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[Pages H4070-H4071]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE COLOMBIA MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PROGRAM
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Sires) for 5 minutes.
Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the Martin Luther
King, Jr. program in Colombia and to recognize the tremendous
leadership of my friend and colleague from New York, Congressman Greg
Meeks.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. program is a modest project funded by the
United States Agency for International Development. It provides
scholarships to outstanding Afro-Colombian and indigenous students to
learn English as a second language and receive leadership training. The
program began in 2006 and has supported over 370 students.
While leading a bipartisan delegation to Colombia in April,
Congressman Meeks and I, along with five of our colleagues, had the
opportunity to meet with young people participating in the program and
hear firsthand the impacts this program has had on their community.
The students told us how their experience with the MLK program went
far beyond just learning English. They have developed important
leadership skills, which they have used to launch successful community
improvement projects and to become role models in their neighborhoods.
They told us how the program fosters an environment in which the
students learn from one another about how to make a positive difference
in the lives of others.
I want to recognize my good friend and colleague, Congressman Meeks,
who led the effort to establish this program back in 2006. While in
Colombia last month, Mr. Meeks spoke passionately to the students about
how they are the future of Colombia. Thanks in no small part to Mr.
Meeks' efforts, that future now looks very bright.
Congressman Meeks' leadership has been essential, not only to the
success of this program, but to supporting Colombia's democratic
progress over the last two decades and strengthening the U.S.-Colombia
partnership. His tireless dedication to the underserved communities has
been critical, and I am proud to serve alongside him.
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While there is still a great deal of work to be done, Congressman
Meeks has helped the Colombian Government establish a society based on
the rule of law.
He has worked to ensure that the voices of Afro-Colombians and other
historically marginalized populations are heard. He has helped inspire
a new and more diverse generation of leadership.
I look forward to seeing the continued impact of this tremendous
effort. I am hopeful that these Martin Luther King, Jr., scholars will
become leaders not only in their communities but of their country.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Meeks for his hard work, his
passion, and his dedication to educating, inspiring, and supporting
leaders of tomorrow.
____________________