[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9592-H9593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 577) to honor the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (UNHCR) for its role as a protector of the world's 
refugees, to celebrate UNHCR's 50th anniversary, and to praise the High 
Commissioner Sadako Ogata for her work with UNHCR for the past 10 
years, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 577

       Whereas since the founding of the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in December 1950, it has 
     become one of the world's principal humanitarian agencies 
     with 244 offices in 118 countries and helps nearly 22,000,000 
     people in more than 140 countries;
       Whereas on December 14, 2000, UNHCR marks a half-century of 
     helping millions of the world's most vulnerable and 
     courageous people;
       Whereas UNHCR continues to fulfill its mandate, as adopted 
     by the United Nations General Assembly on December 14, 1950, 
     to provide international protection to refugees and persons 
     seeking asylum and to seek durable solutions to their 
     problems;
       Whereas UNHCR has worked to ensure respect of refugees' 
     basic human rights and adherence to the principle of 
     nonrefoulement, which prohibits the expulsion and return of 
     refugees to countries or territories where their lives or 
     freedom would be threatened;
       Whereas the United States and its citizens have long 
     welcomed refugees to our shores;
       Whereas, although UNHCR's responsibilities under its 
     original mandate do not include internally displaced persons, 
     it plays a critical role in assisting and protecting 
     internally displaced populations in many situations, 
     particularly where refugee and internally displaced 
     populations are mixed;
       Whereas the heart of UNHCR's mandate is protection, and 
     UNHCR must continue to emphasize protection in choosing 
     durable solutions for refugees, including voluntary return, 
     local integration in countries of first asylum, and 
     resettlement;
       Whereas vulnerable refugees, particularly women, children, 
     and the elderly, face special protection and assistance needs 
     and UNHCR must continue to emphasize their needs in its 
     policy and program efforts;
       Whereas, in collaboration with other international agencies 
     and nongovernmental organizations, UNHCR has shaped policies 
     on which the international community can agree to move 
     forward on peacefully resolving refugee situations;
       Whereas under the leadership of High Commissioner Sadako 
     Ogata and her predecessors, UNHCR has made invaluable 
     contributions for humanity by helping to promote peace and 
     respect for human rights for all uprooted peoples; and
       Whereas UNHCR has twice been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 
     for its service to humanity: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and honors the United Nations High 
     Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the occasion of its 50th 
     anniversary for its contributions on behalf of the world's 
     refugees;
       (2) expresses its support for the continued efforts of 
     UNHCR;
       (3) affirms its support for international protection for 
     the victims of persecution and human rights violations and 
     for the achievement of durable solutions for refugees; and
       (4) calls on the international community to work together 
     with UNHCR in efforts to ensure that host countries uphold 
     humanitarian principles and the human rights of refugees, to 
     lessen the impact of refugees on host countries, and to 
     promote the safe voluntary repatriation, local integration, 
     or resettlement of refugees.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega) 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. 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. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 577, in 
observation of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the United 
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. This measure honors the 
excellent service that the UNHCR has provided the international 
community since 1950.
  This comparatively small agency of the U.N., since its inception, has 
helped ameliorate and, in many instances, resolve the plight of 
millions of victims of persecution and abuse. I would like to commend 
our colleague the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) for his diligence in 
making certain that this Congress is able to record its immense respect 
for the UNHCR on the occasion of this important milestone.
  We should also note that H. Res. 577 pays fitting tribute to our 
current High Commissioner, Dr. Sadako Ogata, who is stepping down after 
completing a meritorious 10-year tour of duty in this vital 
international post. During her tenure, Commissioner Ogata has seen the 
case load of refugees and persons of concern to her office rise to a 
total of some 22 million. These millions are indicative of the increase 
in wars, internal conflicts and natural disasters that have produced a 
tide of human suffering that has only been paralleled in the past by 
our most serious global conflicts.
  The UNHCR has also had to exceed the terms of its own mandate as laid 
out in the statutes that created the office of high commissioner some 
50 years ago by providing invaluable assistance to those vulnerable 
individuals who are internally displaced within the borders of their 
home nations but are also victims of persecution or human rights 
abuses.
  As global events have become more complex, Mr. Speaker, the UNHCR has 
been able to adapt itself to meeting the new challenges these 
situations have presented. It is hoped, therefore, that this 
resolution, by calling attention to the good work performed by the 
UNHCR and by the staff of that office, will increase the support by 
American citizens and others around the world of the effort spearheaded 
by the UNHCR.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge our colleagues to support H. Res. 
577.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, again I want to compliment the chief 
sponsor of this bill the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall) and our 
chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman), and also the ranking member of our 
committee, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution. House 
Resolution 577 honors and recognizes the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees on the occasion of its 50th anniversary for 
its contributions on behalf of the world's refugees. On December 14 of 
this year, the UNHCR will mark a half century of helping millions of 
the world's most vulnerable people.
  As I said earlier, I want to commend the gentleman from Ohio for 
introducing this legislation on behalf of many of the hungry and 
homeless people around the world. The UNHCR, Mr. Speaker, has been 
mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate international 
action for the worldwide

[[Page H9593]]

protection of refugees and the resolution of refugee problems. It is 
one of the world's principal humanitarian organizations helping some 23 
million people in more than 140 countries.
  Mrs. Sadako Ogata has served as the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees now for nearly 10 years. It is one of the toughest jobs 
and she has done a magnificent and superb job of bringing both 
professionalism and compassion to the organization over her decade of 
service not only to the United Nations but certainly to the people of 
the world.
  This resolution also calls on the international community to bring 
together with UNHCR an effort to reassure that host countries uphold 
humanitarian and human rights principles for refugees, to lessen the 
impact of refugees on host countries, and to promote the safe and 
voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement of these 
refugees.
  While the resolution before the House does not deal with the refugee 
situation in West Timor, Indonesia, it is important, however, to 
remember the recent killing of three UNHCR workers who were helping 
East Timorese refugees. These UNHCR employees, including one American, 
were trying to bring order to the refugee camps and create a situation 
where the East Timorese refugees could return home. Their killing by 
the militias was deplorable. We must always remember the dangerous 
conditions which these workers are exposed to.
  I would be remiss, Mr. Speaker, if I did not also offer my 
compliments and commendation to Ms. Kathleen Mazed who is the staff 
consultant on this side of the aisle of our committee for the superb 
job that she has done not only to this piece of legislation but three 
other pieces of legislation. I want to thank her and recognize her 
services for doing this.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the 
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding me this time. I am very proud to be a cosponsor of this 
resolution introduced by my good friend, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. 
Hall), whose commitment to human rights and humanitarian principles is 
well known. The resolution celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 
office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the UNHCR. 
It commends the UNHCR on its good work over the years and congratulates 
the present High Commissioner, Dr. Ogata, who will be retiring in 
December. The Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights 
made minor technical changes to the legislation and reported it 
favorably to the full committee which reported it out last week.
  As the resolution rightly points out, it is important that the UNHCR 
never forget that the heart of its mandate is protection. Donor 
countries including a major donor, the United States, often forget 
this. Our own contribution to refugee protection around the world is 
about 20 percent lower than it was just 5 years ago and most other 
countries have done even worse. Moreover, countries of first asylum, to 
which refugees have fled from persecution or the fear of persecution, 
often wish they would go away. And sometimes the brutal regimes from 
which they fled are only all too happy to get them back. So there is 
always pressure on the UNHCR to pretend that mass repatriation would be 
safe when, in fact, it is dangerous or to pretend that repatriation is 
voluntary when, in fact, the refugees and asylum seekers are given no 
choice.
  Mr. Speaker, we are the subcommittee of jurisdiction on refugee 
protection. We have had numerous hearings on many parts of the world, 
including Africa, the Great Lakes region, Rwanda, and I take a back 
seat to no one and my very good friend the ranking member, the 
gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney), has likewise been there and 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) who was the ranker 2 years 
ago in raising concerns about people being forced back when they had a 
real fear of persecution and many of those people when forced back have 
come to a very untimely and unfortunate fate. Occasionally, as in the 
so-called comprehensive plan of action, for example, asylum seekers 
from Indochina, the UNHCR in that case yielded to pressure. On these 
occasions, I and other Members as I have pointed out were among UNHCR's 
strongest critics. However, on many, many other occasions, the UNHCR 
has stood for the principle of protection, even at great risk to its 
own institutional interests. This resolution celebrates those instances 
of courage, those instances of compassion over the last 50 years and 
particularly during the stewardship of Dr. Ogata.
  I support this resolution and urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his strong advocacy of this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to say, Mr. Speaker, if there is ever a champion and someone 
anywhere in the four corners of the world that I will travel as someone 
to attend with me when we talk about human rights is none other than 
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith). I want to commend him for 
that. I know that the situation in West Papua, New Guinea now is 
burning up to a situation given the fact that some 300,000 West Papains 
were murdered, tortured, and killed by the Indonesian military since 
1963.

                              {time}  2115

  We can go on, but I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Smith); and I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) also for 
his outstanding leadership when it comes to the issue of human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
FALEOMAVAEGA) for his leadership on these measures we have had before 
us at this late hour, and I want to thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith) for his advocacy.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank Chairman Gilman 
and Sam Gejdenson and Chris Smith for their leadership in moving this 
resolution through Committee and for their strong support of the bill.
  I am proud to be the sponsor of H. Res. 577 which honors and 
recognizes the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on 
the occasion of its 50th anniversary for its contributions on behalf of 
the world's refugees. On December 14, 2000, UNHCR will mark a half-
century of helping millions of the world's most vulnerable people.
  UNHCR has been mandated by the United Nations to lead and coordinate 
international action for the world-wide protection of refugees and the 
resolution of refugee problems. It is one of the world's principal 
humanitarian organizations helping 23 million people in more than 140 
countries.
  Madam Sadako Ogata has served as the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees now for nearly ten years. it is a tough job, and Madam 
Ogata has performed superbly, bringing both professionalism and 
compassion to the organization over her decade of service.
  This resolution also calls on the international community to work 
together with UNHCR in efforts to ensure that host countries uphold 
humanitarian and human rights principles for refugees, to lessen the 
impact of refugees on host countries, and to promote the safe voluntary 
repatriation, local integration, or resettlement of refugees.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). 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 resolution, H. Res. 577, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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