[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 114 (Wednesday, September 3, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8743-S8744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL DAY OF RECOGNITION FOR THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS OF DIANA,
PRINCESS OF WALES
Mrs. HUTCHISON. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to
the immediate consideration of S. Res. 118, submitted earlier today by
Senators Hatch and Leahy.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 118) expressing condolences on the
death of Diana, Princess of Wales, and designating September
6, 1997 as a ``National Day of Recognition for the
Humanitarian Efforts of Diana, Princess of Wales.''
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate
consideration of the resolution?
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the
resolution.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, all of us have heartfelt grief for the
people of Great Britain. That is why the Senate is acting in this
resolution, saying this is a woman and a leader who cared so much about
AIDS victims, people who did not have the chance in life that she did.
I think she really did show many of us that if we will just reach out a
helping hand to those less fortunate, it will make a difference.
The Senate stands today in unanimous agreement that we grieve with
the people of Great Britain and we will set aside a day of recognition
and one in which all of us will be thinking about her accomplishments,
the tragic, senseless death that she suffered, and hope that through
her children and the Royal Family and all of the British Government and
the people of Great Britain good things will come from the leadership
she showed and the compassion she showed for others and that because
she lived we will all be better people.
Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I join my colleagues in support of the
resolution expressing the Senate's condolences upon the death of Diana,
Princess of Wales. I can think of no event in recent times that has
moved so many people from different parts of the world and different
walks of life as the untimely and tragic death of this remarkable
woman. Diana was loved and respected worldwide. She meant different
things to different people, but the essence of her universal appeal
seems to derive from the fact that, at the height of fame and
privilege, Diana never lost the simple, human touch.
To many people, the greatest tragedy of Diana's death is the loss to
her two young sons, William and Harry. Diana was a committed and caring
mother who did a remarkable job rearing her children under great
pressure and intense public scrutiny. Many of us have seen the moving
footage of Diana hugging her sons unabashedly, or beaming at the end of
an amusement park adventure the three of them had shared. These things
may seem simple to people outside the spotlight, but they were quite
daring for someone charged with molding the character of the future
King of England.
Diana's human touch was daring in other ways, too. She may have
singlehandedly changed the way people around the world view their
fellow human beings suffering from AIDS and leprosy when she simply
touched their hands. With a simple, compassionate gesture, the princess
showed that we can afford to reach out to the sick.
Despite many bouts with personal adversity, Diana never withdrew into
the comforts of her privileged background. Instead, she seemed to
relish tackling new challenges, becoming a passionate humanitarian who
spent countless hours ministering to the sick, the poor, and the
forgotten. Many Americans, including a number of my colleagues, knew
her from her charitable work with the homeless and with victims of
AIDS, breast cancer, leprosy, and other human afflictions.
Most recently, Princess Diana helped to shed light on the horrors of
indiscriminate injury and death caused by the worldwide proliferation
of antipersonnel landmines. I have joined my
[[Page S8744]]
colleague from Vermont, Senator Leahy, in his effort to enact a ban on
the use of landmines, and this campaign received an invaluable boost
from the efforts of Princess Diana. I can think of no greater tribute
to her legacy than for us to summon the will and courage to enact such
a ban.
Mr. President, when the eyes of the world turn to London this
Saturday, I hope that passage of this resolution will convey the
thoughts and prayers of the American people to the family of the
Princess of Wales and the British people. It is the least we can do for
someone who deeply touched, and forever changed, so many of our lives.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, as the dean of the women in the Senate,
I rise to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Diana, the Princess of
Wales. Our hearts go out to her family and to the British people. We
believe it is appropriate that we adopt this resolution to create a
national day of mourning on September 6, the day of her funeral.
People have expressed surprise at the outpouring of love and grief
from the British people. But we shouldn't be surprised. Princess Diana
was a remarkable person. We were dazzled by her grace and beauty--but
what we truly valued was her compassion.
She was called the people's princess. She was born a member of the
aristocracy and married into royalty--but she never forgot that
Britain's strength was its ordinary working people. The thousands of
people laying flowers and waiting in line for hours to sign the
condolence book represent a cross section of Britons. They are the
senior citizens, the working mothers, the new immigrants--and
especially, the children.
She treated the people she met with respect and compassion and she
taught her children to do the same. Many people go through the motions
of doing good works. But with Princess Diana, it came from the heart.
The Princess of Wales had her personal challenges. But it is for her
public commitments that we will most remember her. She chose her causes
carefully. She worked on behalf of those who were most in need. She
campaigned for awareness of AIDS and tolerance and compassion for those
who suffered from AIDS. She helped support battered women's shelters.
She worked on behalf of children's hospitals. She worked to raise money
for breast cancer research. These causes were universal in nature and
supported by many women around the world.
She was also a leader in the effort to end the use of antipersonnel
landmines. She traveled to Angola and Bosnia to show the world the
tragic effects of landmines on ordinary civilians. By visiting mine
fields and landmine victims, she showed us more than any report or
international symposium ever could.
In the U.S. Senate, Senator Leahy and Senator Hagel have led our
effort to end the use of landmines. I am proud to be part of that
effort. We have stopped exporting mines, and are now trying to stop
their use. The world's most technologically advanced military does not
need a weapon that cannot distinguish between a soldier and a child--
who may be killed while playing in a field 10 years after the war is
over.
Mr. President, Princess Diana's death was a tragedy. But her life was
a triumph. Her legacy is her work on behalf of those in need, and, most
importantly, her children--whose lives will reflect the values their
mother taught them. We can best honor her legacy by continuing to work
as she did for those who are most in need.
Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to
reconsider be laid upon the table and that any statements relating to
this resolution appear at this point in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution (S. Res. 118) and its preamble read as follows:
S. Res. 118
Whereas the Senate and the American people heard the
announcement of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, with
profound sorrow and deep regret;
Whereas the Princess of Wales touched the lives of millions
of Americans and people throughout the world as an example of
compassion and grace;
Whereas the Princess of Wales was a committed and caring
mother who successfully raised two young sons under great
pressure and public scrutiny;
Whereas the Senate recognizes the tireless humanitarian
efforts of the Princess of Wales, including the areas of--
(1) raising awareness of and attention to breast cancer
research and treatment;
(2) HIV/AIDS, particularly in the areas of pediatric AIDS,
educating the public regarding the facts of HIV/AIDS
transmission, and fostering a public attitude that is
intolerant of discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS;
(3) banning antipersonnel landmines from the arsenals of
war, as these indiscriminate weapons often result in
casualties to civilians, including children, sometimes many
years after the armed conflict in which the mines were used;
and
(4) eliminating the problem of hopelessness around the
world: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) extends to the people of the United Kingdom sincere
condolences and sympathy on the death of Diana, Princess of
Wales.
(2) recognizes the extraordinary impact of the Princess of
Wales' humanitarian efforts around the world; and
(3) designates September 6, 1997, as a ``National Day of
Recognition for the Humanitarian efforts of Diana, Princess
of Wales''.
Sec. 2. The Secretary of the Senate shall transit an
enrolled copy of this resolution to the family of Diana,
Princess of Wales.
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