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“COMMEMORATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1763-E1764 on Sept. 16, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
COMMEMORATING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
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HON. WALTER H. CAPPS
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, September 16, 1997
Mr. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proclaim this the International Day of Peace.
Today is the second annual celebration hosted by the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in the city of Santa Barbara, CA. It highlights efforts by local organizations who are working to bring peace to both Santa Barbara and the global community.
The International Day of Peace was adopted by the United Nations in 1981 ``to commemorate and strengthen the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and people.''
As the Representative of the 22d district in California and a former professor of Religious Studies at University of Santa Barbara I strive every day to achieve these goals.
Currently I am working to ban antipersonnel land mines around the world, devices which kill or maim 26,000 people every year. I have joined over 100 of my colleagues in cosponsoring the Land Mine Elimination Act which will halt new deployments of U.S. antipersonnel mines beginning January 1st, in the year 2000. As Andrew Feitt, the 9th grade student who won the U.N. Association of Santa Barbara essay contest so eloquently stated,
``Landmines are a piece of military weaponry designed to help end wars, but wars are temporary, and most mines are not.''
As a member of the International Relations Committee I am also aware of the important role the United Nations plays in humanitarian and peacekeeping efforts around the world and support the full payment of United States dues to the U.N. Programs like UNICEF, for example, have helped feed millions of children. It would be devastating if missions which help so many were crippled due to lack of funding, and the United States must continue to do its fair share.
Additionally, I believe that the security of our Nation requires an aggressive effort against weapons of mass destruction. Since coming to Congress I have taken a leadership role on this issue. I have signed on to letters to President Clinton, regarding deeper cuts in our strategic nuclear weapons arsenals and to express my concerns about the Department of Energy's plans to conduct underground subcritical nuclear weapons experiments at the Nevada Test Site. It is my belief that these experiments could severely damage the not yet ratified Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Soon after I took office I sent Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott a letter urging swift action on ratifying the Chemical Weapons Treaty. Taking quick action and ratifying the treaty afforded the United States an international leadership role on a treaty that will prevent future catastrophes involving chemical agents in warfare. The only way to ensure our Nation's long-term security and prosperity is to continue exerting American leadership across a range of military and humanitarian challenges around the world.
So I commend the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation for bringing us all together tonight, as we share a collective vision of peace. We share a vision of a world that is free of the threat of war and where all individuals live with human dignity, compassion and respect for one another, a world that we must strive to achieve on all the days of the year, if we hope to attain these lofty and constructive goals and to increase the possibilities for peace in the Nuclear Age.
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