E2364 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 10, 2008 

to Solzhenitsyn can attest to this truth. Their 

lives in captivity did not improve because 

President Reagan quietly urged Gorbachev to 

set them free, but because he publicly 

shamed them. 

In Egypt opposition leader Ayman Nour, 

who was himself inspired by President Bush’s 

call for democracy in Egypt, challenged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the 2005 

elections and was jailed prior to the election. 

His wife has tirelessly advocated for his release with inconsistent help from the U.S. 

Nour’s plight is indicative of a confused policy in Egypt and throughout the Middle East 

which gave occasional lip-service to human 

rights and freedom and then rarely stood with 

reformers who dared to answer the call. 

In 2002, the administration boldly threatened 

to withhold additional foreign assistance to 

Egypt, the second largest recipient of U.S. aid 

since 1979, largely because of their imprisonment of pro-democracy activist Saad Ibrahim. 

This was the first time that any administration 

linked the human rights of a Middle Eastern 

country to its eligibility to receive foreign assistance. The efficacy of this approach was 

apparent when Ibrahim was eventually released. 

The amount of aid we give Egypt is a powerful means of prompting political reform and 

protection of vulnerable minorities, like the 9 

million Coptic Christians—an ancient community withering under tremendous pressure. But 

the visionary approach of the early days of the 

administration quickly faded to business as 

usual with the U.S. expressing only mild disapproval over Mubarak’s February 2006 announcement of the delay of municipal elections and aid continuing unabated. 

Vietnam is another example, like China, 

where trade has trumped human rights for the 

last 8 years. Just this summer, Vietnamese 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited the 

U.S. but the focus of talks with the President 

was almost solely on economic cooperation 

with little to no mention of human rights 

abuses particularly of political dissidents and 

the Christian minority. 

Since 2004 Vietnam had been on the Countries of Particular Concern list annually put out 

by the State Department which names the 

worst violators of religious freedom. But in 

2006, on the eve of the President’s visit to 

Hanoi, Vietnam was removed despite persistent abuse, harassment and detention for 

those seeking to practice their faith outside of 

government approved religious organizations. 

Shortly after the removal the government 

launched a crackdown. Sadly we had relinquished a major diplomatic tool for bringing 

about reform. 

If China is any indication of the future, we 

would be naive to assume that more trade between our two countries will bring about political reform. 

The list of missed opportunities goes on and 

on. The ancient community of Iraqi Christians 

is on the verge of extinction, Egypt’s Bahais 

continue to be denied basic rights, the people 

of Tibet are helpless to do anything as their 

homeland is plundered, a sobering assessment on this International Human Rights Day 

which marks the 60th anniversary of the U.N. 

adoption of the Universal Declaration of 

Human Rights. 

President Reagan once said, ‘‘To prisoners 

of conscience throughout the world, take 

heart; you have not been forgotten. We, your 

brothers and sisters in God, have made your 

cause our cause, and we vow never to relent 

until you have regained the freedom that is 

your birthright as a child of God.’’ 

A word to my Republican colleagues as our 

party seeks to once again find its voice in the 

aftermath of a difficult election year: we must 

return to the principles at the heart of the Republican Party—the party of Lincoln and 

Reagan. We must affirm that we stand for the 

defenseless, champion liberty, confront injustice. In the words of our own party platform let 

us not forget that, ‘‘the international promotion 

of human rights reflects our heritage, our values and our national interest.’’ 

And to my Democratic colleagues, specifically President-elect Obama, I pray that the 

words which rang out on the night of his historic victory will in fact be realized during his 

administration. He rightly spoke directly to 

those ‘‘huddled around radios in the forgotten 

corners of the globe,’’ and told them that the 

‘‘true strength of our nation comes not from 

the might of our arms or the scale of our 

wealth, but from the enduring power of our 

ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and 

unyielding hope.’’ I would go a step further. 

America is never more strong, never more 

fully America, than when we are seeking to 

secure these ideals the world over: for the 

Egyptian opposition leader, the Chinese house 

church pastor, the Vietnamese reporter, the 

Darfurian refugee. 

f 

COMMENDING THE CENTENNIAL 

ANNIVERSARY OF THE VILLAGE 

OF MORGANZA 

HON. RODNEY ALEXANDER OF LOUISIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam Speaker, I rise 

today to commemorate the Centennial Anniversary of the Village of Morganza. 

Named after the first American sheriff of 

Pointe Coupee Parish, Colonel Charles Morgan, the Village of Morganza was incorporated 

in 1908. 

Originally from Pennsylvania, Morgan came 

to Pointe Coupee Parish in 1830. He was a 

prominent land-owner in the parish, and 

served in the Louisiana Legislature and represented the Mississippi River Authority. 

During the Civil War, the Village of 

Morganza was the site of a Union Army encampment. Several battles were fought in this 

area throughout the war. The largest conflict in 

Pointe Coupee Parish occurred at nearby Stirling Plantation, on September 29, 1863. 

Just before the turn of the Twentieth Century, the Morganza Post Office was organized, 

and the Town Hall was built in 1968. 

St. Ann’s Catholic Church was founded in 

1916, but was so severely damaged by storms 

in 1934 and 1935, the structure was later destroyed. The present church building was 

dedicated in October 1935. 

The Village of Morganza is perhaps best 

known for the Morganza Spillway which helps 

control flooding on the lower Mississippi River. 

It is also commonly known for featured scenes 

in the movie ‘‘Easy Rider’’ in 1968. 

Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join 

me in honoring the Centennial Anniversary of 

the Village of Morganza. I am proud of the 

residents of this historical community for ensuring its charm and spirit is as strong today 

as it was 100 years prior. 

f 

HONORING JIM WITT, CITY 

MANAGER OF COPPELL 

HON. KENNY MARCHANT OF TEXAS

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, I rise to 

recognize Jim Witt, who is retiring after fifteen 

years of service as City Manager of Coppell, 

Texas. His dedication to the community 

proves that citizens can truly make a difference in the lives of others, and I am proud 

to honor such a distinguished leader. 

Mr. Witt has played an indispensable role in 

the development of Coppell during his tenure. 

In his fifteen years of service, Coppell has increased its size by 19,000 residents, the City 

staff increased from 178 to 365, and the City 

budget grew from roughly $15 million to approximately $81 million. 

Mr. Witt oversaw tremendous economic 

growth in Coppell. Many of the buildings in 

Coppell that stand as cornerstones of the 

community were only possible through the efforts of Mr. Witt. To name just a few of the 

buildings he has played an instrumental role 

with: the Justice Center, three Fire Stations, a 

Fire Administration building, a Service Center, 

the William T. Cozby Public Library, an 

Aquatics and Recreation Center, a Municipal 

Cemetery, Wagon Wheel Park, Andy Brown 

East and Central, MacArthur Park, over six 

miles of trails, Town Center Plaza, and the 

Community/Senior Center. 

With Mr. Witt’s leadership, he helped create 

several community-based initiatives such as 

Farmers Market, community gardens and the 

half-cent sales tax for schools. 

On behalf of the 24th District of Texas, I 

would like to thank Mr. Witt for his tireless 

service to Coppell. Mr. Witt’s successes have 

been many, and it is an honor for me to recognize him for his nearly two decades of contributions to the people of Coppell. I ask all my 

colleagues to join me in wishing Jim Witt continued success in his future. 

f 

IN HONOR OF DR. CORNELIA N. 

WINNER 

HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE OF DELAWARE

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 

Mr. CASTLE. Madam Speaker, it is with 

great pleasure that I rise today to recognize 

Dr. Cornelia N. ‘‘Connie’’ Winner. In December 

2008, Dr. Winner will retire after thirty-six 

years of service to Delaware Technical & 

Community College. 

Dr. Winner’s involvement with the college 

began in 1972, when she took a position at 

the Wilmington Campus as an instructor in the 

Secretarial Technology Department. Just eight 

years later, Dr. Winner became Chairperson of 

the campus Technology Department. In 1985, 

she was made Assistant Dean of Instruction of 

the Stanton/Wilmington Campus. During the 

remainder of her time at Delaware Tech, Dr.