[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 198 (Wednesday, December 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2348-E2349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNICEF SAVES THE LIVES OF CHILDREN

                                 ______


                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 1995

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, December 11, I was privileged to 
participate in a ceremony at the Lime Kiln Elementary School in my 
district in Rockland County to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 
founding of UNICEF, at which I made the following remarks:

       Today marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of UNICEF, 
     one of the world's most effective organizations for saving 
     and improving the lives of children who are at risk. At a 
     time when the role of many international organizations, 
     including the United Nations itself, is under scrutiny, there 
     is no question about the role of UNICEF.
       The years since its founding have seen great strides on 
     behalf of children in health, nutrition, education and child 
     rights. Thanks to UNICEF programs, two and a half million 
     fewer children are dying annually from malnutrition and 
     disease than died in 1990. The number of children who will be 
     disabled, blinded, crippled or mentally retarded is down by 
     750,000.
       Primary school enrollment has gone from 48 percent in 1960 
     to 77 percent this year, child immunization rates have gone 
     from less than 10 percent in the late 1970's to 80 percent in 
     most countries, and polio, once a scourge of children, is 
     nearing eradication.
       As we address the crises in hunger, health and education 
     that beset the world's children, we are improving the 
     circumstances for their parents, as well.
       Our progress towards achieving democratic societies will be 
     limited as long as a quarter of the world's population is 
     unable to meet even its most basic human needs. Absolute 
     poverty, which deprives people of their human rights, their 
     dignity, and a voice in the affairs of their society, 
     ultimately is a major obstacle to democracy.
       That is why it is so important to recognize that America 
     has vital interests abroad that are advanced by our foreign 
     aid program.
       It is in the interest of every American to help avoid and 
     to redress human rights disasters such as we have seen in 
     Somalia and Bosnia. It is clearly in our Nation's interest to 
     see incomes rise in developing countries so that they can 
     afford to buy our exports.
       It is in the interest of every American to help countries 
     become economically and politically stable so that we can 
     avoid being drawn into armed conflicts.
       UNICEF's programs are now saving millions of children's 
     lives each year. Other powerful and tested strategies that 
     reduce hunger and poverty--such as microenterprise--are also 
     available and affordable to most developing countries.
       Rather than merely reacting to situations after they become 
     critical, we now have the opportunity to make effective 
     social investments that can convert despair into hope and 
     prevent future crises while building healthy, stable 
     societies.
       That is why UNICEF remains one of the most effective 
     arguments in favor of foreign assistance, and I am pleased 
     that, despite budgetary reductions in other areas, we have 
     been able to provide for an increase in the U.S. contribution 
     to this very important agency, so that it can continue the 
     good work that it began 50 years ago today.
     
[[Page E2349]]


                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______


                         HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 12, 1995

  Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, December 5, 1995, I was 
unavoidably absent for rollcall vote No. 837. Had I been present I 
would have voted ``yea.'' This vote was on passage of H.R. 2684, the 
Senior Citizens Right to Work Act of 1995.
  I am pleased to voice my support for H.R. 2684 which will allow our 
senior citizens to appropriately supplement their income during 
retirement. Social Security was intended to be supplemented in 
retirement by pension and asset income. However, under current law, 
individuals aged 65 to 69 years old with earnings above $11,280 lose $1 
in Social Security benefits for every $3 earned. Coupled with standard 
income taxes and other payroll taxes, this amounts to an overall tax 
rate of over 70 percent for many of the Nation's working elderly--more 
than double the rate paid by the wealthiest individuals in America.
  I am also pleased that this legislation was brought up as a stand-
alone bill, rather than as a provision in the Republicans' budget 
reconciliation package, which I strongly opposed. In fact, the budget 
reconciliation package will make this legislation even more vital for 
America's seniors because the budget package will increase out-of-
pocket costs for average Social Security recipients. With their budgets 
further strained by these increased costs, seniors will need extra 
earnings just to keep up in the new Republican reality.
  I urge prompt enactment of H.R. 2684. Our economy needs older 
workers. Older Americans deserve the opportunity to continue to enjoy 
meaningful employment. Last year, Congress eliminated the mandatory 
retirement age. This year, Congress must act to eliminate this 
discriminatory policy.

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