[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 121 (Monday, September 14, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H7660-H7661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     SENSE OF CONGRESS ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING OF UNIVERSAL 
                      DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 185) expressing the sense of the 
Congress on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights and recommitting the United 
States to the principles expressed in the Universal Declaration, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 185

       Whereas on December 10, 1948, the General Assembly of the 
     United Nations proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human 
     Rights, after it was adopted by the General Assembly without 
     a dissenting vote;
       Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was 
     modeled on the Bill of Rights of the United States 
     Constitution and it was developed with strong United States 
     leadership, and in particular the personal involvement of 
     Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who served as Chair of the United 
     Nations Human Rights Commission;
       Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets 
     forth fundamental human rights including the right to life, 
     liberty, and security of person; freedom of religion; freedom 
     of opinion and expression; freedom of assembly; self-
     government through free elections; freedom from slavery and 
     torture; the right to a fair trial and to equality before the 
     law; presumption of innocence until proved guilty; the right 
     not to be subjected to retroactive laws; freedom of movement 
     within one's state and freedom to leave or return to it; the 
     right of asylum; the right to a nationality; the right to 
     found a family; the right against arbitrary interference with 
     privacy, family, home, or correspondence; the right to own 
     property; to social security and to work; the right to form 
     and join trade unions; the right to an adequate standard of 
     living, to education, and to rest and leisure; and the right 
     to participation in the cultural life of the community;
       Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has 
     become the most widely accepted statement identifying human 
     rights and is referred to in resolutions and covenants 
     adopted by numerous international organizations, in 
     multilateral and bilateral treaties, in national 
     constitutions, and in local laws and decrees; and
       Whereas the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though 
     it is not a treaty or a binding international agreement, it 
     is ``a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all 
     nations'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
     fundamental human rights enunciated half a century ago in the 
     Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which are a reflection 
     of the fundamental civil and human rights that are enshrined 
     in the Declaration of Independence and in the United States 
     Constitution, and in particular in the Bill of Rights;
       (2) expresses the determination to work for the 
     implementation of and observance of international human 
     rights and international human rights agreements; and
       (3) urges the government leaders of all nations, 
     representatives of private international human rights 
     organizations, business and labor leaders, local government 
     officials, and all Americans to use the Universal Declaration 
     of Human Rights as an instrument to promote tolerance, 
     understanding, and greater respect for human rights.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this measure as well as on H. Con. Res. 304 and H. Con. Res. 254 
previously considered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I commend the chairman of the Subcommittee 
on International Operations and Human Rights the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking minority member the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos) for their timely initiative, and I commend the 
gentleman from California for crafting H. Con. Res. 185.
  H. Con. Res. 185 expresses the sense of the Congress on the occasion 
of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights and recommits our Nation to the principles expressed 
therein.
  On December 20, 1948, the General Assembly of the U.N. proclaimed the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights after it was adopted by the 
General Assembly without one dissenting vote. H. Con. Res. 185 
summarizes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and reaffirms our 
Nation's commitment to that declaration.
  We take for granted so many freedoms that we have in our country. The 
gentleman's resolution makes us aware of their preciousness and 
reaffirms our commitment to their protection and role in our society 
and the world community.
  Accordingly, I strongly support H. Con. Res. 185, and I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
Let me first thank my friend the distinguished chairman of the 
Committee on International Relations for his comments. Let me also 
thank my good friend and distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Porter), cochair of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus who joined me 
as the principal Republican cosponsor of this bill. I also want to 
thank my good friend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) the 
distinguished chairman of the House International Relations 
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights for his 
strong leadership on this issue. There are in fact scores of colleagues 
across the political spectrum who joined us in introducing this 
resolution.
  Fifty years is a long time, Madam Speaker, and it is most appropriate 
for us to recommit ourselves and this body and our Nation to this vital 
document. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is one of the most 
monumental events in the history of human rights. It is the accepted 
international definition of human rights, and the declaration continues 
to serve as the basis for subsequent international human rights law and 
treaties. And it is the critical starting point for future 
international agreements on human rights.
  Now, I am not naive, Madam Speaker, and I understand that in scores 
of countries, this Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not 
observed. But that painful fact makes it all the more important that we 
recommit ourselves in a solemn way to the principles embodied in this 
document.
  The drafters of the Universal Declaration were not concerned with 
inventing new political concepts and rights which would be granted or 
extended to people around the world; but, rather, they were concerned 
with defining the fundamental rights that are at the root of our human 
nature, rights that are the essence of our humanity. The purpose of the 
Universal Declaration was to enumerate these rights and

[[Page H7661]]

to establish the standards that all nations should observe.
  The nations which founded the United Nations at the San Francisco 
Conference in 1945, the city I have the honor to represent in this body 
with my friend the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), came to 
the conclusion that new tools and international mechanisms are needed 
to protect the basic rights of all human beings. They directly 
responded to the atrocities of World War II committed by Nazi Germany 
and others where fundamental rights were violated in an unprecedented 
and systematic attack which produced inconceivable levels of human 
suffering.
  In 1946, Madam Speaker, the United Nations established the Commission 
on Human Rights, the principal decision-making body charged with the 
global defense of human rights. The first Chair of the Human Rights 
Commission was Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, the widow of President Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt. Under her inspired leadership, this Commission took 
it upon itself to develop a comprehensive and universal catalogue of 
human rights definitions, which could serve as the basis for future 
legal codifications in the defense of human rights.
  After almost 1,400 rounds of voting on practically every word in the 
draft declaration, the General Assembly unanimously adopted the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948, in Paris at 
the Palais de Chaillot. Hence, we annually celebrate December 10 as 
International Human Rights Day. Subsequently some 60 human rights 
treaties and declarations were negotiated at the United Nations on the 
basis of the Universal Declaration.
  Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, many of the rights enunciated in the 
Universal Declaration are under attack across the globe. I urge my 
colleagues to join me and continue our fight for all human rights for 
all human beings, even if that means from time to time making some 
unpopular decisions. As the sole remaining superpower, we have a 
special global obligation to the poor, to the tortured, to the 
prosecuted, to the persecuted, to the refugees and the voiceless. 
Anything less than full commitment to these human rights would be a 
betrayal of our own convictions and beliefs as a Nation and to our 
responsibilities spelled out in our Constitution and the Bill of 
Rights.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  (Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, first of all I want to thank 
and congratulate the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for 
introducing H. Con. Res. 185 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a magnificent document. I am 
very proud to be one of the cosponsors of the resolution. I do hope it 
will get the full support of our colleagues today.

                              {time}  1415

  Madam Speaker, I believe that rights come from God, not from 
governments, not from international organizations. Nevertheless, it was 
a great step forward when, without a dissenting vote, the United 
Nations General Assembly recognized the existence of the rights to 
life, liberty, freedom of religion and expression, self-government 
through elections, and other important rights that are inherent in our 
nature as human beings and children of God.
  I am very proud to join my colleague, the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Lantos), and I want to thank him again for bringing this important 
resolution before the body today.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I applaud this measure. It is 
imperative that we, as Representatives of the United States of America, 
continue to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The 
vital declaration ensures global preservation of the most basic human 
liberties.
  Nadezhda Mandelstam once wrote that one must scream to the world to 
assert one's right to live and ``send a message to the outside world 
demanding help and calling for resistance.'' Silence, in turn, is the 
``real crime against humanity.''
  It is clear that we must proclaim loudly that we are still demanding 
help and calling for resistance against human rights throughout the 
world. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights represents such a 
voice because it creates a standard of human rights that all the 
world's nations must uphold.
  As a cornerstone of international customary law, the Declaration 
paved the way for legally binding treaties such as the International 
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant 
on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. Together, these documents 
form the ``International Bill of Rights.''
  The Universal Declaration of Human Rights also serves as a model for 
national constitutions, laws, and policies. Since 1948, over 90 
national constitutions can be traced to the Declaration.
  We must continue to vocally support this Declaration. Our silence 
would only result in a regression of the work done on behalf of this 
document. Instead, we must scream to the world that we will not 
tolerate human rights abuses.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of the time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Morella). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
185, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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