Item 1367 - Congressional Recognition of the Congress of Texas

Cream coloured certificate without frame, mat, or folder. Certiface is creased, wrinkled, and soiled in places. Certificate includes the gold seal of the United States Congress with attached red, white, and blue ribbon. Certificate has black text and reads as follows:
Certificate of Congressional Recognition to
His excellency Nelson Mandela
Recipient of the Baker Institute's Enron Prize for Distinguished Service
(8 paragraphs detailing Mr Mandela's life achievements)
Now, therefore, be it resolved that, on behalf of the constituents of the Eighteenth Congressional District of Texas , I am honored to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela's courage, leadership, struggle, and to the inspiration he has given us to do better. In him we see proof that the human spirit can never be crushed. His captivity symbolized the larger captivity of his nation; shackled to the chains of prejudice, bigotry, and hatred. And his release also freed his nation and all its people to reach their full potential - a quest too long and so cruelly denied . But his story, thankfully, for all South africans and for the rest of us as well, has not ended with his freedom. Accordingly, we welcome him, and we salute his stunning achievements. For those who have been privileged to know this remarkable man, no medal, no award, no fortune nothing we could give him could possibly compare to the gift he has given to us and to the world. Theo nly gift that is true recompense is to continue his mission , and to live by the power of his profound and wonderful example.
Signed by Sheila Jackson Lee Member of Congress
October 26, 1999