E1192 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 20, 2019 youth services provider capable of reaching an thorities Act (Roll Call 536). Had I voted, I acting President Fouad Mebazaa appointed ever-expanding and greatly underserved youth would have voted YEA. President Caid Essebsi, after almost 20 years population. f of private life, as the new Prime Minister for Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join his record of patriotism, loyalty, and commit- me in honoring Sports Foundation, Inc. for HONORING PRESIDENT MOHAMED ment to democracy. BEJI CAID ESSEBSI their steadfast dedication and years of service In 2011, following elections for the Con- to our Bronx residents, and for their long- stituent Assembly of Tunisia, the body standing commitment to improving our com- HON. BILL FLORES charged with writing a new constitution, Presi- munity. OF TEXAS dent Caid Essebsi left office. As the country’s f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES new constitution was being written, President Caid Essebsi founded a new political party HIDDEN FIGURES CONGRESSIONAL Friday, September 20, 2019 named ‘‘Nidaa Tounes’’ which translates to GOLD MEDAL ACT Mr. FLORES. Madam Speaker, I rise today ‘‘Tunisia’s Call.’’ He founded this party as a to honor Mohamed Beji Caid Essebsi, the first SPEECH OF democracy-oriented alternative to the lslamist democratically elected president of Tunisia, Ennahda party which had recently taken HON. JOYCE BEATTY who passed away on July 25, 2019. power. President Caid Essebsi was born November OF OHIO In early 2014, the country’s new constitution 29, 1926, in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. In 1950 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES was passed and ratified; followed by elections he went to study law in Paris, France, and to form a new system of government. Par- Thursday, September 19, 2019 when he returned, he joined the independence liamentary elections were held in October of movement led by future President Habib Mrs. BEATTY. Madam Speaker, Katherine that year and Nidaa Tounes won a plurality of Bourguiba. Following Tunisia’s independence Johnson, Dr. Christine Darden, Dorothy the seats. The next month, President Caid from France in 1956, he served as Vaughan, and Mary Jackson; most people Essebsi was elected as President of Tunisia in Bourguiba’s adviser and in his cabinet from know them as the ‘‘Hidden Figures.’’ the country’s first free and fair elections. Dur- 1957 to 1951. His posts included Chief of Re- Well, Madam Speaker, I think it’s safe to ing his presidency, he supported a secular so- gional Administration, Interior Minister, De- say they are ‘‘hidden figures’’ no longer. ciety and legislation that promoted women’s fense Minister, and Ambassador to France. Thanks to them and many other women, we rights. were able to reach for the stars and put a man Ten years after being sidelined for advo- Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting on the moon. cating for democratization, President Caid President Caid Essebsi on a House Democ- We honor these brave, brilliant women. Essebsi returned to public service in 1981, racy Partnership trip to Tunisia to promote They accomplished what many thought impos- serving as Minister of Foreign Affairs until their continuing democratic progress. I enjoyed sible and proved—to paraphrase Katherine 1986. In 1987, Prime Minister Zine el Abidine his company and was saddened to hear of his Johnson—that ‘‘Girls are capable of doing ev- Ben Ali staged a bloodless coup against Presi- passing. It is my fervent hope that in the up- erything men are capable of doing. Sometimes dent Bourguiba. Under the new regime, Presi- coming elections to replace him, Tunisia con- they even have more imagination than men.’’ dent Caid Essebsi was appointed as Ambas- tinues to build upon the democratic processes In that spirit, I am proud to be a cosponsor sador to Germany. He later returned to serve that he so strongly supported. of the Hidden Figures Congressional Gold from 1990 to 1991 as the President of the Medal Act and urge all my colleagues to sup- Chamber of Deputies, the former lower cham- Madam Speaker, President Mohamed Beji port this resolution. ber of the Tunisian parliament. Caid Essebsi’s life was defined by his service to his country. He will be forever remembered f In 2010, the citizens of Tunisia took part in a campaign of civil resistance against Presi- as a husband, a father, a selfless public serv- PERSONAL EXPLANATION dent Ben Ali. Their demonstrations against ant, a champion for democracy, and a friend. high unemployment, food inflation, and lack of My wife, Gina, and I offer our deepest and HON. JENNIFER WEXTON political freedom led to the eventual ouster of heartfelt condolences to the Caid Essebsi fam- OF VIRGINIA President Ben Ali. The Tunisian people’s revo- ily. We also lift up the family and friends of President Caid Essebsi in our prayers. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES lutionary success sparked a wave of protests and government overthrows across the Middle As I close today, I urge all Americans to Friday, September 20, 2019 East, resulting in the Arab Spring. In the after- continue praying for our country, for our vet- Ms. WEXTON. Madam Speaker, I was on math of their success, Tunisians were in need erans, for our military men and women who the floor but missed the vote on H.R. 535, the of leadership while trying to form a new and protect us, and for our first responders who Department of Veteran Affairs Expiring Au- democratic form of government. In early 2011, keep us safe at home. VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:23 Sep 21, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A20SE8.012 E20SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with REMARKS.