[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E119-E120]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NORMA MATHES KNIGHT, KINGS PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 1995 WOMAN OF THE 
                                  YEAR

                                 ______


                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my sincere 
congratulations to Norma Mathes Knight on being named the Kings Park, 
NY, Chamber of Commerce 1995 Woman of the Year.
  In 1963, Norma Mathes Knight, her husband Harold (Harry) Mathes and 
their daughters Patricia, Marilyn, and son Bill moved to Fort Salonga 
in Suffolk County, NY.
  Patricia was then a freshman at Immaculate College in Pennsylvania, 
Marilyn a freshman at Kings Park High School, and Bill a student at 
Ralph J. Osgood Elementary School.
  In 1970, Norma and Harry opened Mathes & Son, Inc. at 95 Pulaski Road 
in Kings Park. In 1980, they bought the building at 101 Pulaski Road 
where their business Mathes & Son Auto Parts Supply became a familiar 
sight and an integral part of the hamlet of Kings Park. This year will 
mark the 25th anniversary in business of Mathes & Son.
  Norma was one of the founding members of the Kings Park Chamber of 
Commerce. In 1971, she became one of its original directors. She is 
presently the vice president of the chamber. Her participation in all 
aspects of the functioning of the chamber has not only been an integral 
part of Norma's life, but has served as an outstanding contribution and 
benefit to the entire community.
  Norma has dedicated herself to improving the quality of life for 
others. She has demonstrated this over and over through her involvement 
and deep commitment to community service. She is also a member of the 
Fort Salonga Civic Association, St. Charles Hospital Auxiliary, and the 
Smithtown Professional Women's Network.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting Norma Mathes 
Knight for her outstanding commitment and selfless dedication to her 
community, and to extend our best wishes and congratulations on her 
being named 1995 Woman of the Year.

[[Page E120]]


                        INDIA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

                                 ______


                          HON. CHARLES WILSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 1996

  Mr. WILSON. Mr. Speaker, the Government of India appears to be 
playing a game of nuclear chicken with the United States. In the past 3 
months India has: Prepared for nuclear testing, tested for eventual 
deployment of the medium-range Prithvi missile, capable of carrying 
nuclear warheads, and repudiated the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
  While India--under great pressure from the United States and the 
lender nations--reluctantly decided to refrain from nuclear testing for 
the time being, it is planning to go ahead with testing and deployment 
of its medium-range Prithvi missile, possibly even as we meet here 
today. The United States has urged India not to proceed with the 
deployment of the Prithvi missiles because deployment could increase 
tensions between India and Pakistan, the only nation within logistical 
range of this new Indian offensive weapons system. The United States 
has urged restraint in missile development and deployment on the 
subcontinent as we continue our efforts to reduce tensions and slow the 
arms buildup.
  One hears all kinds of rather lame excuses for India's potential 
Prithvi deployment. The Indian Government would lead us to believe that 
deployment is being done in response to internal domestic political 
pressure. Issues that affect the security and safety of an entire 
subcontinent, such as nuclear and missile proliferation, cannot and 
should not be equated with political expediency. The internal political 
pressures cannot be carelessly applied when the result of those 
pressures is a direct threat to Pakistan's security. And surely if this 
rationale for nuclear provocation is good for the goose, will it not 
soon become equally good for the gander?
  Mr. Speaker, since 1974 India has freely pursued its nuclear program. 
Pakistan, on the other hand has been severely penalized: for 10 years 
Pakistan has endured the Pressler sanctions that have adversely 
affected Pakistan's conventional defense. Yet Pakistan has consistently 
supported the elimination of nuclear weapons in the region. Since 1974 
Pakistan has proposed to India the establishment of a nuclear weapons 
free zone in south Asia (1974); a joint Indo-Pakistan declaration 
renouncing the acquisition and manufacture of nuclear weapons (1978); 
mutual inspections by India and Pakistan of nuclear facilities (1979); 
simultaneous adherence to the NPT by India and Pakistan (1979); 
simultaneous acceptance of full-scope IAEA safeguards (1979); agreement 
on a bilateral or regional nuclear test ban treaty (1987); commencement 
of a multilateral conference on the nuclear proliferation in south Asia 
(1991); and creation of a missile-free zone in south Asia (1993).

  All of these proposals have been rejected by India.
  Mr. Speaker, if Pakistan and India are ever to resolve the 
differences between them it must be done through confidence-building 
measures, not through an arms race or nuclear contest. Prime Minister 
Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan and her predecessors have made a series of 
good faith gestures, and have put significant non-proliferation 
proposals on the table. Pakistan has demonstrated significant restraint 
in its own sophisticated technological program. It is long time that 
such restraint be matched by India, and that India respond 
substantively to the arms reduction proposals that have been 
promulgated by Islamabad. And above all, Mr. Speaker, this is hardly 
the right time or the right circumstances for a major provocation such 
as the deployment of the Indian Prithvi program.
  I urge the President and the Secretary of State to use their good 
offices to have New Delhi take positive steps forward, not dangerous 
steps backward.

                          ____________________