Sean Patrick Maloney: “On August 19, William Jefferson Clinton, our 42nd President, celebrated his 58th birthday. Today, we honor him not just…”

“On August 19, William Jefferson Clinton, our 42nd President, celebrated his 58th birthday. Today, we honor him not just for serving as our Nation's 42nd President, but for the legacy that President Bush recently described as ``a deep and far-ranging knowledge of public policy, a great compassion for people in need, and the forward-looking spirit Americans like in a President.'' We honor President Clinton for presiding over our Nation's longest ever economic expansion, largest ever budget surplus, and the growth of 22 million jobs during his Presidency. We honor President Clinton for projecting American power on the world stage, to further the cause of international peace and understanding, without antagonizing our historic allies, and we honor him for helping to broker the Good Friday Accords for Northern Ireland, engaging in Middle East peace talks, and bringing an end to ethnic cleansing in the Balkans. We honor President Clinton for encouraging Americans to care for their fellow men and women, creating AmeriCorps, which engages more than 50,000 Americans each year in community service. At this moment, President Clinton is recovering from an unexpected but perhaps life-saving surgery in New York City. We in Congress are thankful for President Clinton's improved health and send forth our thoughts and prayers to him and his family, especially Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and his daughter Chelsea.”