[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E83]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

                                 ______


                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, January 25, 1996

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, 43 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 observed January 26 as International Customs Day. 
This occasion is also being used to give recognition to Customs 
Services around the world in view of the role they play in producing 
national revenue and in protecting national borders from economically 
and physically harmful importations.
  I am particularly proud of the U.S. Customs Service for its great 
contributions to the Nation over the past 207 years of its existence. 
U.S. Customs was once the sole revenue producer for the young United 
States. Its role in revenue collection continues: In fiscal year 1995 
Customs collected a record $23.3 billion in revenue. In addition, 
Customs has taken on such important responsibilities 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 World 
Customs Organization [WCO], a 137-member international organization 
founded to facilitate international trade and promote cooperation 
between governments on Customs matters. The WCO works to simplify and 
standardize legal instruments and rules of international customs. The 
WCO 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. The United States 
and its trading partners benefit when both exporters and importers 
operate in an atmosphere of simple unambiguous Customs operations 
around the world.
  I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the World Customs 
Organization on its past accomplishments and for its ambitious goals of 
further harmonizing and simplifying those Customs rules which affect 
international commerce. I also congratulate the U.S. Customs Service 
for its fine work both nationally and internationally.

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