[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 125 (Monday, July 31, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S11039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FOREIGN RELATIONS REVITALIZATION ACT

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.


                           Amendment No. 2033

  Mrs. BOXER. I am sorry that the Senator from Texas left the floor. I 
understand the basic premise of her amendment, which says that the U.N. 
Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing should promote an authentic 
American prospective on issues of equality, peace, and development. 
Absolutely that is correct.
  But there are a couple of things here that are just odd, which does 
not necessarily mean that I will not support this. But I find it odd 
that in a resolution coming before the Senate that the Senate has to 
state and go on record that there are only two genders, male and 
female. That is what the facts of life are. And I just find it kind of 
odd to have to say that there are two genders. So I was going to ask 
her why she feels we have to say that.
  The other thing I thought was kind of unusual here is that she 
implies this--and I know that she could straighten it out for me--that 
single people are not entitled to protection by society in this 
country. That concerns me because what she says is to ensure that the 
traditional family is upheld as the fundamental unit of society upon 
which healthy cultures are built and, therefore, receives esteem and 
protection by society in the State. Of course, our families and the 
people in them should receive full protection of society and the 
country in America. But are we implying here that if we are not 
married, if we are single, you do not deserve to have those 
protections? I hope not.
  So I wanted to ask her about that. But we will put that to the side. 
Perhaps when I get to see the Senator in the morning, she will be able 
to explain why we have to have the Senate vote that there are two 
genders.

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