PHILADELPHIA PA, Sept. 27 – Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) issues the following statement upon the award today of the Liberty Medal to Bono and DATA by the National Constitution Center: 

“Last spring, on the day that Bono was named the winner of the prestigious Liberty Medal for 2007 – an award that has, for the most part, gone to statesmen and government officials – the President of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia declared that the rock star-philanthropist’s extraordinary effort on behalf of Africa ‘proves that the office of Citizen is the most important in the world.’

“Today I welcome Bono and his colleagues at DATA (for Debt, AIDS, Trade, Africa) that he founded to carry out his vision, to my home town of Philadelphia to receive this award that has already served as a precursor for six Nobel Peace Prize winners.

“As an advocate in the Congress for legislation assuring clean, safe blood supplies in Africa, I am acutely aware that raising public attention to the poverty and the abysmal state of public health services across the subcontinent is a hard sell. Thanks to the brilliant work in Africa and worldwide advocacy by Bono and DATA, governments and citizens everywhere are now paying attention. 

“Congratulations, Bono. Good work, DATA. Your award today adds luster and prestige to the Liberty Medal itself. For a singer who has sold more than 140 million albums, this is Bono’s biggest hit. ”