Sean Patrick Maloney: “Hopefully, Mr. Speaker, we will soon celebrate Cyprus Day when, once again, the entire island would be united. However…”

“Hopefully, Mr. Speaker, we will soon celebrate Cyprus Day when, once again, the entire island would be united. However, the reason we are here today is to celebrate Greek Independence Day. There has always been a very special bond of friendship between our two countries, and there is no better way to show this than as we did today with a concrete vote on this floor which was helpful to Greek citizens in our country. Today, Congress voted overwhelmingly, 360 to 46, for an amendment. This amendment will allow people from Greece to travel to the United States, whether for business or pleasure, without getting a visa, just as Greece allows Americans to travel to their country without a visa. I would really like to end with a quote from the great poet, Shelley, and he said, ``We are all Greeks. Our laws, our literature, our religion, our art have their roots in Greece.'' Tonight we celebrate Greek independence and the many contributions of Greece to American culture.”