[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 12 (Tuesday, January 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H929-H930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE--WITHDRAWAL OF INVITATION TO FRENCH PRESIDENT 
JACQUES CHIRAC AND NOT AGREEING TO FUTURE APPEARANCES TO ADDRESS JOINT 
 MEETINGS OF CONGRESS BY HEADS OF STATE OF NATIONS CONDUCTING NUCLEAR 
                                 TESTS

  Mrs. MINK of Hawaii. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2(a)(1) of rule 
IX, I 

[[Page H930]]
hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a 
question of the privileges of the House.
  The form of the resolution is as follows:

                               H. Res. --

       Whereas virtually every nation in the world has adhered to 
     a moratorium on nuclear tests since September 1992;
       Whereas, on June 13, 1995, President Jacques Chirac of 
     France ended his nation's adherence to the moratorium by 
     ordering a series of nuclear tests in the South Pacific;
       Whereas France has acted conducted six nuclear tests on the 
     Pacific atolls of Moruroa and Fangataufa in French Polynesia;
       Whereas France has acknowledged that radioactive materials 
     from some of the tests have leaked into the ocean;
       Whereas, as a result of the tests, the people of the 
     Pacific are extremely concerned about the health and safety 
     of those who live near the test sites, as well as the adverse 
     environmental effects of the tests on the region;
       Whereas, in conducting the tests, France has callously 
     ignored world-wide protests and global concern;
       Whereas the United States is one of 167 nations that have 
     objected to the tests;
       Whereas the tests are inconsistent with the ``Principles 
     and Objectives for Disarmament'', as adopted by the 1995 
     Review and Extension Conference of the Parties to the Treaty 
     on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons;
       Whereas, in proceeding with the tests, France has acted 
     contrary to the commitment of the international community to 
     the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and the moratorium 
     on nuclear testing;
       Whereas the President of France, Jacques Chirac, is 
     scheduled to appear before a joint meeting of the Congress on 
     February 1, 1996; and
       Whereas, in light of the tests, the appearance of the 
     President of France before the Congress violates the dignity 
     and integrity of the proceedings of the House: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That, by reason of the recent nuclear tests 
     conducted by France in the South Pacific, the Speaker of the 
     House shall take such action as may be necessary to withdraw 
     the invitation to the President of France, Jacques Chirac, to 
     address a joint meeting of the Congress, as scheduled to 
     occur on February 1, 1996.
       Sec. 2. On and after the date on which this resolution is 
     agreed to, the Speaker of the House may not agree to the 
     appearance before a joint meeting of the Congress by any 
     head of state or head of government whose nation conducts 
     nuclear tests.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rule IX, a resolution offered from the 
floor by a Member other than the majority leader or the minority leader 
as a question of the privileges of the House has immediate precedence 
only at a time or place designated by the Speaker in the legislative 
schedule within 2 legislative days of its being properly noticed. The 
Chair will announce the Chair's designation at a later time. The 
Chair's determination as to whether the resolution constitutes a 
question of privilege will be made at the time designated by the Chair 
for consideration of the resolution.

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