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[Pages H8147-H8148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING GURU NANAK
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
California (Mr. Costa) for 5 minutes.
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor an important historical
figure in the Sikh community on what will soon be the 550th anniversary
of the Sikh religion.
Guru Nanak was the founder of Sikhism, the fifth largest religion in
the world, but his story is largely unknown to the Western world.
[[Page H8148]]
Guru Nanak was born in November of 1469 in present-day Pakistan.
According to Sikh traditions, the birth and early years of his life
were marked with many events that demonstrated that he had been marked
by divine grace.
He traveled far and wide, teaching people the message of one
universal creator and that God is good and that God is everywhere. Guru
Nanak also preached the universal message of justice and equality for
all women's empowerment, service to others, and a devotion to nature
and the environment.
Every year, Sikh pilgrims travel to his birthplace to remember his
life and his message of love, compassion, and kindness, these values
that we hold true every day.
I know from personal experience in my interactions with the Sikh
leaders across my district and throughout this country that these
values are instilled in each and every one of us and them.
Unfortunately, one such Sikh leader tragically passed away a week
ago, and her loss is heavily felt by so many members, not only
throughout California, but in India.
Honoring Jasbir ``Guddi'' Sidhu
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate a beloved member of the
Sikh community in my home of Fresno, California: Ms. Jasbir ``Guddi''
Sidhu.
Guddi lived an admirable life and made so many, countless
contributions to our communities. For 25 years, she produced a weekly
television show and was a founding member of KBIF 900, a local radio
station.
Her weekend programming featured interviews with community members
and cultural figures. She was a role model and a leader to all,
especially young girls and women. It not only aired in Fresno, but also
halfway around the world, in India. It was also streamed by thousands
on social media.
Guddi was a member of numerous local organizations and worked hard to
preserve the Punjabi culture and Sikh religion for children and
families in her community and helped those assimilate who came from
Punjab.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the service
of Jasbir ``Guddi'' Sidhu, a beloved member of our community, who had a
passion for people and made a difference.
Syria Crisis
Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the recent
events transpiring in northern Syria.
Turkey's continuing actions against the Kurds in northern Syria is
not only appalling, but it is unjustifiable, and it is not right.
The Kurds have courageously fought side by side with our troops and
deserve better, losing over 10,000 of their soldiers in defeating ISIL
as the caliphate, but yet ISIL could come back. They are also guarding
thousands of ISIS prisoners.
The Kurds have been our partners. The United States must immediately
impose sanctions on Turkey for their irresponsible and outrageous
behavior.
This White House's actions, I believe, have made the situation
possible; and now Congress must act to confront this unfolding
humanitarian disaster, which is also a threat to our national security
and damaging to our international reputation.
I will be supporting bipartisan legislation to confront the
administration and Turkey on this matter later this week. I support
H.J. Res. 77, which expresses the Congress' opposition to the
administration's abandonment of our Kurdish allies.
Though Turkey is a NATO ally, we cannot stand by and let this happen
in the face of reckless and irresponsible behavior on Turkey's part.
And this isn't the first time Turkey has acted in this way.
This action has become necessary because of the unilateral actions
that the President took without consulting Congress or our European
allies. It makes no sense.
It is critical that we maintain our friendships and our alliances.
America needs to have our alliances. We need to have friends.
When there is no longer a priority for this administration to embark
upon maintaining our relationships with our allies--our friends--we go
down a perilous path, mark my words. The United States needs its
friends, and actions like this undermine our global image and risk us
being seen as an unreliable partner in international affairs. We don't
want to be seen as an unreliable partner in international affairs.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in calling for
responsible leadership, on a bipartisan basis, on this issue.
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