Dear Senators and Representatives of the 110th Congress,
Dear Former Members of Congress,
Dear Friends,

It is a great privilege and pleasure for Marie-Cecile and me to welcome you tonight to the Residence of France to honor the Congressional French Caucus. Indeed, given the snowy conditions today – and the record flooding that marked last year’s French Caucus reception – I think you should all receive the Legion of Honor just for being here!

This wonderful and thriving French Caucus is now almost 4 years old and has over 90 members. Congressman John Boozman and Congressman Jim Oberstar, both of whom are with us tonight, are the able co-chairs in the House, and Senator Mary Landrieu and Senator Gordon Smith are the co-chairs in the Senate.

I want to sincerely thank them for the wonderful job they have done to develop this outstanding group. And Congressman Oberstar, who speaks French better than I do, has been known to recite Baudelaire and Hugo by heart!

I would particularly like to acknowledge the presence tonight of a great statesman and friend of France, Senator John Warner. We also have with us two of his distinguished colleagues, Senator David Vitter and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse.

I am delighted that so many other members of the French Caucus were able to join us tonight.

I would also like to welcome House members who are not yet part of the Caucus. We would be very happy to welcome you to the Caucus starting tonight. If you want to join the Caucus, just let us know!

Finally, I’d like to thank the former members of Congress with us tonight, whose Committee on France, chaired by the great Bob Michel, who is with us tonight, also plays a critical role in enhancing our bilateral relationship.

Why is the French Caucus so popular? Maybe it is these nice receptions we have from time to time. But it is most of all because of the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the United States and France.

This relationship has had its ups and downs, but the fundamental strength of the special bond between our two countries has never been in question. Today we are enjoying close cooperation in several fields of critical importance for our two countries, including the fight against terrorism, the war in Afghanistan, and a diplomatic strategy to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.

And in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, the French government and French companies lent a helping hand after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita by providing recovery and assistance initiatives. Just last week, the French Culture Minister was in New Orleans to launch two major exhibitions that will lure crowds of tourists to this wonderful city.
But tonight I would like to focus on a man who played a fundamental role in establishing and shaping this unique relationship between the United States and France. I want to talk about the Marquis de Lafayette.

On September 6th, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of this extraordinary man. I am very grateful to Senator Warner for introducing in 2002 a bill that conferred honorary citizenship to the marquis. I would also like to thank Chairman Ike Skelton for having recently introduced in the House a resolution honoring the life of the Marquis de Lafayette.

This true French aristocrat believed very early in the dream of a free and independent United States, which he described, in a letter to his wife, as “a nation who will become the respectable and safe asylum of virtue, integrity, tolerance, equality, and peaceful liberty.” So strongly did he believe in this dream that he decided in 1777 to sail to the United States.

In Philadelphia, on July 31 of that year, he volunteered to help this dream become reality. Although initial reception was a little bit skeptical, Lafayette would rapidly convince the patriots of his complete dedication to their cause, and notably General George Washington who considered Lafayette his adopted son.

Lafayette would indeed dedicate his fortune and use his personal connections at the French Court of Versailles to help the patriots succeed in the Revolution. He would also put his extraordinary military skills at the service of the new nation and help win the decisive battles against the British forces, including Yorktown.

But beyond the help he provided, this “Soldier’s friend” established a very deep and warm friendship with the American people that he maintained throughout his long life. That’s probably why he was the first foreign dignitary invited to address a joint session of the Congress of the United States, on December 10, 1824. To this day, the portrait of Lafayette in the House Chamber reminds us of that memorable event.

Dear Members of Congress,

Distinguished guests,

Tonight, 183 years later, it is my great pleasure and honor to welcome and introduce you to Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette.