[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 125 (Thursday, September 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E1809]]

                         WE MUST BAN LANDMINES

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 18, 1997

  Mr. FARR of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my deep 
disappointment with President Clinton's decision not to join the 
international landmine treaty being negotiated in Oslo.
  Antipersonnel landmines pose a deadly, indiscriminate threat to the 
lives of millions of people around the world. Each year, over 20,000 
people are killed or disabled by landmines left over from past 
conflicts. In many former war-torn countries, the damage is all too 
visible: thousands of men, women, and children with missing limbs, 
crippled by hidden landmines.
  Banning the production and deployment of antipersonnel landmines is a 
reasonable, common sense and necessary solution. Yet the decision to 
not sign the treaty means the United States has rejected that solution, 
and will instead continue to produce, sell, and deploy antipersonnel 
landmines.
  Action must be taken to stop this insidious and deadly weapon. I am 
proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R. 2459, legislation introduced 
by my colleague, Lane Evans, to stop the further deployment of 
antipersonnel landmines by the United States. We in Congress must step 
forward, where our President has not, and do the right thing.

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