Sean Patrick Maloney: “today I pay tribute along with my dear friend and colleague, Representative Henry Hyde, to the wonderful people of…”

“today I pay tribute along with my dear friend and colleague, Representative Henry Hyde, to the wonderful people of Italy. In the hours and days following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, hundreds of thousands of Italians rallied in Rome in sympathy with and in support of America. Prime Minister Berlusconi visited the United States and in his public statements expressed these same sentiments. He rightly stated that these attacks were attacks against all nations. A great honor bestowed upon visiting heads of states to the U.S. is the opportunity to speak before a joint session of Congress. During that appearance, he emphasized goals we all share; promoting democracy and protecting human rights. He called for continuation of the global efforts to fight terrorism. Italy is a great ally of the United States, and I believe we should continue efforts to bring the people of both nations closer together. As the representative for thousands of Italian Americans, I know, as they do, that our society has benefited strongly from the many contributions made by this vibrant community. ____________________”