Chris Smith: “Madam Speaker, today we bring before the House H. Res. 513, recognizing the historical significance and timeliness of…”

“Madam Speaker, today we bring before the House H. Res. 513, recognizing the historical significance and timeliness of the United States-Ireland Business Summit which took place last week. This groundbreaking economic forum, strongly supported by the Bush administration, brought together more than 400 key government officials and successful CEOs from the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland to build upon the strong business relations existing between our nations, and to foster an even greater economic climate that will enable a just and lasting peace to take hold in Northern Ireland. We know that for so much of its history Ireland's economic progress was tragically inhibited by British economic rule. In fact, it was pure economic conditions in Ireland that prompted millions of Irish to emigrate to the United States. The Irish who came to America helped build the infrastructure of our great Nation; they helped boost our young, industrial economy; and they played historic roles in the growth of our democracy. Today there are at least 44 million Americans who trace their ancestry to Ireland.”