[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 24, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H1506-H1507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
   URGING THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SUPPORT EVENTS SUCH AS THE 
                       ``INCREASE THE PEACE DAY''

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 113) urging the House of Representatives to support 
events such as the ``Increase the Peace Day.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 113

       Whereas in order to promote non-violence, respect and 
     responsibility, the students of Challenger Middle School in 
     Lake Los Angeles, California, in conjunction with the Museum 
     of Tolerance in Los Angeles, hold each year an ``Increase the 
     Peace Day'' program on April 20; and
       Whereas as part of the program, students signed the 
     following pledge:
       ``I will honor the memory of the victims of school violence 
     by committing myself to finding a peaceful solution to my own 
     conflicts with others.
       ``I will not hit another person for any reason.
       ``I will not threaten another person, even as a joke.
       ``I will report all rumors of violence to the nearest adult 
     and to all adults who will listen to me.
       ``I will smile at students I don't know when I make eye 
     contact.
       ``I will talk to my parents about what takes place in 
     school.
       ``I will remind myself and others that the diversity of the 
     United States is one of our main strengths.
       ``I will be aware that I have choices in life and that I am 
     responsible for my own actions.
       ``I will be considerate of other people and their feelings.
       ``I will not spread rumors.
       ``I will not call other people names that are hurtful to 
     them.
       ``I will help make the world a better place one smile at a 
     time.
       ``I will ask for help when I am confused or lonely.
       ``I will make others aware of these pledges in order to 
     spread this message of peace.
       ``I will take the responsibility as a citizen of this great 
     nation to make our country a more peaceful place by doing my 
     own part to Increase the Peace.'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges schools 
     across the United States to participate in similar ``Increase 
     the Peace Day'' events.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Stearns). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) and the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Solis) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon).


                             General Leave

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H. Res. 113.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my colleagues to support H. Res. 
113, which is an important resolution that urges the House of 
Representatives to support ``Increase the Peace Day'' events throughout 
the country.
  Just last Friday, on April 20, students, teachers, parents and 
community leaders from the Antelope Valley in my congressional district 
held an ``Increase the Peace Day.'' This was the second ``Increase the 
Peace Day'' and coincides with the anniversary of the Columbine High 
School tragedy. The program featured the formation of a human peace 
sign, presentations by representatives of the Simon Wiesenthal Center's 
Museum of Tolerance and the granting of ``Increase the Peace'' awards 
to youths who have prevented violence at their schools. One of the 
highlights of the day was when the students signed an ``Increase the 
Peace'' pledge, outlining how they could avoid similar acts of violence 
on their campuses.
  Among the promises in the pledge were to find a peaceful solution to 
conflicts, to not hit another person, to not threaten another person, 
to report all rumors of violence to an adult, to celebrate diversity, 
and to seek help when feeling lonely or confused. I was proud to join 
the other supporters of ``Increase the Peace Day'' and be a part of 
this incredible event.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to take a moment to recognize the 
outstanding efforts of teacher Bruce Galler at Challenger Middle 
School, who came up with the original idea for ``Increase the Peace 
Day'' because he believes that something can and should be done. Bruce 
uses a quote by Edward Everett Hale on literature to promote the event, 
and I believe it illustrates what was accomplished on ``Increase the 
Peace Day.'' The quote is as follows: ``I am only one, but I am one. I 
cannot do everything, but I can do something. I will not let what I 
cannot do interfere with what I can do.''
  At the first ``Increase the Peace Day'' last year, I promised to 
introduce a resolution in order to show that as one Member of Congress, 
I can do something to highlight this important event, to encourage all 
Americans to reject anger and hate, and to instead promote peace and 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate Bruce and his students for 
hosting last week's events. The first event that they held last year 
was at Challenger Middle School and included the students from 
Challenger. This year they expanded it to include the whole community, 
and students were bused from many schools around the area. It was an 
exciting event.
  At the end of the event, when the different resolutions had been 
presented, the students all came onto the field and formed this large 
peace symbol, and we had a helicopter from the local Marine base that 
flew over and took pictures of the event. It was exciting and a great 
thing to be part of.
  It was wonderful to see what the youth did do of a positive nature. 
We hear so often of the negative things and we do not hear of the 
positive events, and there are many great wonderful, positive events 
happening around this country.
  In closing, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution 
and to encourage their own local communities to institute a similar 
program.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
McKeon).
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about a subject close to my heart, 
and that is promoting tolerance and diversity. I commend the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon) for introducing House Resolution 113, 
which urges us to recognize events such as

[[Page H1507]]

``Increase the Peace Day,'' which promotes the kind and thoughtful 
treatment of all people.
  As adults, we have a responsibility to show our children the 
importance of compassion and tolerance. It is up to us to set an 
example for all of our young people to show them how to consider other 
people's feelings and how to be respectful of different points of view. 
We must take time to listen to our children and teach them to 
appreciate those who are different from us. Our children must learn 
that there is strength in diversity.
  My home State of California and my congressional district are 
incredibly diverse, and I am proud to say that, where we have many 
Hispanic Americans, we have Asian Americans, and different people from 
all walks of life. Over 72 different languages are spoken and taught 
within our schools there. I cannot imagine Los Angeles or California 
without the incredible mix of people and backgrounds that we have. The 
State just would not be the same.
  In addition to embracing our diversity, we must also teach our 
children how to solve conflicts peacefully. In a country as diverse as 
ours, there are bound to be differences of opinion. It is important 
that we teach young people how to express those differences without 
violence.
  Many schools are already working to promote the benefits of diversity 
and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution. We know this is 
necessary because so many children across America dread going to school 
because of the harsh social pressures that they face simply by being 
themselves. Some students cannot talk to others for fear of being 
chastised by their peers. They feel embarrassed if they do not have the 
right clothes on or right colors or right shoes. If parents and schools 
work together, we can help young people feel good about themselves and 
show compassion for others.
  A simple smile, a warm greeting, open communication, these are the 
things that help us live together peacefully. We must educate our 
parents about the importance of communicating one-on-one with their 
children, setting a good example, and promoting tolerance. Programs 
which help parents communicate with their children will truly be a good 
step in the right direction.
  In Los Angeles, we have seen the tragedy of violent crimes committed 
against people simply because of the color of their skin. It is my hope 
that conflict resolution and parental involvement will help prevent 
this sort of tragedy in the future. If we can teach people when they 
are still young to embrace diversity and resolve their differences 
peacefully, we will increase our Nation's strength and unity.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to also support this resolution and 
support events like ``Increase the Peace Day.''
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentlewoman 
from California for yielding me this time. I also want to commend the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) for introducing this resolution.
  It seems to me that this resolution is an indication that we can, in 
fact, learn behavior. I have always been told that people have a 
tendency to learn what they live and live what they learn, and if we 
begin to focus seriously on conflict resolution, on the development of 
peaceful approaches to finding solutions to problems that people might 
have, then I think we can seriously reduce violence, and I think we can 
create for ourselves a saner, better world in which to live.
  So I want to commend the University of Illinois for its violence 
prevention efforts and programs, the Chicago public school system, and 
also Prevention Partnership, a local community organization, and a 
program called Hands Without Guns, where children are taught that there 
are other things that they can do with their hands than put a gun in 
them. If one always has something else in one's hands, then, of course, 
there is no room for a gun.
  So I commend all of those, once again, who would promote this 
approach to curbing violence in our society.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge strong support for the resolution.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I would just conclude by also providing my 
support and urging other Members to support this House resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues for their 
comments and for their support on this issue. I have no further 
requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 113.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________