[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 17 (Friday, January 27, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E200]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY, JANUARY 26, 1953

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                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 27, 1995
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, 42 years ago on January 26, 1953, the World 
Customs Organization formally known as the Customs Cooperation Council, 
held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium. In recognition of this 
occasion, the council observes January 26 as International Customs Day. 
Additionally, this occasion is also being used to give recognition to 
customs services around the world in view of the significant role they 
play in producing national revenue and in protecting national borders 
from economically and physically harmful importations.
  Mr. Speaker, I am particularly proud of our U.S. Customs Service for 
its invaluable contributions to the Nation over the past 206 years of 
its existence. U.S. Customs was once the sole revenue producer for the 
young United States and its role in revenue collection continues: in 
fiscal year 1994 Customs collected a record $22.9 billion in revenue. 
In Addition, Customs has taken on other important responsibilities such 
as interdicting narcotics at our borders, preventing the exportation of 
critical technology, and enforcing the regulations of more than 40 
Government agencies.
  The U.S. Customs Service represents the United States at the Customs 
Cooperation Council [CCC], a 136-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.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Customs Cooperation Council with regard to its past 
accomplishments and for its ambitious goals of further harmonizing and 
simplifying those customs rules which affect international commerce. In 
addition, I congratulate our U.S. Customs Service for its outstanding 
work both nationally and internationally.


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