[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1256-E1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

SPEAKER HASTERT SPEECH TO THE PARLIAMENT OF LITHUANIA

______

HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

of illinois

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, June 15, 1999

Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I would like to enter the following
transcript of Speaker Hastert's speech to the parliament of Lithuania
into the House Record. I believe that it sends a great message of the
commonalties between America and Lithuania. It also demonstrates why we
must show concern for the events that occur outside the United States.

Washington, D.C.--House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.)
today released the following text of his speech to the
Lithuania Parliament on March 30, 1999:
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Seimas, distinguished guests:
Let me thank you for this great honor of addressing this
assembly. I have traveled far to be here today--but not
nearly as far as you have traveled over the last ten years.
Outside this building I was shown the barricades manned by
those who stood their ground and defended this very
Parliament. We in the United States Congress try to do our
duty each day--to protect freedom and promote democracy. But
for almost 200 years, we have not had to defend our Capitol
Building from attack.
Of course, we know the stories of our founders who met in
Philadelphia and swore their lives and property to defend our
new democracy. That is why the pictures of your courageous
stand for freedom--flashed across the world--reminded us in
the Congress of our own beginnings. It drove home the fact
that freedom at times must be defended with our very lives.
Professor Landsbergis, your courageous stand for liberty
served as an inspiration to all Americans. The American
people continue to be inspired by your successful efforts to
create a stable democracy in order to provide a better way of
life for Lithuania's children.
As you may know, I am from the state of Illinois, which is
the home of the great city of Chicago. I think you all have
heard of the city of Chicago. We are pleased President
Adamkus was able to spend some of his life in Chicago. He
contributed much to our country, and we are grateful for
those contributions. But his heart was always here in
Lithuania, with your struggle for freedom.
Illinois is also the home of two of my political heroes:
Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan. Abraham Lincoln is best
known to history for ending the barbaric practice of slavery
in the United States. It was Abraham Lincoln who said:
``Government of the people, by the people and for the people
shall not perish from the earth.'' By working hard to create
a stable and secure democracy, the Lithuanian people prove
that truth.
History will record that Ronald Reagan challenged the 20th
century version of slavery. It was Ronald Reagan who said:
``Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.'' That eloquent
statement, coupled by the hard work of Eastern Europeans
yearning to be free, helped end Soviet aggression and created
a new and bigger Europe. It is this new Europe that I want to
talk to you about today.
The new Europe has a profound relationship with the United
States. Part of that relationship comes from our cultural
ties. In no small measure, Europe helped build America with
the contributions of its people, whether they be Irish or
Polish or German or Italian, or Lithuanian. An American
ambassador once said to the Soviet premier: ``When we talk
about human rights behind the Iron Curtain, we are not
interfering in your internal affairs. We are talking about
family matters.'' Practically every family here has family in
America.
In fact, close to one million Americans identify themselves
as Lithuanian Americans. One of those Lithuanian Americans is
Illinois Congressman John Shimkus, Chairman of the House
Baltic Caucus, and a member of our delegation here today.
The American people stood by Lithuania in its times of
trouble. They will stand by Lithuania in its times of
prosperity. The new Europe is built on mutual trust, not
mutual hatred. It is build on democracy, not totalitarianism.
It is built on trade, not protectionism. It is build on the
free exchange of ideas, not the narrow bounds of nationalism.
It appeals to the better nature of mankind, not to the darker
side of evil.
America's special relationship with the new Europe also
comes from strategic considerations. This strategic
relationship can partly be seen though the prism of NATO.
NATO was founded as an organization dedicated to protecting
its members from attack. It must not lose sight of its
important mission: to defend its members. Lithuania is a
strongly ally in the Partnership for Peace program. I support
its membership--full membership--in NATO.
I want to congratulate you on your defense budget, soon to
reach two percent of Gross Domestic Product. Your commitment
to building a strong defense can only help your case as you
seek to become a full strategic partner. As a legislator who
is working on his nation's budget, I know how difficult those
choices can be. But you have made the right choice to fund
the military and to improve the living conditions of its
personnel.
A great threat to the new Europe is the current instability
in the Balkans. The Milosevic regime is evil and free nations
should confront evil wherever it occurs. We have a duty to
say no to ruthless dictators, to draw the lines where evil
knows no bounds.
We had a debate in the House of Representatives about the
virtues of America's involvement in the Balkans conflict.
Many of my colleagues in the House had reservations about
American involvement in that region. But now that the United
States is involved--let there be no mistake--no one should
doubt the resolve of the American people as we work to bring
justice to the Kosovo region.
The reports we have from Kosovo are deeply disturbing. If
it is true that Serbia is attempting to wipe out Kosovar
Albanians, those Serbs will be brought to justice. The
democratic nations of Europe, and the United States as their
partners in NATO, should not sit idly by when genocide is
carried out in Europe. Defending freedom means defending
defenseless people.
The new Europe must be on the front lines when it comes to
fighting injustice. One way to achieve this goal is to become
bigger. A bigger European Union is a better European Union. I
believe it should stretch eastward to include the emerging
democracies of Eastern Europe.
It is better for the United States for trade and security
reasons. And it is better for the people of Europe who want
to move to a more secure and prosperous future. We in the
Congress support Lithuania's bid to become a full member of
the European Union. By becoming a full member, Lithuania has
a better opportunity to develop its export capabilities and
its free market system. I want to congratulate Lithuania for
becoming a model of regional stability. You have excellent
relations with Poland, and your cooperation with your Nordic
and Baltic neighbors is vitally important.
We also appreciate your efforts to find common ground with
Russia and with your help in Kaliningrad. And we know how
hard you are working to develop a positive relationship with
Belarus.
Let me conclude by saluting you, the people of Lithuania.
You have given much to the United States. You have given us
athletes who star in basketball and hockey. You have given us
politicians who help us in the United States Congress. And
you have given us hundreds of thousands of unheralded,
hardworking citizens who help make up the intricate tapestry
that is America.
Someone once asked President Reagan whether he thought we
were living in a time without heroes. He replied by saying
that those who fear we have no heroes: ``just don't know
where to look. You can see heroes every day going in and out
of factory gates. Others, a handful in number, produce enough
food to feed all of us and then the world beyond. You meet
heroes across a counter--and they are on both sides of that
counter. They are entrepreneurs--with faith in themselves and
faith in an idea--who create new jobs, new wealth and
opportunity. They are individuals and families whose taxes
support the government, and whose voluntary gifts support
church, charity, culture, art and education. Their patriotism
is quite but deep. Their values sustain our national life.''
Many of these every day American heroes call Lithuania
their ancestral homeland. Let me say a final word about
Lithuania's heroes. Later today, our delegation will visit

[[Page E1257]]

the KGB museum. We will go there to pay our respects to those
who suffered and died in the hands of an evil and brutal
occupation.
President Lincoln, when he dedicated the cemetery at
Gettysburg, said that mere words could not dedicate nor
consecrate the sacrifices of brave men who defend liberty.
Likewise, there is nothing that we--who have not experienced
such a place, can do to honor it. Those who suffered in that
building in defense of freedom have already made it hallowed
ground. But we can remember--and we can educate future
generations, and by so doing ensure that such a place will
never be build again.
America is a better place because of Lithuania. And I hope
that Lithuania is a freer and a stronger democracy because of
the efforts of the American people.
May God bless the people of Lithuania like He has blessed
the people of the United States.

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