[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           ST. PATRICK'S DAY

  (Mr. LAZIO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition and celebration 
of the 40 million Americans who are of Irish heritage, especially my 
two daughters Molly and Kelsey.
  In the past year, our reasons for celebrating this day have grown as 
the prospect of a Northern Ireland free of violence and discrimination 
is becoming more realistic.
  The Joint Declaration of Peace, signed last year, represents a major 
step in ending the strife that has plagued Northern Ireland during the 
last 25 years.
  But, while there is reason to remain positive about this development, 
we cannot rest here--peace is not yet a reality. Human rights 
violations and terrorist killings continue.
  As Americans, we will continue to offer our help to the people of 
Northern Ireland, but they, not us, will have to be the ultimate 
peacemakers. To aid in this process, we must keep the pressure on Sinn 
Fein President Gerry Adams, SDLP leader John Hume, British Prime 
Minister John Major, and Irish Prime Minister Albert Reynolds to 
maintain a dialog on peace. And, we must urge President Clinton to 
fullfill his promise to appoint a Special Envoy to Northern Ireland to 
facilitate this process.
  It is my sincerest hope that the positive developments of the past 
year are only the beginning of what will be a sustainable path of peace 
and freedom for the people of Northern Ireland.
  Happy St. Patrick's Day, America.

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