[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 133 (Tuesday, September 30, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H8169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
   UNITED STATES SHOULD LEAD THE FIGHT TO RID THE WORLD OF LANDMINES

  (Mr. ALLEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ALLEN. Madam Speaker, 89 nations agreed in Oslo recently to an 
international treaty to ban landmines. This achievement is the product 
of years of hard work by humanitarian groups in the United States and 
around the globe and honors the legacy of the late Princess Diana. 
Unfortunately, the administration has decided not to sign the Ottawa 
treaty.
  I fear we have missed an historic opportunity to do the right thing. 
The United States should lead the fight to rid the world of landmines.
  The President said that total landmine ban was a line he could not 
cross for the safety of our troops. Their safety is of fundamental 
importance, but there are alternatives to mines that can protect our 
soldiers.
  A child in Angola does not see the line between farm and minefield 
and does not know where she can safely cross. Every 22 minutes, an 
innocent civilian is killed or maimed by a landmine.
  Madam Speaker, I urge Members and citizens across the country to call 
on the President to think of that little girl, do the right thing and 
sign the Ottawa Treaty in December.

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