I know he would really like, and that is to thank all of the other police officers all across the Nation who take these kinds of chances every single day.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this time.

I also join in support of this tribute to Jack Fields, with whom I did serve. He is certainly very deserving of this tribute.

Mr. Speaker, this November millions of young people will take part in one of our most cherished American traditions, a cornerstone of citizenship, when they exercise their right to vote. As we celebrate Constitution Week, I'd like to encourage the members of this body, and teachers and parents everywhere to promote quality civic education. I am particularly encouraged by one national effort that seeks to promote that very goal in our schools.

Around this time last year, the first annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education was launched, sponsored by the Alliance for Representative Democracy and co-hosted by the four leaders of this and the other body.

The conference established delegations that returned to their states to enact specific policies to restore the oft-overlooked civic mission of our schools. I commend Russell Sage College Professor Stephen Schechter, and the other members of the New York State delegation, for their leadership to improve civic education in our state.

Our state delegation has joined with the New York State Education Department to convene a series of Civics Summits to identify our most pressing needs in civic education. They have brought together a consortium of over 25 governmental and nongovernmental organizations to determine how best to meet these needs, designed an action plan focusing on the importance of teacher training, and sought out funding from the private sector to begin their important work.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the New York State civic education delegation and wish them continued success when they participate in the Second Annual Congressional Conference on Civic Education in December.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding.

On behalf of the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel), the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney) and all of the New York delegation, I am proud to support H.R. 480 which designates the U.S. postal service facility at 747 Broadway in Albany, New York, as the Henry Johnson Annex.

Henry Johnson was a native of Albany, served in World War I, and was an African American who joined the all-black New York National Guard unit, the 369th Infantry Regiment, based in Harlem.

Mr. Speaker, about 400,000 black soldiers served in the Armed Forces at that time. Half were sent overseas, and many were stationed in France. They were not allowed to serve with white soldiers. They were not allowed to fight with American combat units. But the members of the 369th soon proved themselves. They became known as the ``Harlem Hell Fighters,'' and that was not a name they took for themselves. That was a name given to them by their enemies.

No one personified the bravery of the 369th more than Henry Johnson. On guard duty on May 14, 1918, then-Private Johnson came under attack by a German raider party of two dozen. Despite sustaining 21 wounds, he single-handedly fought off the Germans and rescued one of his buddies . . . with only a rifle and his bare hands. He became the first American of any color--in any conflict--to receive the Croix de Guerre, France's highest military declaration.

His exploits got newspaper coverage in America and throughout Europe. He was featured in Teddy Roosevelt's book, ``Rank and File: True Stories of the Great War.'' The Army used Johnson's name and likeness to advertise for war bonds and to recruit minorities into service.

Yet, at that time, despite all he had done, Johnson received no official recognition from his government. None. That recognition came much later.

After the war, Henry Johnson returned to upstate New York and worked on the railroad. He later died penniless on the streets of Albany, New York.

Since integration of the military in 1950, some African American service men and women have been recognized for their gallant service. Recognition of African Americans prior to integration, alarmingly neglected for so many years, had finally begun.

It was not until 1997, Mr. Speaker, that Henry Johnson was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. I was proud to be there for that ceremony. In 2002, his grave was found in Arlington National Cemetery, not in the pauper's cemetery outside of Albany where he was believed to be buried. In 2003, at the Pentagon, in an official service, Herman Johnson, the son of Henry Johnson, a distinguished veteran himself, accepted the Distinguished Service Cross, the Army's number two award, for his Dad.

In 2003, Mr. Speaker. Henry Johnson did all of these things in 1918, and it took until 2003 to award him the Distinguished Service Cross. Many of us

are still disappointed that despite all of the documentation we have given to the Pentagon that he has not received the award that he truly deserves, which is the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Mr. Speaker, today, I want to give public thanks to John Howe, the historian of Albany's 369th Veterans Association and all of his colleagues who have worked for years and years to get these recognitions for Henry Johnson.

I want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rangel) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Sweeney), both of whom have taken leadership positions in making sure that we correct these injustices of the past, along with Senators Clinton and Schumer who have been stalwart supporters of the effort to award the Congressional Medal of Honor to Henry Johnson.

Mr. Speaker, the cause endures. I thank all of my colleagues today for supporting this bill, but believe me, Mr. Speaker, based on the record, we should be doing a lot more than naming a post office building after Henry Johnson. We have worked hard through the years. We got the Purple Heart and we got the Distinguished Service Cross. We need to go the final step and obtain the Congressional Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson.

I thank all the members of our New York delegation, and the many others in the Congress and across this country for staying with us in this battle through the years. In the end, Mr. Speaker, justice shall prevail.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 1, rule I, I demand a vote on agreeing to the Speaker's approval of the Journal.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, President Reagan's long struggle with Alzheimer's disease has ended, but the legacy of his extraordinary life remains.

In 1998, my mother died as a result of the impact of Alzheimer's disease; so I know what families go through during times like that. And I will always be inspired by Nancy Reagan and the other members of the family for their tender caregiving to the former President over that very long period of time.

Many people today have mentioned the occasion of the tearing down of the Berlin Wall by the people, and I recently looked at those pictures of the former President when he participated in chipping away at the wall. I was on the Committee on Armed Services at the time, and I had a chance to do that, too. As I was standing there watching people chipping away at the wall, tearing it down piece by piece, I noticed as the pieces were falling off the wall, some of them would catch the pieces and put them in their pockets. I said to myself, aha, they are taking souvenirs of the Berlin Wall, and I thought I might like to do that.

And already capitalism being in evidence, I looked down, and there were vendors selling pieces of the wall. They were in little cellophane wrappers marked with the date they were taken off the wall. But ever the skeptic, I said to myself, how do I know that those pieces came off the wall?

So I further looked around, and I saw this guy walking back and forth with hammers and chisels, renting them out. So I went over with my translator and made the deal and gave him some money, and I did what President Reagan did, and I chipped off some pieces of the wall. I brought them back home, and I gave them to veterans as a thank you to them for their dedication through the years and for the fact that they were responsible for what was happening on that particular day and at that particular time in history.

President Reagan was a proud and patriotic American whose persistent advocacy for democracy led in part to the breakup of the Soviet Union and its devolution into 15 individual democratic republics. And I was in one of those republics as a member of a delegation from Congress on their independence day. In Armenia, and I watched in awe as 95 percent of all of the people in that country went out and voted. I watched them stand in long lines for the privilege of voting in a free election for the first time in their lives. I noticed they brought covered dishes with them, and after they voted, they held little celebrations and banquets in each of the polling places.

And what a thrill it was to be with them the next day in the streets of Yerevan, their capital, as they danced and shouted and sang, ``Ketze asat ankakh Hayastan,'' which means ``Long live free and independent Armenia.'' Then they pointed to the United States of America as their example of what they wanted to be as a democracy.

So I thank all of the men and women who served in the uniform of the United States military through the years for helping to make that happen, and I also thank the Commander-in-Chief for 8 years, Ronald Reagan, for helping to make that happen.

Today I join with all Americans in mourning his passing and in expressing deep gratitude for his tremendous public service as both Governor and as President.