Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF DR. DAVID A. HAMBURG
______
HON. NANCY PELOSI
of california
in the house of representatives
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary
life and enduring legacy of a giant of humanitarianism and a leader of
conscience, who made lasting, life-saving contributions to the cause of
eradicating violent conflict and eliminating human suffering: Dr. David
Alan Hamburg.
Trained as a physician and psychiatrist, Dr. Hamburg led a career of
incredible scope and immense impact, beginning with sweeping
contributions made to the field of medicine from distinguished posts at
hospitals, universities, research laboratories, and scientific and
public policy organizations. ``Ounce of prevention, ton of cure'' was
his favorite motto, and would guide him through all his work, from
disease prevention to conflict resolution.
Dr. Hamburg followed his pioneering scholarship on disease prevention
with studies of human behavior, specializing in the evolution of human
violence. As a recognized authority on the study of aggression, stress
and conflict, he revolutionized the worlds' conception of civil
conflict and warfare, led by his deep faith in the need to ``mobilize
human ingenuity'' for peace. Much of his game-changing research was
conducted alongside his beloved wife, the trailblazing and renowned Dr.
Beatrix Hamburg.
At the helm of the prestigious Carnegie Corporation for fifteen
years, Dr. Hamburg would use his belief in the power of prevention to
create prosperity, as he launched initiatives for the advancement of
civilization of a startling scale, from early childhood education to
youth health to conflict resolution. He was a powerful and early force
for the study of terrorism, violence and genocide, warning that for too
long, scholars had treated these global priorities as ``almost a
nonsubject.''
His leadership was critical in conflict prevention and mitigation
efforts, including through initiatives such as the Carnegie Commission
on Preventing Deadly Conflict, co-chaired with former Secretary of
State Cyrus R. Vance, which studied ethnic and regional conflicts in
Africa and the Balkans, and which was cited as one of the United
Nation's ``major reference points'' for peace efforts by Secretary-
General Ban Ki-Moon.
He was a respected voice among our colleagues in the Congress on
nuclear nonproliferation, which is a pillar of America's national
security. His work to develop and pass the vital Nunn-Lugar. Amendment
has helped keep America and our allies strong and safe. I had the
privilege of learning from Dr. Hamburg when we served on the Board of
the Leakey Foundation for the Study of Human Origins. Once again he
would demonstrate his leadership when he courageously obtained the
release of the Stanford students who were kidnapped while doing primate
research at Gombe National Park, Tanzania.
Dr. Hamburg often said that he ``grew up in the shadow of the
Holocaust,'' and was motivated in his work by his grandfather's
experience fleeing anti-Semitic pogroms in Latvia and later bringing an
estimated 50 relatives to America to escape the Nazi regime. This
``firsthand knowledge [on] how brutal people could be'' would be a
powerful beacon for him, as he sought to bring resolution, cooperation
and healing to the world. His enduring contributions to turn that
painful legacy into a more peaceful future for others will be a lasting
blessing for all.
May it be a comfort to Dr. Hamburg's children, Eric and Margaret, his
three grandchildren, David, Rachel and Evan, and all their loved ones
that David has been reunited with the love of his life, Betty. May it
also be a comfort that so many grieve with them and pray for them
during this sad time.
____________________