Statement By Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
Thursday, June 5, 1997
Washington, DC
Rep. Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) joined Rep. Jon Christensen (R-NE) and Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in securing bipartisan congressional support for honoring Mother Teresa of Calcutta with the Congressional Gold Medal.
Congressman Jackson said, "Mother Teresa was given the Congressional Gold Medal for a life-time of religiously motivated humanitarian service to the poorest of the poor in the world. Her sacrificial religious and humanitarian service deserves to be honored and revered."
"Mother Teresa sought to do the will of God, as best she understood it, and came to understand God's will for her life as giving of herself to help the so-called wretched of the earth. This woman of faith comes from a religious, moral and spiritual tradition that says service to others, not accumulation of personal wealth or great political strength, is real power. For that she deserves our respect, admiration and highest tribute."
"Ironically," Rep. Jackson said, "today is also the fiftieth anniversary of George C. Marshall's Harvard address, in which he provided the intellectual framework for the development of the Marshall Plan and the rebuilding and reconstruction of Europe after World War II. Today, we need a domestic and international Marshall Plan for the rebuilding and reconstruction of the lives and communities of the poor in our country and around the world. Mother Teresa could then retire," Jackson said.
Rep. Jackson invited Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife to be his special guest for the occasion. While Mayor Daley was unable to attend, his wife, Mrs. Maggie Daley, joined Congressman Jackson for this very special and solemn occasion.
Mother Teresa has been previously recognized with the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize, the Nehru Award for International Understanding, the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The Members-only event took place in the Capitol Rotunda on Thursday, June 5 at 4pm.
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