[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 26, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: January 26, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

                                 ______


                         HON. DAN ROSTENKOWSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 26, 1994

  Mr. ROSTENKOWSKI. Mr. Speaker, 41 years ago on January 26, 1953, the 
international customs organization known as the Customs Cooperation 
Council [CCC] held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium. In 
recognition of this occasion, the Council has declared January 26 as 
International Customs Day. This occasion is also being used to give 
recognition to customs services around the world in view of the role 
they play in producing national revenue and in protecting national 
borders from economically and physically harmful importations.
  I am particularly proud of the U.S. Customs Service for its great 
contributions to the Nation over the past 205 years of the agency's 
existence. U.S. Customs was once the sole revenue producer for the 
young United States. While there are additional sources of national 
revenue today, customs continues to play an important role: in fiscal 
1993, Customs collected a record $21.6 billion in revenue. In addition, 
customs has taken on such important responsibilities as interdicting 
narcotics at our borders, preventing the exportation of critical 
technology, and enforcing on behalf of over 60 U.S. Government agencies 
various regulations which protect our environment and the American 
people.
  The U.S. Customs Service represents the United States at the Customs 
Cooperation Council, a 133-member international organization founded to 
facilitate international trade and promote cooperation between 
governments on customs matters. The CCC works to simplify and 
standardize legal instruments and rules of international customs. The 
CCC also renders technical assistance in areas such as customs tariffs, 
valuation, nomenclature, and law enforcement. Its objective is to 
obtain, in the interest of international trade, the best possible 
degree of uniformity among the customs systems of member nations. The 
United States became a member on November 5, 1970. All-America benefits 
when both exporters and importers operate in an atmosphere of simple, 
unambiguous customs operations around the world.
  I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Customs 
Cooperation Council on its past accomplishments and for its ambitious 
goals of further harmonizing and simplifying those customs rules which 
affect international commerce. I also congratulate the U.S. Customs 
Service for its fine work both nationally and internationally.

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