RECOGNIZING THE PEOPLE OF HUNGARY -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 23, 2011)

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SPEECH OF

HON. DAN BURTON

OF INDIANA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011

• Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the people of Hungary whose longstanding commitment to freedom is a testament to the world that freedom and democracy are attainable goals for all people. As Americans, we celebrate with the people of Hungary as they unveil a statue of Ronald Reagan to commemorate his centennial birthday. Hungary is one of America's greatest allies and it warms my heart to know that they rejoice with us in the memory of this hero of freedom.

• The U.S.-Hungarian friendship is one of our oldest and most enduring. Throughout this relationship, many Hungarians have also stood for the cause of liberty and are worthy of our recognition here in the House of Representatives.

• A Hungarian by the name of Michael Kovats de Fabriczy volunteered his services to Benjamin Franklin, then the American Ambassador in Paris, during the Revolutionary War. This Hungarian patriot, who was essential in creating America's first cavalry unit, was killed in battle near Charleston, South Carolina. Soon after Fabriczy's death Americans gained their independence; unfortunately, freedom for Hungary and her people would require a much longer fight.

• A bust of Lajos Kossuth, a politician and journalist who fought for freedom in the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, sits in a vestibule just outside of the crypt of this building. Exiled from Hungary, Kossuth came to America and became just the second foreigner to address a joint session of the United States Congress. An inspiring speaker, Kossuth then traveled across the United States to promote the principle of democratic government.

• Nearly two hundred years after our own revolution, in 1956, the people of Hungary rose up against communist rule and succeeded in toppling the government before being crushed by Soviet troops. In the face of that defeat, the courageous people of Hungary continued their fight. Victory came in 1989, when Hungary opened its border with the West. Hungary then became the first of the former Soviet bloc countries to transition to a Western-style parliamentary democracy, holding its first free parliamentary elections in 1990.

• In the last twenty years Hungarians have embraced their freedom. The country privatized its economy, adopted free-market principles and joined both the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. In 1999, Hungary acceded to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and formally became a military ally of the United States. In 2004, Hungary acceded to the European Union and for the first six months of this year Hungary held the rotating presidency of the EU Council.

• In the past three decades, the United States, home to more than 1.5 million Hungarian-Americans, offered Hungary assistance and expertise as the country established a constitutional, democratic political system, and a free market economy. The United States Government provided expert and financial assistance for the development of modern western institutions in Hungary, including those responsible for national security, law enforcement, free media, environmental regulations, education, and health care.

• With the Iron Curtain lifted, the Support for East European Democracy Act provided more than $136 Million for economic restructuring while the Hungarian-American Enterprise Fund offered loans, equity capital, and technical assistance to promote private-sector development. Most importantly, direct investment from the United States has had a positive impact on the Hungarian economy.

• The progress of freedom within Hungary has also allowed Hungary to support freedom around the globe. Hungary played a critical role in implementing the Dayton Peace Accords in the Balkans by allowing its airbase at Taszár to be used by coalition forces transiting the region. This support has continued, in 2008, the Hungarian military took command of a joint battalion in the Balkans that operates in support of NATO missions in the region.

• In 2003, Hungary helped the coalition in Iraq by deploying a 300-strong battalion as part of the Multi-National Force, and by allowing the Taszár airbase again to be used in training the Free Iraqi Forces. In Afghanistan, Hungary leads a Provincial Reconstruction Team and has deployed an Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team, which works in partnership with the Ohio National Guard and other United States military personnel. Perhaps most importantly, Hungary's Pápa Airbase is the home to the C-17 operations of the Multinational Strategic Airlift Consortium which supports the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, as well as various U.S., EU and NATO peacekeeping and humanitarian operations around the world.

• The Hungarian people's longstanding commitment to freedom has allowed Hungary to become a key American ally and an important strategic partner in Europe. Our common commitment to freedom is based on our common belief in the values of democracy, rule of law, diversity, tolerance, and social mobility. I call on all Hungarians and Americans to continue to uphold these values as our countries continue to work closely to advance freedom across the globe.