congressman trent franks, cosponsor, senator bennet, for their partnership in shepherding the bipartisan legislation behind this award through the house and the senate. and to our guest of honor, president peres. at 91 years young, you have nay housely said that you aren't ready to yet to consider your legacy. that the future is much more interesting that your past. what all due respect, mr. president, i think it would be hard to find a person in this room that does not see the future of israel through the lens of your legacy. last year, i had the honor of meeting president peres on a trip to israel with some of my colleagues. it was an incredible visit from jerusalem to ramallah, to galilee, tel aviv. of all the memorable moments, though, there's one that shines through. and a dinner tel aviv, i met a . she helped one community in particular for years. and without disclosing much of who she was or where she came from. one day she finally let the syrian commander know that she was an israeli. he was stunned. and right then and there, refused her help, calling her a sworn enemy, despite t