[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)] [House] [Page H203] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] WELCOME TO IMAM BASSAM A. ESTWANI, DAR AL-HIJRAH ISLAMIC CENTER, HERNDON, VIRGINIA (Mr. THOMAS M. DAVIS of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. THOMAS M. DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Mr. Imam Bassam A. Estwani for joining us today as the guest chaplain and offering this morning's prayer. He is the chairman of the board of the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center, which is one of the Nation's most active and influential mosques, located in the 11th Congressional District, which I represent. He has participated in many international conferences that focus on Islam and religious values in America. He has been instrumental in bringing members of different faith communities together to promote social justice. Mr. Estwani is a native of Syria. He has a law degree from the University of Damascus. He studied Islamic law in Damascus and at the University of Cairo. In Kuwait, Mr. Estwani participated in the publication of the Encyclopedia of Islamic Jurisprudence. In Lebanon, he established an Islamic publishing house that produced more than 200 titles in a number of different languages. He also participated in and sponsored relief and literacy programs for orphans and the homeless in this country and overseas. The American Muslim community is growing, both in Northern Virginia and around this country, numbering over 6 million Americans today. I am very proud to represent one of the largest concentrations of American Muslims, who have chosen Northern Virginia as their home; and we are just very, very proud to have you offer the prayer today. ____________________