Frank Pallone: “I just want to begin as I do every year, by thanking the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for organizing this hour…”

“I just want to begin as I do every year, by thanking the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Bilirakis] for organizing this hour to honor the anniversary of Greek independence day. As you know, he is the chairman of the Hellenic caucus. He works tirelessly and is an outspoken champion really of Greek-American relations. I thank him for his tireless effort to strengthen the ties between our two countries. I just wanted to say, many of us here in Congress are staunchly committed to preserving and strengthening the ties between the Greek and the American people. It is very important. I think sometimes people diminish the significance of these commemoratory evenings as we are having now, but I think it is very important that we speak out and talk about Greek independence day and talk about the ties that bind the Greek and the American people.”