The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“LCWR ASSEMBLY STATEMENT ON U.S.-DPRK CRISIS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H6647-H6648 on Sept. 5, 2017.
The State Department is responsibly for international relations with a budget of more than $50 billion. Tenure at the State Dept. is increasingly tenuous and it's seen as an extension of the President's will, ambitions and flaws.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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LCWR ASSEMBLY STATEMENT ON U.S.-DPRK CRISIS
(Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, during World War II, a wise admonition from our military read: ``Loose lips sink ships.'' In other words, beware of unguarded talk.
Of late, our world has witnessed an unprecedented escalation in tension with North Korea and its deranged tyrant, including North Korea's recent firing of a missile over Japan. Yet President Trump's reaction to the ongoing North Korean crisis has been an unguarded yielding of dangerous words of war. His improvised remarks have stunned experts, allies, and even his own advisers.
Instead of thorough diplomatic pressure and international consensus building, President Trump has done the opposite. His unpredictable rhetoric lacks strategic thought. It puts American troops stationed in South Korea and our regional allies at greater risk.
This administration is understaffing the State Department, weakening its ability to handle the sort of diplomacy I am speaking of. In the President's 2018 budget, the State Department is really an afterthought, with major accounts cut to the bone.
Thankfully, there are voices of reason, including the respected Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record their statement against fear-mongering and advising dialogue is more productive than rhetoric, and connection more transformative than threats of destruction.
LCWR Assembly Statement on the US--DPRK Crisis
This week, while tensions between the governments of the United States and the People's Republic of Korea quickly escalated, approximately 650 members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious meeting in Orlando, FL issued a public statement imploring President Donald J. Trump to engage in dialogue and negotiation:
At this critical moment for our country and global community, we--the approximately 650 members of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious gathered in assembly--have discerned the Gospel call to embody love for the sake of the world.
We believe that love is more powerful than fear, dialogue more productive than rhetoric, and connection more transformative than threats of destruction.
We call on President Trump to engage in constructive dialogue and negotiation to resolve the current crisis between the governments of the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in a manner that guarantees the peace and security that all people seek.
We commit ourselves to promote nonviolence and a compassionate response to the thirst of the world for integrity and communion.
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