RECOGNIZING KOSOVO LIBERATION DAY

On 2026-06-09, Representative George Latimer (D-NY-16) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING KOSOVO LIBERATION DAY" in the House.

RECOGNIZING KOSOVO LIBERATION DAY

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 97 (Tuesday, June 9, 2026)] [House] [Page H3996] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING KOSOVO LIBERATION DAY (Mr. Latimer of New York was recognized to address the House for 5 minutes.) Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Kosovo Liberation Day. On this day 27 years ago, the Military Technical Agreement was signed and mandated the Yugoslavian and Serbian forces to retreat from Kosovo. Under Serbian oppression for over a year, approximately 13,000 ethnic Albanians were killed. One million Kosovars were displaced, and around 1,600 people are still missing due to the violent conflict. During the Clinton Presidency, NATO stepped in militarily to aid Kosovo in repelling its aggressors and was soon able to claim victory after a year and a half of systematic ethnic cleansing, mass expulsions, and violence against the civilian population. Although it has been decades since the conflict ended, Serbia still does not recognize Kosovo's autonomy. Furthermore, Serbia has never been held accountable for well-supported allegations of ethnic cleansing and sexual violence. Meanwhile, Kosovo's sovereignty has been recognized by over 100 countries worldwide, including the U.S., since its formal declaration of independence in 2008. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of this body, during the 250th year of American independence, we honor Kosovo's young democracy. On this important day, Kosovo's values of liberty and justice resonate with our own Declaration of Independence. Recognizing Bishop Wilbert Preston Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, let me recognize the exceptional contributions of Bishop Wilbert Preston to the Fairview, Greenburgh, and White Plains communities. The bishop will be leaving his post as the spiritual leader for Christ Temple Church in Fairview later this year. More will be said about that at another time. This past weekend, we celebrated the completion of his tenure as chair of the Greenburgh Housing Authority with a celebratory luncheon. Bishop Preston first joined the housing authority board 26 years ago. During that time, including exemplary service as chairman, he fought for the best interests of those in need of housing in this urban neighborhood. Federal housing resources have never met the demand for housing for the needy, making it difficult for any local housing authority to satisfy the need that they see. Bishop Preston was an articulate spokesperson for those needs and understood the necessity to overcome structural racism and to address poverty and unemployment as elements of effective housing strategy. As he leaves his housing authority post, from the floor of the United States House of Representatives, I salute his moral leadership and managerial skill and his service on the board of the Greenburgh Housing Authority. Recognizing PTSD Awareness Month Mr. LATIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize PTSD Awareness Month. Post-traumatic stress disorder can affect anyone, and due to its invisibility, often resulting in getting overlooked, it isn't always properly treated. It is well-documented that servicemembers disproportionately suffer from PTSD, alongside 9/11 survivors and many others. The National Center for PTSD estimates that 23 percent of veterans reliant on the VA for care and treatment have had PTSD at some point in their lives. Despite PTSD's known treatability and the VA's efforts to connect affected individuals to the proper resources, the Trump administration continues to stand in the way of veterans' well-being. Since the inauguration of the President, employees have been forced from the VA in droves, including, of course, hundreds of dedicated mental health staff on the frontlines of tackling the mental health crisis facing our country's servicemen and -women. During this awareness month, I encourage this administration to cease neglecting the needs of our most vulnerable servicemen and veterans, to whom this country owes far more than empty gratitude, and that we recognize all who deal with PTSD in their everyday lives, and we show support for them. ____________________