*EPF217 10/01/2002
Text: Lawmaker Hails Thai Queen's Visit to U.S.
(Rep. John Larson cites long U.S.-Thai friendship) (790)

Representative John Larson (Republican of Connecticut) hailed the upcoming visit of Thailand's Queen Sirikit to the United States in a September 26 speech in the House of Representatives.

Larson, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, cited the importance of U.S.-Thai relations and praised Queen Sirikit for her work "to improve the lives of Her subjects and people throughout the world."

The Connecticut Republican hailed the Thai queen as "one of the world's most respected humanitarians."

During Her visit to the United States, Queen Sirikit will travel to Houston, Texas, where she will be presented with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Award for Humanitarian Service in recognition of her international leadership in health and the environment.

Following is the text of Representative John Larson's September 26 remarks from the Congressional Record:

(begin text)

WELCOMING HER MAJESTY QUEEN SIRIKIT OF THAILAND TO THE UNITED STATES

HON. JOHN B. LARSON OF CONNECTICUT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, September 26, 2002

Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand on her visit to the United States from October 4 to 16, 2002.

Mr. Speaker, as many of my colleagues in the House are undoubtedly aware, Thailand and the United States have been friends for almost two centuries. Our formal relations extend back 169 years to the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between our two nations on March 20, 1833, during the Presidency of Andrew Jackson, the seventh United States President, and the reign of His Majesty King Phra Nang Klao, or King Rama III, of the Chakri Dynasty.

This Treaty was the first such treaty that the United States had concluded with any Asian country and it contains a pledge to establish "a perpetual peace" between our two countries.

I believe that this pledge has been honored during the long and happy relationship between Thailand and the United States as we have so often fought side by side and have made countless sacrifices for one another in defense of our common values.

I'd also like to remind my colleagues that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej Maharaj, Thailand's present King, was born some 75 years ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where His father, His Royal Highness Prince Mahidol, was studying at the Harvard Medical School.

In addition to highlighting the strong ties between the United States and Thailand, the Queen's visit to the United States will allow also us to become more aware of the many charitable organizations which She has founded and has worked so hard to make successful.

One of the more important of these is the Foundation for the Promotion of Supplementary Occupations and Related Techniques, or SUPPORT. SUPPORT was founded in 1976 under Her Majesty's royal patronage and chairmanship and provides outlets for local wares and handicrafts from all regions of the Kingdom.

The promotion and sales of these items provide extra income-generating occupations for farmers who find it difficult to subsist on farm incomes alone.

By supporting these cottage and indigenous industries, the Foundation also help keep alive dying arts, such as traditional clay "chao wang" dolls and tie-dye "mud-mee" silk.

Many of my colleagues and I are looking forward to seeing the display of products and activities of the SUPPORT Foundation at the gala dinner which will be presided over by Her Majesty at the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress on October 9.

One of the highlights of the Queen's visit will be to preside over the premier of the Thai film The Legend of Suriyothai at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts here in Washington. This critically acclaimed film by one of Thailand's most experienced filmmakers, Prince Chatrichalerm Yukol, is an epic historical motion picture that portrays one of Thailand's foremost heroines, Queen Phra Suriyothai.

She fought and died to protect Her husband and king's life and Her actions united Her people to win a war against an invading army in the 14th century.

During Her visit to the United States, Queen Sirikit will also travel to Houston, Texas, where She will be presented with The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Award for Humanitarian Service. This award will recognize Her Majesty's lifelong dedication to improving the health and well being of the people of Thailand and for international leadership in health and the environment.

Former President and Mrs. George Bush will also host tea for Her Majesty during Her stay in Houston.

Mr. Speaker, given the importance of our relationship with Thailand and in recognition all Queen Sirikit has done to improve the lives of Her subjects and people throughout the world, I rise today to welcome Her Majesty to the United States and to urge my colleagues in joining me in honoring one of the world's most respected humanitarians.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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