[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 19, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H15103-H15104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      UNITED STATES PARTICIPATION IN EXPO '98 IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 91) expressing the sense of the 
Congress that the United States should participate in Expo '98 in 
Lisbon, Portugal.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                             H. Con. Res. 91

       Whereas there was international concern expressed at the 
     Rio Conference of 1992 about conservation of the seas;
       Whereas 1998 has been declared the ``International Year of 
     the Ocean'' by the United Nations in an effort to alert the 
     world to the need for improving the physical and cultural 
     assets offered by the world's oceans;
       Whereas the theme of Expo '98 is ``The Oceans, a Heritage 
     for the Future'';
       Whereas Expo '98 has a fundamental aim of alerting 
     political, economic, and public opinion to the growing 
     importance of the world's oceans;
       Whereas Portugal has established a vast network of 
     relationships through ocean exploration;
       Whereas Portugal's history is rich with examples of the 
     courage and exploits of Portuguese explorers;
       Whereas Portugal and the United States have a relationship 
     based on mutual respect, and a sharing of interests ideals, 
     particularly the deeply held commitment to democratic values;
       Whereas today over 2,000,000 Americans can trace their 
     ancestry to Portugal; and
       Whereas the United States and Portugal agreed in the 1995 
     Agreement on Cooperation and Defense that in 1998 the 2 
     countries would consider and develop appropriate means of 
     commemorating the upcoming quincentennial anniversary of the 
     historic voyage of discovery by Vasco da Gama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the United States should fully participate 
     in Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal, and encourage the private 
     sector to support this worthwhile undertaking.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the gentleman 
from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that 
the United States should participate in Expo '98, to be held in Lisbon, 
Portugal. The theme of the exposition will be ``The Oceans: A Heritage 
for the Future.''
  It will commemorate both the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's 
historic voyage of discovery over the sea route to India and the 
International Year of the Ocean in 1998. I hope that all my colleagues 
will agree that the world's oceans represent an important physical and 
cultural asset for mankind.
  Portugal's history has been shaped by its maritime legacy, as has our 
own. I should add that in calling for the United States' participation 
in Expo '98, this resolution makes clear that the private sector should 
provide the means for our participation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. HAMILTON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I believe events such as Lisbon Expo '98 
provide an important forum for cultural and economic exchange between 
the people of Portugal and the United States. Portugal is a close 
friend, ally, and trading partner. Two million Portuguese immigrants 
have made great contributions to this country.
  Mr. Speaker, I also support the theme of Lisbon Expo '98. I believe 
that more attention needs to be focused on protecting the health of our 
oceans. I register a single concern. Given the current Federal budget, 
I believe strongly that funding for U.S. participation in Expo '98 
should come exclusively from the private sector. Therefore, I am 
pleased to learn that the President is considering the appointment of a 
coordinator to raise private funds for U.S. participation in this 
exhibit.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the resolution to my colleagues and I urge its 
adoption.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Rhode Island 
[Mr. Kennedy] who is a chief sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 91.
  (Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. KENNEDY of Rhode Island. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Pombo, 
my fellow chair of the newly formed House Portuguese-American Caucus 
for his leadership on this issue.
  I want to thank Chairman Gilman for cosponsoring this resolution and 
for bringing this bill to the floor so that we could act on it before 
the end of the year.
  As well, I want to thank Mr. Hamilton for his support, and all of the 
other cosponsors for their support of this important resolution.
  At this time I also want to thank my colleague from Rhode Island, 
Senator Pell, who introduced an identical resolution which has passed 
in the Senate.
  The theme for Expo '98 will be ``The Oceans, A Heritage for the 
Future.'' This exposition will celebrate the riches of the oceans and 
focus the world's attention on the pressing need to protect and 
preserve this resource.
  Expo '98 presents a unique opportunity for the nations of the world 
to assess the current status of our knowledge of the oceans--how they 
can be used, what dangers they face, how they can be protected, and how 
we can work toward the sustainable development of this resource.
  The United States has a special interest in Expo '98 because of our 
preeminent position as a leader in the development of environmental 
technologies.
  Expo '98 offers the chance for the United States to demonstrate and 
capitalize on our leadership in the field of environmental protection 
and environmental technologies.
  With this resolution, the House will be sending a clear message that 
participation in this expo is important to our national priorities--
economic, environmental, and international.
  With this resolution, we will be sending a clear message that 
Congress believes our participation should be the result of a 
cooperative effort between government and the private sector.
  By showing our commitment, we will be able to earn commitments from 
United States businesses with interests in Portugal and the 
environment.
  The United States belongs at Expo '98. We care deeply about the focus 
of the exposition and it is also important for us to show our 
commitment to one of our closest European allies--Portugal.
  Expo '98 presents Portugal the opportunity to showcase its recent 
economic 

[[Page H15104]]
advances and the role it will play in a more united, cooperative 
Europe.
  The ties between Portugal and the United States are deep and old. 
Expo '98 will be a celebration of these ties, a celebration of an old 
and valued friendship.
  I urge my colleague to support this resolution, and thank all of 
those who have already supported this resolution.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. 
Kennedy] for his supporting remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Bunn of Oregon). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 91.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of 
the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 22) expressing the sense 
of the Congress that the United States should participate in Expo '98 
in Lisbon, Portugal, and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and, of 
course, I do not intend to object, I yield to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman] for an explanation.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, by this action we will be completing action 
on this matter, which had already passed the Senate. Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 22 is identical to the House Concurrent Resolution No. 91, 
which the House passed a few moments ago.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 22

       Whereas there was international concern expressed at the 
     Rio Conference of 1992 about conservation of the seas;
       Whereas 1998 has been declared the ``International Year of 
     the Ocean'' by the United Nations in an effort to alert the 
     world to the need for improving the physical and cultural 
     assets offered by the world's oceans;
       Whereas the theme of Expo '98 is ``The Oceans, a Heritage 
     for the Future'';
       Whereas Expo '98 has a fundamental aim of alerting 
     political, economic, and public opinion to the growing 
     importance of the world's oceans;
       Whereas Portugal has established a vast network of 
     relationships through ocean exploration;
       Whereas Portugal's history is rich with examples of the 
     courage and exploits of Portuguese explorers;
       Whereas Portugal and the United States have a relationship 
     based on mutual respect, and a sharing of interests and 
     ideals, particularly the deeply held commitment to democratic 
     values;
       Whereas today over 2,000,000 Americans can trace their 
     ancestry to Portugal; and
       Whereas the United States and Portugal agreed in the 1995 
     Agreement on Cooperation and Defense that in 1998 the 2 
     countries would consider and develop appropriate means of 
     commemorating the upcoming quincentennial anniversary of the 
     historic voyage of discovery by Vasco da Gama: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurrent), That the United States should fully participate 
     in Expo '98 in Lisbon, Portugal, and encourage the private 
     sector to support this worthwhile undertaking.

  The Senate concurrent resolution was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  A similar House concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 91) was laid on 
the table.

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