[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 147 (Tuesday, November 29, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: November 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         TRIBUTE TO SUSAN GORDON

                                 ______


                        HON. MICHAEL J. KOPETSKI

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 29, 1994

  Mr. KOPETSKI. Mr. Speaker, I have been blessed to work with some 
wonderful people during my time in Congress. Every Member relies on a 
network of advisers in his or her congressional district. My service 
has been marked by close associations with Oregonians involved in a 
wide array of issues from agriculture to international trade and 
foreign affairs.
  Today, I want to pay special tribute to Susan Gordon, executive 
director of Oregon PeaceWorks. Susan coordinated my PeaceWorks Advisory 
Board and worked closely with my office and during my time in Congress. 
Susan is one of Oregon's most active and successful grassroots 
activists. From nuclear weapons testing to health care, Susan has been 
a trusted ally, a determined advocate, and at times a staunch critic. 
In addition to our professional relationship, Susan continues to be a 
close friend of mine.
  Recently, Susan wrote a guest opinion piece for the Salem Statesman 
Journal newspaper. I have attached Susan's guest opinion piece titled, 
``Keep Clinton From Selling Arms,'' and I encourage all of my 
colleagues to read it.

           [From the Salem Statesman Journal, Nov. 18, 1994]

                     Keep Clinton From Selling Arms

                           (By Susan Gordon)

       President Clinton, that notorious liberal, is expected soon 
     to sign into effect Presidential Decision Directive (PDD) 41.
       PDD 41 is considered the most liberal arms trade policy in 
     United States history. This long-awaited policy on 
     conventional arms transfers will not be the same kind of 
     liberal policy that Reagan and Bush had of selling weapons to 
     nations regardless of their records on democracy or human 
     rights.
       PDD 41 will be the triumph of Secretary of Commerce Ron 
     Brown, who has consistently lobbied the president to think 
     more about profits than democracy, stability or human rights. 
     The United States has been pursuing this path of global arms 
     sales throughout the Clinton administration, and the result 
     is that the United States now controls almost three-quarters 
     of the entire arms trade to the Third World.
       To secure these sales, the U.S. government offers subsidies 
     paid for by the taxpayer and offset agreements that often 
     transfer U.S. nonmilitary jobs to the buyer nations. PDD 41 
     will streamline the arms export process, making it even 
     easier for arms merchants to sell abroad. It also will create 
     an arms export subsidy trust to help U.S. companies secure 
     transfer agreements.
       From advanced M1A2 battle tanks to M1 assault rifles, our 
     weapons have been pouring into nations such as Panama, 
     Rwanda, Haiti, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Indonesia, and 
     Thailand, to name a few. All these nations have at best 
     questionable human rights records and little history of 
     democracy. Also, note those nations where American money was 
     spent and American blood was spilled combating those allies 
     we sold our weapons to.
       By making this our official policy with PDD 41, Clinton has 
     turned his back on not only morality but long-term military 
     and economic security.
       Senator Mark Hatfield and Representative Cynthia McKinney 
     from Georgia are both intent on reintroducing their Code of 
     Conduct legislation next year. The legislation would prevent 
     human rights abusers, warmakers and dictators from getting 
     their hands on our weapons. If the president is not willing 
     to lead us in the right direction, we must rally behind those 
     who will. This is not a liberal or conservative decision; 
     this is just about right and wrong.

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