[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       CONCERNING UNITED STATES SUPPORT FOR THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA

  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 560) concerning United States 
support for the new South Africa.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 560

       Whereas the first ever nonracial democratic elections were 
     held in South Africa in April 1994, resulting in a broad-
     based Government of National Unity led by President Nelson 
     Mandela, thereby ending 350 years of racial segregation known 
     as apartheid;
       Whereas Nelson Mandela will be received by President 
     Clinton on the occasion of his historic state visit to the 
     United States as the first head of state representing the 
     newly democratic Republic of South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa, rich in natural and human resources, 
     is already one of the most important countries on the African 
     continent and, with the end of apartheid, has the potential 
     to become a major world leader;
       Whereas South Africa has a critical role to play within the 
     Southern Africa region as well as throughout the continent as 
     a stable model of democracy and economic development;
       Whereas if South Africa were to fail in its efforts to 
     create a stable nonracial democracy, the ripple effect on the 
     rest of the continent would be costly in terms of lives and 
     emergency assistance;
       Whereas the early stages of the transition in South Africa 
     have proven to be an exceptional example of political 
     reconciliation and compromise critical to nation-building;
       Whereas Nelson Mandela's exemplary leadership has further 
     enhanced South Africa's opportunities in the area of 
     reconstruction and development;
       Whereas President Nelson Mandela has asked the 
     international community for substantial support as South 
     Africa struggles to meet the needs of its 41,000,000 people;
       Whereas the United States has stated that one of its major 
     foreign policy objectives is to support the enlargement of 
     democracy throughout the world;
       Whereas the transition to a nonracial democratic society in 
     South Africa is very much in the interest of the United 
     States;
       Whereas opposition to apartheid in South Africa has been a 
     longstanding theme of the foreign policies of both Republican 
     and Democratic Administrations;
       Whereas the Congress of the United States, in both the 
     Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 and the South Africa 
     Democratic Transition Support Act of 1993, has taken 
     particular interest in the transition to a democratic 
     nonracial society in South Africa;
       Whereas United States support contributed significantly to 
     the holding of free and fair elections in South Africa;
       Whereas the United States has pledged its continuing 
     commitment to long-term development for South Africa in the 
     post-apartheid era; and
       Whereas President Clinton announced a post-election 
     initiative for South Africa that will provide support for the 
     new Government of South Africa and assistance to communities 
     there at the grassroots level: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of 
     Representatives that--
       (1) President Nelson Mandela, the first head of state of a 
     nonracial democratic South Africa, deserves the 
     congratulations and support of the United States;
       (2) the United States shall remain engaged in the political 
     and economic development of South Africa;
       (3) assistance to South Africa should continue to focus on 
     such issues as job creation, housing, enterprise development, 
     education, democracy, and health; and
       (4) steps should be taken to increase trade, investment, 
     and development in South Africa.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Andrews] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews].
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I begin by commending the 
principal author of this resolution, my friend and colleague, the 
gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Donald Payne, a member of our committee, 
for his work on this resolution. I want to reflect on the fact that our 
counterparts who serve in the legislative branch of the South African 
Government, some of them 5 years ago could not legally travel 
throughout their country unless they held a pass card. Some of them did 
not have in any way, shape or form the effective right to vote. Some of 
them were limited as to what schools they could attend, where they 
could live, what businesses they could start and the extent to which 
they could participate in the judicial system.
  Those limitations on our legislative colleagues from South Africa 
were based solely on the color of their skin. This anachronism in a 
world that has left behind such incidences of discrimination was 
shocking to the rest of the world, and it ignited in the United States 
expressions of outrage and expressions of policy which I believe helped 
force the change which has occurred in South Africa.
  The months dramatic manifestation we can imagine about this change in 
South Africa is that on the day that I was sworn in as a Member of this 
body in November of 1990, Nelson Mandela was in prison in South Africa. 
Today he is the President of South Africa, the product of a democratic 
election in April of 1994, a man who sat in a prison cell on the day 
that many of us were sworn into this institution and who will stand at 
that podium on Thursday and address a special joint meeting of the 
Congress. This is dramatic progress. This is a powerful educational 
tool for the rest of the world as to how people of color can put aside 
their differences with other people. It is a dramatic illustration and 
manifestation of how bitter centuries-old hatreds can be put aside 
without violence, without civil war, and without bloodshed to achieve 
great human progress.
  The committee enthusiastically puts forward this resolution 
commending President Nelson Mandela and all of those involved in his 
government in South Africa and wish them great success in our 
cooperation in their great new democratic experiment.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. 
Payne] for introducing this resolution on the eve of the visit of South 
African President Nelson Mandela to Washington.
  I had the distinct honor of attending President Mandela's 
inauguration in May, and have always taken great interest in South 
Africa's progress. We look forward to greeting and listening to 
President Mandela in a Joint Session of the Congress later this week.
  The historic transition underway in South Africa is progressing 
impressively due to the tremendous sense of good will and common 
purpose of men and women of all races and backgrounds.
  President Nelson Mandela has received substantial United States 
support as he takes on the difficult task of leading a diverse nation 
toward the dual objectives of national reconciliation and improvement 
of the quality of life of all South Africans.
  As part of this strategy, President Mandela has continued market-
oriented policies aimed at sustaining economic growth and development 
in which all South Africans can share. He apparently recognizes, as we 
must, that no amount of foreign assistance can do more for South Africa 
than sound economic policies that allow South Africans to make the most 
of their country's natural bounty. It is fitting that we commend and 
encourage his progress in this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.

                              {time}  2250

  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Gilman] for his cooperation.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poshard). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 560.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of Rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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