[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 167 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 167

Recognizing Ambassador Douglas ``Pete'' Peterson for his service to the 
  United States as the first American ambassador to Vietnam since the 
                              Vietnam War.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 3, 2001

 Mr. McCain (for himself, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Graham, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Nelson 
   of Florida, Mr. Cleland, and Mr. Carper) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing Ambassador Douglas ``Pete'' Peterson for his service to the 
  United States as the first American ambassador to Vietnam since the 
                              Vietnam War.

Whereas, while serving as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, Pete 
        Peterson was shot down over North Vietnam in 1966 and captured by the 
        Vietnamese military;
Whereas Pete Peterson was held for 6\1/2\ years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam;
Whereas, after his return to the United States in 1973, Pete Peterson 
        distinguished himself as a businessman and educator in his home State of 
        Florida;
Whereas Pete Peterson was elected to Congress to represent the 2nd Congressional 
        District of Florida in 1990 and went on to serve three terms;
Whereas Pete Peterson first returned to Vietnam in 1991 as a Member of Congress 
        investigating Vietnamese progress on the POW/MIA issue;
Whereas President Reagan began the process of normalizing United States 
        relations with Vietnam;
Whereas President Clinton lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam in 1994;
Whereas President Clinton normalized diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1995;
Whereas in 1997 Pete Peterson was appointed the first United States ambassador 
        to Vietnam in 22 years;
Whereas, throughout Pete Peterson's tenure as United States Ambassador to 
        Vietnam, the President certified annually that the Government of Vietnam 
        was ``fully cooperating in good faith'' with the United States to obtain 
        the fullest possible accounting of Americans missing from the Vietnam 
        War;
Whereas Ambassador Peterson played a critical role in the process of building a 
        new and normal relationship between the United States and Vietnam;
Whereas Ambassador Peterson worked tirelessly to encourage the Government of 
        Vietnam to continue its efforts to reform and open Vietnam's economy;
Whereas, thanks to Ambassador Peterson's leadership, Congress in 1998 approved a 
        waiver of the Jackson-Vanik restrictions for Vietnam, thus enabling the 
        Overseas Private Investment Corporation and the Export-Import Bank to 
        operate in Vietnam;
Whereas completion of a United States-Vietnam trade agreement was Ambassador 
        Peterson's top trade priority;
Whereas the United States and Vietnam began negotiations for a bilateral trade 
        agreement in 1996;
Whereas Ambassador Peterson's diplomatic efforts throughout the process of 
        negotiation were invaluable to the completion of the bilateral trade 
        agreement;
Whereas in the agreement the Government of Vietnam agreed to a wide range of 
        steps to open its markets to American trade and investment;
Whereas the agreement will pave the way for further reform of Vietnam's economy 
        and Vietnam's integration into the world economy;
Whereas Ambassador Peterson witnessed the signing of the United States-Vietnam 
        Bilateral Trade Agreement on July 13, 2000;
Whereas President Bush transmitted that trade agreement to Congress on June 8, 
        2001;
Whereas the United States House of Representatives approved the agreement on 
        September 6, 2001; and
Whereas the United States Senate approved the agreement on October 3, 2001: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That Douglas ``Pete'' Peterson is recognized by the 
United States Senate for his outstanding and dedicated service to the 
United States as United States Ambassador to Vietnam from 1997-2001, 
and for his historic role in normalizing United States-Vietnam 
relations.
                                 <all>