[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2414-H2416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ESTABLISHING DUTCH-AMERICAN FRIENDSHIP DAY
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 89) expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American
Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and
the Netherlands.
The Clerk read as follows
H. Res. 89
Whereas, 225 years ago, on the 19th of April, 1782 in the
City of the Hague, the Ambassadorial credentials of John
Adams were officially recognized by Prince William V of
Orange and the States-General, thus establishing formal
diplomatic ties between the new government of the United
States and the Republic of the Netherlands.
Whereas the historical ties between the Dutch and American
people go back nearly 200 years earlier to the period when
the Pilgrims resided for almost 11 years in the Netherlands
before sailing to the new world;
Whereas the diplomatic ties between the governments of the
United States and the Netherlands are the longest continuous
ties between the United States and any country of the world;
Whereas the Dutch contribution to the American melting pot
has played such a significant role in the life of America as
exemplified by Presidents Martin Van Buren, Theodore
Roosevelt, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt;
Whereas the bonds of friendship linking the Dutch and
American people continue to grow in strength and affection;
and
Whereas the heritage of this friendship between peoples
serves as a laudable example for the kinds of relations that
should link all the peoples of the earth and should be
properly extolled: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of
Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-
American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the
United States and the Netherlands.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Westmoreland)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
might consume.
Mr. Speaker, every year we and the Dutch-American community in the
Netherlands celebrate the bilateral relations between the Netherlands
and the United States. On April 19, 1782, John Adams, the second
President of the United States, was received by the State's General in
The Hague and recognized as Minister Plenipotentiary of the United
States of America.
Also, this was the day that Mr. Adams purchased a house at Fluwelen
Burgwal 18 in The Hague, which became the first American embassy in the
world. This day is known by many people as the Dutch-American
Friendship Day that reminds us how the Dutch played a role in America's
history and traditions.
Prior to 1782, America had always had a long-standing relationship
with the Dutch going back as far as 1609 when Henry Hudson, an explorer
hired by a Dutch-based United East India Company, traveled up a river
that now bears his name and made a land claim for his employer in the
area known as New York.
{time} 1500
His exploration helped the Dutch to continue to be the foremost
traders and merchant mariners in the world and expanded their influence
in setting up a trading post on the southern end of Manhattan Island.
In 1625, the Dutch used beads to purchase Manhattan from the Indians
for 60 guilders, about $24, and renamed it New Amsterdam.
It became the center for trade and commerce that attracted the best
and brightest people from different walks of life, culture, and creeds.
New Amsterdam received an official charter and officially became a city
in 1653, making it to the first city in North America where citizens
freely elected their city council. This was one of the first acts to
help establish a platform for democracy in the United States.
In 1776, the Dutch played a major role in financing the Revolutionary
War, and it was repaid by the U.S. Government with stock certificates,
an action that eventually led to the establishment of the New York
Stock Exchange in 1791. Many prominent Americans from Dutch ancestry
have made significant contributions to our country, like Presidents
Martin van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. All
were great Americans who dedicated their lives to help shape America to
be the land of the free and home of the brave.
The Dutch contributions to America are part of our customs and
traditions that have enriched our lives for over 200 years. So it is
very easy to support H. Res. 89. I do so and urge all of my colleagues
to give their support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, America began its relationship with the Dutch in 1609
when Captain Henry Hudson, searching for a faster route to Asia, sailed
up what is now known as the Hudson River. Although he did not find his
way to Asia, he and other Dutch traders quickly saw the potential and
opportunity of this country and established the second European
settlement in America named Fort Nassau near Albany, New York.
Their growth continued, and eventually a large portion of the early
eastern United States was settled by the Dutch. The Dutch and the
United States have proven to be extraordinary allies over the past 200
years, where in many instances they came to each other's aid at
critical times in history.
Shortly after the Revolutionary War, the Netherlands presented a
risky and courageous act by being the first country to salute the
American flag. A few years later, on April 19, 1782, John Adams secured
the recognition of the United States as an independent government at
The Hague. He was the first U.S. envoy to the Netherlands and brokered
the first loan for Congress from three banks in the Netherlands, which
amounted to the entire U.S. foreign debt at that time.
Consequently, the Netherlands followed France to become the second
country in the world to establish formal diplomatic relations with the
United States. Also during this time, John Adams purchased a home that
became the first American embassy on
[[Page H2415]]
foreign soil anywhere in the world. These ties still remain strong and,
in fact, constitute one of the longest, unbroken diplomatic
relationships between the United States and any foreign country right
up until the present time.
The Netherlands have demonstrated its commitment to the United
States, even in modern times, by being one of the first countries to
ally itself with the U.S. after the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was one
of the first to assist in the war on terror; and in the wake of
Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, the Netherlands graciously
provided Members of Congress access to their unique and innovative
perspective on water management and flood protection.
I would also like to point out that Dutch Americans have contributed
greatly to our fine country and have played a significant role in the
life of America. This is exemplified by our three Presidents of Dutch
descent, Presidents Martin van Buren, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin
Roosevelt. Dutch Americans have served at all levels of our government
and have served us well in this distinguished body, including the two
sponsors of this bill, Mr. Hoekstra, and my colleague on the committee,
Mr. Van Hollen.
Dutch Americans and our rich history have many firsts with the
Netherlands, and it continues to strengthen our tie with this true
diplomatic friend working side by side with the United States to bring
peace, freedom, and commerce in the world at large.
I urge all of my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 89.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield
such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs.
Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H. Res. 89. New York City
was first founded by the Dutch, and they made a tremendous contribution
to the city I am honored to represent and to our country. Two of the
Dutch Presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
both came from New York.
If you go to the City Museum of New York, there is really a beautiful
exhibit that pays tribute to the many contributions in our early days
by the Dutch.
I rise in strong support of this resolution and to the preceding
resolution, which honors the 95th anniversary of the Girl Scouts. I
really rise today to honor the 95 years of educating, nurturing, and
empowering our Nation's girls through the Girl Scout programs. Its 3.6
million members learn skills and develop character that help them
succeed in the real world.
The Girl Scouts' Web site highlights the organization's focus on the
leadership, strong values, social conscience and conviction about their
own potential and self-worth of its members. These are vital attributes
that help girls grow into the women who will lead our country and
inspire the next generation of scouts.
I know personally about the power of being a Girl Scout, because I
was one. The basic character and skills I learned then have served me
my entire life, and they even serve me now in Congress.
For that I owe the Girl Scouts and the great Juliette Gordon, who
founded the organization in 1912, a great debt of gratitude. I am proud
that my hometown, New York City, is home to the Girl Scouts' national
headquarters. I applaud the scouts for 95 years of empowerment and
excellence, and I wish them many more years of helping nurture
America's girls.
I rise in support of these two resolutions and applaud the leadership
of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for bringing them before
this body today, and I urge unanimous support for them.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield as much
time as he may consume to my distinguished colleague from Michigan (Mr.
Hoekstra).
Mr. HOEKSTRA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 89,
which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that a day
should be established as Dutch American Friendship Day.
On April 19, 2007, the United States and the Netherlands will mark
225 years of unbroken diplomatic relations. It is the United States'
longest existing diplomatic relationship.
My parents emigrated to the United States from the Netherlands when I
was 3 years old. I am deeply proud of my Dutch heritage and feel that I
have a special connection to both countries. As Russell Shorto notes in
``The Island at the Center of the World,'' Americans are indebted to
the culture of tolerance that was present in 17th-century Dutch
Manhattan, where men and women of diverse races and religions lived in
relative peace for the first time in the New World.
Dutch ideals such as individuality, freedom, hard work, and human
rights have flourished in the United States; and our two countries can
and have worked together to confront common challenges to our very
similar societies. Last year, my colleague on the other side of the
aisle, Chris Van Hollen, and I created a bipartisan Congressional
Caucus on the Netherlands, a group that I hope will deepen our
understanding of the ways in which we can continue to keep working
together as allies for the mutual benefit of our countries.
The United States and the Dutch have proven to be outstanding allies,
allies for over 200 years. The Netherlands was the first country to
salute the American flag after the Revolutionary War. It was one of the
first to assist the United States and recognize the threat from radical
militant Islamists and has graciously provided Members of Congress and
others with critical access to their unique and innovative perspective
on water management and flood protection in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina and Hurricane Rita.
Put simply, the value of the relationship between our two countries
and the opportunities that exist to learn from each other should be
deeply appreciated and recognized.
I encourage all Members to support H. Res. 89 to honor Dutch and
American friendship and celebrate the historic ties between our
countries
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor in strong support of
H. Res. 89, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a
day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day, to
celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands.
My district in West Michigan has some of the deepest roots of Dutch-
American history and heritage in the country. Dutch explorers, traders
and settlers were a significant part of the earliest European
exploration of the New World, especially in New York and New Jersey.
However, the first major wave of Dutch immigration began in the 1840s
with the Dissentings (later on known as Calvinists), a new group of
religious people in the Netherlands. Like so many of the original
settlers here in America, they wanted more religious liberty than they
experienced in their home country. They were also seeking prosperity in
a time of economic downturn and agricultural hardship in Europe. So the
Dutch pilgrims dared the journey across the Atlantic to New York and
then moved across northern New York and finally settled near the shores
of Lake Michigan. Waves of Dutch settlers soon found Grand Rapids and
Holland, Michigan, to be the places of job growth and the religious
liberty they were seeking.
I am proud to report that the traditions of a ``Dutch work ethic''
and religious devotion still permeate Grand Rapids and the West
Michigan region today. Generations of Dutch immigrants have enriched
our area with the unique customs and traditions of their ancestral
homeland. They are a people that have given the world great artists,
celebrated philosophers, noted theologians, and leaders of
international business.
The Dutch-American Friendship Day called for in this resolution would
be an honorable response to annual celebrations in the Netherlands.
Every year, the Dutch-American community in the Netherlands
commemorates the bilateral relations between the Netherlands and the
United States. Celebrated on April 19, the Dutch-American Friendship
Day remembers the day that John Adams, the second president of the
United States, was received by the States General in The Hague and
recognized as an ambassador of the United States of America. It was
also the day that the house he had purchased at Fluwelen Burgwal 18 in
The Hague became the first American Embassy in the world. Today, the
diplomatic ties between our two governments are the longest continuous
ties between the U.S. and any other country in the world.
[[Page H2416]]
This long history of diplomacy, cooperation and friendship should be
lauded as an example for all nations. I congratulate my colleague from
West Michigan, Peter Hoekstra--himself a Dutch-American--for
introducing this resolution. I am proud of my family's and my wife's
family's Dutch roots, Mr. Speaker, and I urge my colleagues to support
this resolution.
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to rise today in support of
House Resolution 89, expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American
Friendship Day.
The Dutch/American relationship is the longest unbroken diplomatic
relationship in the history of the United States of America. The
relationship actually began years before the Pilgrims landed in America
as they first resided for almost 11 years in the Netherlands before
sailing for the New World.
On November 16, 1776, only 4 months after declaring our independence
from Great Britain, an American ship sailed into the West Indies Dutch
harbor of St. Eustatius and was greeted by a cannon salute in
recognition of the American flag. It was the first official recognition
by any sovereign nation of the United States.
On April 19, 1789, Ambassador John Adams officially presented his
credentials to Prince William of Orange, thus establishing the
diplomatic ties between the United States and the Republic of the
Netherlands that we enjoy today.
The U.S./Dutch relationship has stood the test of time and has
strengthened in the crucible of conflict as the Dutch have stood beside
us in times of peace and war. The Dutch supported us in our war for
independence. Sixty years ago Dutch and American servicemen stood side
by side during World War II and today the Dutch stand by us still in
the Global War on Terror.
The debt we owe to our Dutch friends is seen not only in our people,
and in the persons of such famous Dutch Americans as Presidents Martin
VanBuren, and Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, but also in our
experience as a Nation. Our traditions of religious freedom and
tolerance as well as our system of government, all have spiritual and
legal roots in our relationship with the Dutch Republic.
That is why I stand today to thank the Dutch people for their support
over these centuries and to encourage the founding of a Dutch-American
Friendship Day.
Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support the
passage of H. Res. 89, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I support and strongly urge the
passage of H. Res. 89, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 89.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and
nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.
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