[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO THE CAREER OF WILLIAM THOMAS HART

                                 ______


                            HON. SAM GIBBONS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 17, 1996

  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, Dedication. Integrity. Professionalism. 
Wisdom. Humility.
  These are attributes that we hold in high esteem and seek in those 
who lead us. It is reassuring to recognize some of these attributes in 
individuals; it is remarkable when we can recognize all of them in a 
single individual. I would like to take a few moments to tell you about 
William Thomas Hart, one such individual.
  This month marks the second anniversary of the signing of this 
century's most comprehensive multilateral trade agreements, the Uruguay 
Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations under the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade [GATT]. It also marks the first April since 1949 that 
the U.S. Government will not be able to call upon the expertise of 
William Thomas Hart.
  For over 53 years Mr. Hart has served this country, first as a young 
naval officer in World War II, then as an outstanding civil servant. In 
July 1948, Mr. Hart joined the staff of the U.S. Tariff Commission, now 
the U.S. International Trade Commission, beginning a distinguished 
career of public service in the trade field that would span almost 50 
years before his retirement in February 1996.
  Mr. Hart specialize in the somewhat arcane but critically important 
area of tariff negotiations. He most recently served as the U.S. 
International Trade Commission's [ITC] Director of the Office of 
Executive and International Liaison, responsible for planning and 
directing the ITC's activities in support of U.S. trade agreement 
negotiations and implementation. During his years of service he advised 
U.S. trade negotiations in all of the principal rounds of multilateral 
negotiations conducted under the GATT. He was also a key adviser in the 
negotiation of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Agreement, the 
United States-Canada Free Trade Agreement, and the North American Free 
Trade Agreement. His wise counsel and encyclopedic knowledge of events, 
both large and small, in the field of international trade have been 
sought out by innumerable government officials and business executives 
both here and abroad.
  Not only did Mr. Hart provide invaluable advice during the course of 
negotiations, but when the trade negotiators' work concluded, Mr. 
Hart's most lasting contributions began. For example, after the 
hundreds of trade negotiators gathered in Geneva for the signing of the 
Uruguay round agreements had congratulated themselves on their success 
and returned to their capitals, Mr. Hart and a small number of his 
colleagues turned to the critical task of translating the political 
results of the negotiations into tangible benefits for U.S. businesses, 
workers, and consumers. Mr. Hart was personally responsible for the 
production, under very stringent deadlines, of almost 2,500 pages of 
documentation necessary to record our international tariff commitments 
and update our tariff schedules. Mr. Hart meticulously checked and 
cross-checked every line of information in these documents to ensure 
the United States commitments were accurately represented and new 
tariff rates properly calculated. This is but one example of the 
dedication and professionalism that Mr. Hart exhibited throughout his 
long career.
  Mr. Hart's contributions and the critical support he provided to the 
agencies responsible for U.S. trade policy have been recognized by the 
President's trade representatives from Christian Herter, the first 
Special Trade Representative, to Mickey Kantor. The ITC also recognized 
the exceptional talents and dedicated public service of Mr. Hart by 
twice awarding him that agency's highest honor, The Commissioners' 
Award for Exceptional Service.
  Mr. Hart's service to his country and to his fellow citizens deserves 
our recognition and our praise. Bill, congratulations on your 
retirement. You did you job well, and you did it with care and pride 
and warmth. Your sense of honor, as well as your vast historical 
knowledge of trade negotiations, will be greatly missed. Your career 
serves as a fine example for your colleagues and for the generations of 
Government employees who will follow in your path.

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