September 12, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H5869 

though, are filled with the noise of 

seven children and their spouses and 

several grandchildren. 

In recounting their decision to commit to raising a second set of children 

at a time in their lives when their 

peers would be enjoying life, Pat loves 

to tell the story of a little boy on the 

beach. It seems a storm had washed 

several thousand starfish ashore, and 

as the tide receded, the stranded 

starfish were dying in the glaring sun. 

One by one, a boy began to hurl 

starfish back into the ocean. A cynical 

man observed his actions and commented on the futility of such efforts 

in light of the enormity of the problem. 

You are wasting your time. You can 

never make a difference with so many 

starfish. 

The boy simply hurled another into 

the sea and replied, I made a difference 

for that one. 

These are true American heroes. 

Their grandchildren call them Mimi 

and Pat-daddy. Their friends call them 

Pat and Sandra. My six brothers and 

sisters and I are proud to call them 

Mom and Dad. 

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THE STORMING OF OUR EMBASSIES: AN ATTACK AGAINST 

AMERICA 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair recognizes the gentleman from 

Nebraska (Mr. FORTENBERRY) for 5 minutes. 

Mr. FORTENBERRY. Madam Speaker, last year, an intense debate was 

under way in Congress as to how to respond to the turmoil in Libya. The imminent slaughter of the people of 

Benghazi by former dictator Qadhafi 

led the United States to sustain a 

NATO-led coalition to stop the bloodshed. Now our Ambassador to Libya, 

Chris Stevens, is dead—killed by the 

very people we went there to save. 

Americans can tolerate ingratitude; 

Americans can tolerate insult, but 

Americans cannot tolerate the senseless killings of the official representative of our country and three other diplomatic personnel. 

The governing structures of Libya 

must respond in the strongest way. 

They should publicly state their condemnation and commitment to restoring order. Democracy is not an election. It is the understanding of the protection of the inherent dignity and 

rights of each person supported by the 

structures that bring about the just 

rule of law. 

We honor Ambassador Stevens, Foreign Service Officer Sean Smith, and 

two others whose names I do not yet 

have for their heroic service. May they 

rest in peace. 

Similarly, in Cairo, Egypt, the 

storming of our Embassy represents an 

attack on America. By the norms of 

international law, custom and tradition, the scaling of the walls of our 

Embassy severely threatens America’s 

longstanding relationship with Egypt 

so fruitfully solidified after the peace 

accords in the Middle East in the 1970s. 

President Morsi must decide: Will his 

government tolerate chaos and violence? Will he abandon Egypt’s leading 

role as a force for stability in the Middle East? Will he use democracy for the 

consolidation of power while rejecting 

its central tenets? 

The responsibility of President 

Morsi’s is also to speak swiftly and 

state clearly that the Egyptian Government, duly elected, is committed to 

its international responsibilities and 

the deeper responsibilities of self-government. 

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RECESS 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 

declares the House in recess until noon 

today. 

Accordingly (at 10 o’clock and 58 

minutes a.m.), the House stood in recess. 

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b 1200 

AFTER RECESS 

The recess having expired, the House 

was called to order by the Speaker pro 

tempore (Mr. S

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IMPSON) at noon. 

PRAYER 

Reverend Matthew Mello, the Church 

of the Resurrection, Lakeland, Florida, 

offered the following prayer: 

Dear God, we give You thanks for 

giving us another day. 

We ask for Your blessings to this legislative body as they govern the welfare of all the people of this great Nation. Endow them with wisdom, discernment, courage, and conviction to 

engage the issues of our day, and for 

the generations to come to be better 

off as a result of all decisions made 

within this assembly hall. 

Bind them together in a shared commitment to You, a passionate patriotism, and a deep dedication to find creative solutions in the concerns that 

confront us and divide us in these 

times. 

We remember our Ambassador, Christopher Stevens, and his colleagues. 

We ask that this be done this day and 

in the days to come, giving honor and 

glory to You, our God, and we pray 

Your blessings be upon us always. 

In Your name we pray. 

Amen. 

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THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House his approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

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PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. ELLISON) come forward and lead the House 

in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. ELLISON led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

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WELCOMING REVEREND MATTHEW 

MELLO 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without 

objection, the gentleman from Florida 

(Mr. ROSS) is recognized for 1 minute. 

There was no objection. 

Mr. ROSS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I 

wanted to take a brief moment to say 

thank you to today’s chaplain. I would 

also like to thank the Speaker for 

making this possible. 

The invocation today was offered by 

Father Matthew Mello of Resurrection 

Catholic Church in my hometown of 

Lakeland, Florida. 

Mr. Speaker, in 1963, my mother and 

father helped found the church Father 

Mello calls home. And like my parents 

and most Floridians, Father Mello is a 

geographic mutt: born in New Jersey, 

attended grade school in Puerto Rico, 

went to high school in Florida, attended seminary in Indiana, and studied theology in Chicago. 

We don’t know if he’s a Yankees fan, 

a Cubs fan, or a White Sox fan. But one 

thing’s for certain: since 1998, Father 

Mello has been a constant and reassuring presence in the spiritual life of 

countless residents of my hometown 

and to my family. His presence in my 

dad’s final year of life was a comfort to 

him as well as to my family. 

Father Mello personifies Christ’s instruction to us to be the ‘‘servant of 

all.’’ I firmly believe, as the Bible also 

says, ‘‘that the fervent prayer of a 

righteous man availeth much.’’ Knowing Father Mello, I have no doubt that 

today’s prayer was heard on high. 

I thank him for his prayer today and 

his lifetime of service. 

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair will entertain 15 further requests 

for 1-minute speeches on each side of 

the aisle. 

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RELEASE OF PASTOR YOUCEF 

NADARKHANI 

(Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, Pastor 

Youcef Nadarkhani has been released 

from prison in Iran. After 3 years of 

suffering in prison, with the death penalty hanging over his head on false 

charges, Pastor Youcef is now home 

with his family. This weekend he was 

suddenly brought before a court, convicted on a more minor sentence, and 

granted time served. 


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