Ed Markey: “on June 16 this House passed a bill to present a Congressional Gold Medal to Nelson Mandela. The long story, to bring us…”

“on June 16 this House passed a bill to present a Congressional Gold Medal to Nelson Mandela. The long story, to bring us to a point where this body would vote a Congressional Gold Medal to Nelson Mandela, began with Massachusetts University's cutting off their investment in South Africa; with the State of Massachusetts passing a State law prohibiting any contacts with the State of South Africa. And slowly but surely the international community heard that message, and slowly but surely the international community tightened the reins around South Africa so that Nelson Mandela could become the elected president of that country. It began, though, in Massachusetts. Another great individual, another winner of the Nobel Peace Prize languished for 5 years under House arrest in Burma, Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the Burmese people's democracy movement, placed under arrest because she had the temerity to win 82 percent of the vote in a democratic election. The State of Massachusetts has passed a law saying that we do not want to have business relationships with the country of Burma. Recently, Aung San Suu Kyi was released from House arrest, but the military leaders of Burma still tightly control her movements. And only if we continue to keep the pressure on Burma will Aung San Suu Kyi one day address a joint session of Congress.”