E2124 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks December 7, 2006 established by private sector entities, Federal, largest regional nonprofit NGO in the I offer my best wishes and congratulations State, or local authorities may allow the Sec- Caucasus, and herself a Moscow-trained oph- to Vice President Annette Lu who has retary to pre-empt State laws that impose thalmologist. been the driving force behind this international more stringent requirements. As a doctor myself, I am particularly aware symposium on and congress. Mr. Speaker, in spite of these concerns, I of the opportunities and responsibilities that f believe the passage of this conference report we have as physician leaders to take medical is important to our efforts to improve the safe- knowledge and apply it in ways that benefit IN HONOR OF SALLY LILIENTHAL ty of our Nation and the American people. As the greater good. I applaud the way Dr. Chairman ROGERS has said on numerous oc- Aliyeva has used her training and respected HON. NANCY PELOSI casions, those who seek to do us harm only position for philanthropic and charitable works OF CALIFORNIA have to do their job right occasionally. We through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation in the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES have to do our jobs to protect America 100% areas of education, health care, science, hu- Wednesday, December 6, 2006 of the time. This is a step toward that impor- manitarian aid, international relations and cul- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, with deep admi- tant goal. I urge my colleagues to support this ture. I am aware that the Foundation has been ration and affection I pay my final respects to conference report, and fund these efforts to intimately involved in the construction and re- a great San Franciscan and global citizen, protect our Nation. furbishment of Azerbaijani hospitals and the Sally Lilienthal, who died on Oct. 24 at the f international exchange of new medical tech- age of 87. I join my constituents in honoring nologies and commend those efforts. WELCOME TO THE FIRST LADY OF her vision, her courage, her leadership and I’ve also learned that Houston, too, has her immense contributions to building a safer AZERBAIJAN, DR. MEHRIBAN played a direct role in advancing medical tech- and more peaceful world. A magnificent role ALIYEVA nology in Azerbaijan and the region through model, she lived her conscience and practiced various programs over the years with Texas her ideals each and every day. HON. SHELLEY SEKULA GIBBS Medical Center institutions. In 1998, Baylor In 1981, at the height of the Cold War—as OF TEXAS College of Medicine’s world-renowned heart superpowers stockpiled nuclear weapons, the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES surgeon Dr. Michael DeBakey traveled to international arms trade boomed and inter- Wednesday, December 6, 2006 Baku to assess the country’s cardiovascular continental ballistic missiles grew more le- needs and the state of its health care. I under- thal—Sally Lilienthal founded the Ms. SEKULA GIBBS. Mr. Speaker, I would stand that Dr. DeBakey met with President Ploughshares Fund. Based in her living room like to echo the sentiments of my colleague Aliyev in Baku after having previously met him with few resources and her determination to from Tennessee and also extend the welcome in Houston, and I would imagine that Mrs. inform the public about the issues and the of the House of Representatives to the First Aliyeva personally appreciates the importance danger, it became an enormously influential Lady of Azerbaijan, Dr. Mehriban Aliyeva, to of sharing medical technologies across bor- foundation dedicated to the prevention of nu- Washington. ders as her husband is a heart attack survivor clear, biological and chemical weapons of war. The House of Representatives recognizes himself. She supported researchers, policy activists, the strategic relationship the has Mr. Speaker, I am honored to welcome First and scientists in the United States and over- with Azerbaijan. We know that its troops stand Lady Mehriban Aliyeva to Washington on be- seas who were trying to change government with us in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, that half of the House of Representatives. I com- policies and was a vital figure in shaping the it supports our efforts toward combating global mend a fellow doctor, parliamentarian, wife anti-proliferation agenda during the Cold War. terrorism, and that it plays a key role in pro- and mother on her personal commitment to As of now, the fund has given away more than viding a secure and dependable energy supply advancing health care and women’s initiatives $50 million, mostly for startup research and is to the West. The Caspian Sea Republic is rap- in her country and the Caspian Region. Wel- the largest grant-making foundation in the idly modernizing, in large part due to its off- come to Washington, Dr. Aliyeva. United States focused exclusively on peace shore sector and the opening earlier this year f and security issues. of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan gas pipeline and Sally Ann Lowengart was 12 when her fam- Baku-Erzerum natural gas pipeline. The coun- TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL SYMPO- ily moved to San Francisco. She graduated try experienced 26 percent growth in 2005 and SIUM ON DEMOCRACY AND CON- from Sarah Lawrence College and returned to is expected to surpass 30 percent growth this GRESS San Francisco in 1940. During the 1950s, she year. This phenomenal growth is allowing studied sculpture at the San Francisco Art In- Azerbaijan the opportunity to make significant HON. DIANE E. WATSON stitute. Elegant and artistic, she could have investments in its future, in many respects. OF CALIFORNIA spent her life comfortably moving in San Fran- Here in the United States, and I might add in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES cisco’s art and social circles. Instead, she my home district, in particular, we are acutely Wednesday, December 6, 2006 turned her attention and her might to the aware of the importance in investing in our issues of war, peace, and social justice. own future through efforts to develop new Ms. WATSON. Mr. Speaker, an international Together with her husband Philip Lilienthal sources of energy for our own use and those symposium on democracy and congress will she founded the Northern California Com- of our global friends. be held in , Taiwan from December 8 mittee of the NAACP Legal Defense and Edu- We also recognize Azerbaijan as an emerg- through December 10. The symposium is cation Fund in 1970. She served on the re- ing democracy that is working hard to improve sponsored by Democratic Pacific Union gional ACLU board. She cofounded Amnesty the social, political and economic opportunities (DPU). DPU is a Taipei-based non-govern- International Western Region and was an of its predominately Muslim population. As an mental organization founded in 2005. Its goal early supporter of the International Campaign aspiring NATO and EU member, as well as a is to enhance dialogues and exchanges to Ban Landmines that, while she was vice member of the Council of Europe, the largest among members of parliaments from countries chair, resulted in a global treaty and a Nobel governmental human rights organization call- around the Pacific Rim. Peace Prize in 1977. In 1990, the United Na- ing for its members to harmonize human rights This year’s symposium will include partici- tions Association bestowed to her its Eleanor protection laws and regulations and compel- pants from , Republic of the , Roosevelt Humanitarian Award. ling compliance with them, the success of ini- , , , , New In addition to her work for peace, for social tiatives in these areas is an example for other Zealand, , , the United justice, and the arts, Sally Lilienthal was an Caucasus and Central Asian countries. States, and Republic of China. The sympo- active member of our community supporting Mr. Speaker, I would like to take the oppor- sium’s agenda will include panel discussions progressive policies and politicians. For 30 tunity of the visit of Azerbaijan’s First Lady to on the legislative process, presidential sys- years I was blessed with her support, her ad- draw special attention to the strides it is mak- tems, congressional elections, and other par- vice, and her friendship. ing in areas of particular importance to me as liamentary issues. I extend my deepest sympathy to her chil- a doctor. Not only is the First Lady of Azer- Mr. Speaker, the symposium will also en- dren; Laurie Cohen, Liza Pike, Thomas baijan an elected member of the Azerbaijani able U.S. participants to learn more about Tai- Cohen, Matthew Royce, Sukey Lilienthal, An- Parliament and chair of its Azerbaijan-U.S. wan, our unique bilateral relationship, and re- drea Lilienthal, and her 11 grandchildren. I Interparliamentary Friendship Working Group, gional issues of common interest. I strongly hope it is a comfort to her family that so many but she is a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, urge my colleagues to support the symposium people mourn her passing and will hold Sally President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, the and to attend the symposium, if at all possible. in their hearts forever.

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