The Free South Africa Movement represents the collective strength of all of the people who took the immortal words of Frederick Douglass to heart. All those people who believe that where there is no struggle, there is no progress, took action wherever they were, inspired by the people of southern africa, and the imprisonment of leaders like Nelson Mandela, all of us everywhere, doing what they could. We picketed in bad weather. We filed legal briefs. We packed supplies for refugees. We drafted legislative language. Many of us, like many in south africa did not live to see a free south africa. Many more did not live to see this day. I would like to ask you on their behalf to take a moment of silence, for those we lost are too many to name here. All of them are remembered. Thank you. In the spirit of our common ancestors, and our future descendents, we thank you in this emancipation hall. We thank president mandela, and the people of southern africa, for bringing us together, reminding us of our common humanity, and teaching us to say the struggle continues. [applause] i let bill have my glasses. What im going to do is tell you two stories. Happy birthday president mandela. He would understand why i am telling you these stories. And what they mean. The first is that when we, randall and i we went out to talk to the press, and they left us in there. When we kept having a Frank Exchange of views as it were, with the ambassador, and then looked at each other and said to him, we are not leaving, i may say, we are not leaving. We are not leaving until you free call them and tell them to to free Nelson Mandela. And all the people who have been detained. We are not leaving. He looked at us and he berated me and said how can you be at a civil rights commissioner and telling me we are not leaving. I just told you. He said, youre a congressman. He didnt say that to randall. I dont know what he thought. He said, im having you arrested. I guess he thought we were going to be scared. Randall looked at me, and we just laughed. Then he had us arrested. The rest of that story is history. We did not know the importance. We didnt know whether this was going to work. We had no idea whether it would work at all. We tried to be strategic, and we try to play, but we didnt know what was going to happen. We did it because those of us who did it to free africa from racism and apartheid. The whole story max told you. About the history of the whole thing. We did it because it was right. It took off all over this country. People all over this country joined us. For almost two years, since we have told you with the ordinary people do, they want to get arrested. So many people, my goodness. We could not imagine. We met every day at my house in the morning for almost two years to plot and plan the day. The Smithsonian Museum says they want my table that we sat around. Erwill give it to them aft im dead. [laughter] every day for almost two years. But it worked. We got sanctions. Im telling you that story. The second story, president mandela would tell the story, we tried to go on occasion after sanctions were passed. To see what was going on. Needless to say, they would not give us a visa. We couldnt go. We could go for this, we could go for that. Finally, we decided some of us to tell them that if we went there and things were better, we would announce publicly that things were better. They believed us. [laughter] we got visas. We went to south africa. We raised hell all over south africa. [applause] we said free Nelson Mandela. When we finally got to cape town, we went to a hotel and we got a call one night. The ministry said, you can stop raising hell. He is coming out tomorrow. [applause] so, we told all the people who were working in the hotel, and work stop. There was dancing and singing, may spread the message. The streets were full. We partied on my long when we waiting for long nelson to get out of jail. The next morning, i went over to the Mayors Office where he was to be brought, and waited for him there. Then finally, after all those years, of marching and singing, and even before that, i spent my whole life saying free Nelson Mandela, and apartheid, the door open, and this man came in looking like he looks, vibrant. Not debilitated. We all worried about him. He came in, and he walked up and he hugged each one of us, and thanked us. We sat down, and we sat on the floor around him. We talked about the struggle. What had been done. Finally, he just said, this is only the beginning. Then he went out to speak to the people. Some of us climbed up in the windows in the Mayors Office to look out the window behind him, so we could be behind him looking down while he was speaking. I climbed up in the window and hung out the window. He spoke. Then, shortly after that, that same day, i had reason to come back to the United States. I had classes to teach. The enormity of what had happened, those two years, the people, all over the country, it didnt hit me until i was i have been so exhilarated by this working together on the struggle. I hadnt thought what amounts. I was in the transit lounge on my way back, and the tv was on. I hadnt seen him come out of jail. We did have a tv in the Mayors Office. It was playing. I wanted to see him walk down the street, holding hands. On the screen, he was walking down the street, holding hands. I started to cry, and i couldnt stop. People thought i was crazy. But it hit me. What this meant was this, the power of nonviolence can lead can make what seems impossible possible. That evil will triumph over good, and that the immoral will be inheriting the earth. If youre persistent, if you use nonviolence, if every generation makes its own debt in and justice, change will come. Happy birthday. [applause] on june 26, 1990, when Nelson Mandela was in this building, he opened his speech with words, it is a fact of the human condition that each shows a brief passing moment in space, across the human stage, and passes through existence. I do not often say that of Nelson Mandela, but he was wrong. He will not simply pass out of existence. Even today, as the angels wrestle with his soul, he refuses to pass simply out of human existence. Is it is reported that he is watching television with headphones on. [applause] he is also thinking that generations will allow him to pass out of existence, because for as long as their struggle in the world, for as long as this country has the absence of peace, for as long as people are made to feel inferior, Nelson Mandela, his legacy and his life will not pass out of existence. [applause] if Nelson Mandela could see what is happening in congress today, he will know that he can not pass out of existence. If he knows that over this time, people are gathering to celebrate his values, then he will know that he is not going to pass out of existence. All over the world, people need his values, and his legacy, not as a museum piece, but as Something Real and living that we can use in our everyday lives. I have come to give thanks. I want to thank the leaders of the house and the leaders of the senate for putting together the celebration of the life legacy, and values, of Nelson Mandela. I want to thank you. As congress, welcoming him in 1990 when he still was on your books as a terrorist. I want to thank you [applause] for the congressional medal of honor that you have this code bestowed on him when he was a prisoner. I want to thank you in 2008 for the removal of Nelson Mandela from the terrorist watch list. [applause] i want to thank you, and single out in 1986 the late congressman rondell ends ron dowlands for the comprehensive apartheid act. Against great odds, overriding the veto of the white house, in saying that your house beats where the ordinary citizens, i want to thank you for that act of courage, because only four years later, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison. Eight years later, we had the first democratically elected presidency. Thank you for what you have done. [applause] i have to thank you for other pieces of legislation that you have passed through these houses. The african opportunities act has kick started south africa on the brink of prosperity. Today, you do Nelson Mandela, you do south africa, and you do the african continent great honor by reverberating its worth in these houses. By making the african drums sounding as wonderful as they are in africa, and bring the great jazz music into your houses today. I want to thank a group who cap the umbilical cord going from the days of slavery to the times of segregation and the civil rights struggle, through the antiapartheid struggle, to every instance of racism and injustice, every instance of inequality. They shine the light. Thank you very much for your commitment. [applause] i believe that none of those instances where he was welcomed into this house would have been possible if there are not been a conscience call the congressional black caucus. I also want to thank the african diplomatic corps. [applause] you represented the people of south africa where the official thank you very much for being a clear voice to all of us. I also think that we must thank the people of the United States of america. We have heard from some of them today that i think that will we have seen is an energy, and most important way, the conscience that transcends notions, consonants, color, every difference that is possible in the world. I end by quoting from Nelson Mandela, the second time he spoke in these houses. He received the congressional medal of honor on the 23rd of september, 1998. Nelson mandela said, honorable members, i do not expect to be grounded granted the privilege of addressing the representatives of the United States of america again. I am grateful to have been allowed to do so in the last months of my public life. We face the future with confidence. We do so because despite the difficulties, and attentions that confronts us, the es and ease in all of us, the capacities to touch one anothers heart across oceans, thank you americans for allowing Nelson Mandela to touch your heart across oceans and continents. [applause] as youre standing, we invite you to join us in singing happy birthday. We want to lift our voices of so he can hear us across the ocean. This is a song Stevie Wonder wrote during a time when we were trying to get Martin Luther king holiday pass. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to ya happy birthday to ya happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday to ya happy birthday to ya happy birthday happy birthday. Happy birthday. Happy birthday. [applause] let us bow our heads for the benediction. God of our weary ears, and silent tears, you who of brought us thus far, we praise you, the giver of bountiful gifts, for this moment in time, to celebrate the life, legacy, and birthday of madiba. Lord, we are mandell for and for his willingness to serve his generation, and your purposes, by striving to create a just society, moving his nation from rancor to reconciliation. As we receive inspiration from his exemplary life, remind us that what we do for the lost, lonely, the last thomas and the the last, and the least, we do for you. Use us to hasten the day when justice will roll down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream. Bless him, keep him. Touch them even now with your healing hand. Let your face shine upon him. Be gracious on to him. Lift the light of your countenance and give him your peace. We pray in the name of him who declare you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free, amen. [singing and drums playing] [applause] president obama honors former president george h. W. Bush. Then policies with a representative camp and senator baucus. After that, a discussion on immigration. Of the houserat energy and commerce Ranking Member representative henry waxman. He talks about the president s Climate Change and the status of the keystone pipeline. On sunday at 10 a. M. And 6 p. M. Eastern. While in office, george h. W. Created everywhere. Present obama honored the former president as the one select program gave its 5000 rewards. More than 4 million volunteers, and partners were mobilized in 2011. From the white house eastern, this is half an hour. [applause] good afternoon everybody. On behalf of michelle and myself, welcome to the white house. 23 years ago, president george h h. W. Bush began a tradition. He knew that across the country, every day, americans were finding ways to serve each other, and give back to their communities. Often with few resources, and little recognition. President bush knew that their good works were valuable. The people they helped. He created an award, the daily point of light award, to recognize americans to serve their neighbors and communities in innovative ways that inspire us all. For the rest of his presidency, nearly every single day, president bush gave someone a daily point of light award. After he left the white house, he kept going and going. In between skydiving and other activities. He kept going. [laughter] it should come as no surprise. We are talking about somebody who has served his country in such extraordinary ways. When you do a parachute jump at the age of 85, not just a parachute jump, but another parachute jump, this is somebody was not going to slow down anytime soon. Today, we are extraordinarily honored to be joined by the family that helps build the points of Light Foundation into the Largest Organization that is dedicated to volunteer service. President bush, mrs. Bush, we want to welcome you and recognize michelle nunn. The ceo of points of light. Applause here. [applause] this is not the first time he and i have come together for an event like this. Four years ago i went down to texas a m, to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of points of light. I appreciated the warm welcome by which i mean, the loud howdy i received. [laughter] i was impressed by how invested the students are in community service. Most of all, i was moved by how much they loved president bush. We have come together to mark another milestone. As of this minute, 4,999 points of light awards have been presented to individuals and organizations across the country. I have the honor of joining president bush in presenting number 5000. [applause] about 10 years ago, they had been farming for years. Then their friend told them of a special place they should visit along the way. It sounded like a detour. When they arrived, the country was in a brutal drought. People were starving. Many were children. Having seen this, kathy and floyd had to do something about that. The vision of a leisurely retirement was replaced by new vision of fighting global hunger. Today, they have distributed free meals to hungry children in more than 15 countries worldwide. More than 233 million meals. This work is the most rewarding thing they have ever done. I have to say, having just been to tanzania, we can attest to how important this kind of work is. How it changes lives. It is a fitting that later this week, people around the world will celebrate the legacy of the magnificent Public Servant of Nelson Mandela. People look for examples, outreach, provides a demonstration of how Service Lights peoples lives. If the purpose of this award is to celebrate americans who work to make americans lives better places, i cannot think of anyone more deserving than kathy hamilton and floyd hamilton. Before we actually present this award, i would be remiss if i didnt take an honor to honor the man that made this all personal to take an opportunity to honor the man that made this possible. Im not sure he appreciates how much she has done to help the service. He championed and signed the National Community service act. By washington standards, it was a modest law. It involved little money. Looking back, we see that it has sparked a National Movement by laying the groundwork for the community service. It gave tens of millions of americans meaningful opportunities to serve. Today, thanks to those programs and others like them, and thanks to the passion of leaders like president bush, a volunteerism has gone from something some people do some of the time to something lots of people do as a regular part of their lives. Since 1989, the number of americans who volunteer has grown by more than 25 million. Service is up across age groups and regions. It is now a graduation requirement in many and colleges. It is embedded in the culture large and small. Speaking for my family, volunteering has brought joy and meaning to michelle and me and our doctors over the years. I know that is the case for many of your families, too. This may seem ordinary too Many Americans, especially those who grew up during this. Period. G this we can say we are a stronger force for good because more and more of our people serve. For that, we have to thank president bush and his better half, barbara, who is just as committed as her husband to service and dedicated her life to it as well. [applause] the president s who followed president bush had a good sense to continue this work and not just because one of them calls him dad. [laughter] even after leaving office, president clinton and both president bushes have come together to help people affected by National Disasters here at home and around of the world. A reminder that services not a democratic or republican value, but a core part of being american. At the white house today, we are proud to Carry Forward of that legacy. I created the office of innovation and civic participation to find new ways to use innovation to strengthen service. We expanded the