[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 108 (Monday, July 30, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H4787-H4790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE THAT WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM PRESENTS
UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS GLOBAL DISCRIMINATION
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 212) expressing the sense of the House of
Representatives that the World Conference against Racism, Racial
Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance presents a unique
opportunity to address global discrimination, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 212
Whereas since the adoption of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights in 1948, the international community has taken
significant steps to eradicate racism, xenophobia, sexism,
religious intolerance, slavery, and other forms of
discrimination;
Whereas national and international measures to combat
discrimination and promote equality, justice, and dignity for
all individuals have proven inadequate;
Whereas the United Nations World Conference Against Racism,
Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance
(``WCAR''), to be held in Durban, South Africa, from August
31 through September 7, 2001, aims to create a new world
vision for the fight against racism and other forms of
intolerance in the twenty-first century, urge participants to
adopt anti-discrimination policies and practices, and
establish a mechanism for monitoring future progress toward a
discrimination-free world;
Whereas the causes and manifestations of contemporary
racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious intolerance, slavery,
and other forms of discrimination are many and increasingly
complex and subtle;
Whereas all states and societies that have sponsored,
encouraged, or tolerated slavery, including states involved
in the transatlantic slave trade, the Indian Ocean slave
trade, or the trans-Saharan slave trade, benefited
economically while inflicting extreme pain, suffering, and
humiliation on millions of African people;
Whereas victims of racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious
intolerance, slavery, and other forms of discrimination have
suffered and continue to suffer from the deprivation of their
fundamental rights and opportunities;
Whereas to varying degrees, states, societies, and
individuals have adopted the notion that racial, cultural,
religious, and social diversity can enrich a country and its
citizens;
Whereas participants of the WCAR currently plan to discuss
remedies, redress, and other mechanisms to provide recourse
at national, regional, and international levels for victims
of racism, xenophobia, sexism, religious intolerance,
slavery, and other forms of discrimination;
Whereas the achievement of full and effective equality
between peoples requires that states, civic groups, and
individuals cooperate to address the real difficulties in
attaining societies free of discrimination;
Whereas some preparatory materials for the WCAR take
positions on current political crises which, if adopted in
the final WCAR Declaration and Program of Action, could
exacerbate existing tensions;
Whereas the attempt by some to use the WCAR as a platform
to resuscitate the divisive and discredited notion equating
Zionism with racism, a notion that was overwhelmingly
rejected when United Nations Resolution 3379 (1975) was
rescinded in 1991, would undermine the goals and objectives
of the conference; and
Whereas the United States encourages respect for an
individual's human rights and fundamental freedoms without
distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth, or other status: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) encourages all participants in the United Nations World
Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia,
and Related Intolerance (``WCAR'') to seize this singular
opportunity to tackle the scourges of racism, xenophobia,
sexism, religious intolerance, slavery, and other forms of
discrimination which have divided people and wreaked
immeasurable suffering on the disempowered;
(2) recognizes that since racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia, and related intolerance exist to some extent in
every region and country around the world, efforts to address
these prejudices should occur within a global framework and
without reference to specific regions, countries, or present-
day conflicts;
(3) exhorts the participants to utilize the WCAR to
mitigate, rather than aggravate, racial, ethnic, and regional
tensions;
(4) urges the WCAR to focus on concrete steps that may be
taken to address gross human rights violations that were
motivated by racially and ethnically based animus and on
devising strategies to help eradicate such intolerance; and
(5) commends the efforts of the Government of the Republic
of South Africa in hosting the WCAR.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I claim the time in opposition to this
resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) opposed to the resolution?
Mr. LANTOS. I am in favor of the resolution, Mr. Speaker.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Georgia (Ms. McKinney)
will control 20 minutes in opposition to the resolution.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Ballenger).
General Leave
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from North Carolina?
There was no objection.
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The forthcoming World Conference Against Racism ought to represent an
opportunity for the people and the governments of the world to look for
ways to address the ongoing harm caused by continuing racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, as the formal
title of the conference refers to them.
Both in our own Nation and around the world, clashes between
communities, whether at their origins, based on ethnic, tribal, clan,
racial, national, religious or caste differences have a tremendously
debilitating effect on our lives. This is almost self-evident. Yet it
is worthwhile to provide, through the United Nations, the opportunity
for representatives of governments and civil society to sit down and
exchange experiences in dealing with ongoing racism and related forms
of intolerance, and other vestiges. In addition, we can and should take
the opportunity to frame a declaration and a plan of action on the
topic of the conference that expresses the sentiments of the world's
governments.
The current administration, along with the Members who are
cosponsoring this resolution, hope that a conference will be a
positive, forward-looking one. The gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) has framed a sensitive, appropriate resolution that expresses
our hopes with regard to this conference.
But he and I, and our administration, do not share certain concerns
as we approach the conference. The opportunity of a world conference on
anything always seems to present an irresistible opportunity to some in
the international community to hijack the conference and move it into
areas far from its real purposes, and so we have in the draft
declaration language, which can only be understood as intended to
minimize the Holocaust and to indicate that the only State worthy of
condemnation by name in the world is Israel. We also have efforts to
bring in issues such as compensation for actions of the distant past,
such as the transatlantic slave trade.
Mr. Speaker, today in Geneva, a Preparatory Conference is underway to
see if some of these issues can be worked out. If they are not worked
out, the administration will use the only leverage it really has, which
is to absent itself,
[[Page H4788]]
at least at the high level, from the conference. That is altogether
proper as far as I am concerned.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution makes no threats. It merely sets out our
position, and it does so in admirable terms, and it should be supported
by my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
The Lantos resolution attempts to place tape on the mouth of the
United States and the world community to say what the U.S. and the rest
of the world can or cannot say in South Africa. By comparison, the
chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus introduced a resolution
that puts no words in the mouth of the Bush administration, but merely
suggests that the U.S. participate in the World Conference Against
Racism by sending Colin Powell as head of the U.S. delegation, and that
the United States should support financially the conference.
With respect to what the U.S. can and cannot and should and should
not say, the Johnson resolution urges the Bush administration to adopt
policy positions at the WCAR that seek to advance an understanding of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance.
Amnesty International just wrote a letter to President Bush urging the
same position.
On July 25, Amnesty International USA urged the Bush administration
to increase its commitment to the conference by appointing a delegation
led by Secretary of State Colin Powell and assuming a leadership role
in the preconference preparation. In a letter sent to President Bush,
AIUSA, Amnesty International USA, called on the administration to
resolve controversies that have marred preparations for the WCAR.
Amnesty International USA urged President Bush not to allow current
controversies over draft language to serve as a pretext for
nonparticipation. We believe that such problems can be best addressed
by a senior delegation representing the U.S. at the conference and not
through a boycott.
The letter goes on to state, the Bush administration must participate
in efforts to eradicate racism at home and abroad and must seize the
opportunity to move beyond the empty rhetoric on race of previous
administrations by vigorously joining the debate at the World
Conference Against Racism.
Additionally, Human Rights Watch just issued a report saying that the
U.S. should participate. Human Rights Watch said national and
international panels should be created with maximum transparency and
public participation to identify and acknowledge past abuses and to
guide action to counter their present-day effect. Groups that suffer
today should be compensated by governments responsible for these
practices, said Kenneth Roth, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.
Those most seriously victimized today by past wrongs should be the
first priority for compensation to end their victimization.
Human Rights Watch proposed the establishment of national panels. The
panels should serve as truth commissions aiming to reveal the extent to
which a government's past racist practices contribute to contemporary
deprivation domestically and abroad, Roth said. They should educate the
public, acknowledge responsibility and propose methods of redress and
making amends.
Kofi Annan and President Bush are at the National Urban League today,
but the National Urban League supports our position that the U.S.
should agree to go and support no matter what is on the agenda. The
Leadership Conference on Civil Rights wrote a letter to Bush along the
exact same lines as the Johnson resolution; that is that the U.S.
should go to the conference; that the U.S. should financially support
the conference; and that U.S. participation will help to bring
significant issues into sharper focus at home and abroad.
Importantly, the Leadership Conference letter to President Bush
states, the United States should not limit its participation in this
important global event, even when faced with issues that our government
feels threatened fundamental American values. Rather, the U.S. should
actively engage difficult topics and work to change those that belie
core U.S. principles. If the U.S. does not participate in the World
Conference Against Racism, what will that prove? Do we not lose by
telling our friends and others what they can say and what they cannot
say; do we not lose friends and prestige by doing that? I do not
believe that the Bush administration has to be told what to say and
what not to say. I do believe that with the moral force of our position
and the strength of our argument, we should be able to prevail without
the appearance of issuing threats or intimidation.
Thirty percent of the American population consists of people of
color. We have a stake in this conference. I believe the majority of
Americans who are not of color would like to see the United States lead
in this issue to get rid of the problems of race and intolerance at
home and to help the rest of the world deal with the problem of racism
and intolerance abroad.
The United States should participate in the WCAR, the House should
encourage that participation, and the Johnson resolution should have
been on the House floor today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos).
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, as the founding Democratic chairman of the
Congressional Human Rights Caucus, I rise in strong support of the
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, the scourge of racism remains one of the most tragic
aspects of international life today. Slavery, xenophobia, sexism,
religious intolerance, hate crimes, racial profiling, we must renew our
commitment and redouble our efforts to combat each of these
manifestations of racism plaguing our globe today.
{time} 1430
Racism is at the root of countless international conflicts and it is
a formidable barrier to international cooperation. It remains a
stubborn and shameful stain on humanity.
The U.N. Conference on Racism is the first time that the world will
have come together to confront this scourge in a serious and systematic
way. Among other critical issues the conference will confront the
plight of millions of African people who have suffered from extreme
pain, hardship and humiliation from the slave trade and its lingering
effects.
The conference intends to explore this issue in a comprehensive way
discussing not only the transatlantic slave trade but also the Arab
slave trade across the Indian Ocean and the Sahara Desert.
It is imperative, Mr. Speaker, that the United States assume a
leadership role in combatting racism worldwide. Our national experience
with slavery and our commitment to civil rights compels us to take a
lead in the broader worldwide struggle to eradicate racism. Our
resolution makes clearly that the goals and objectives of this
important conference deserve the strong support of the United States.
If the conference adheres to its original purposes, U.S. participation
clearly will contribute to its success.
Tragically, Mr. Speaker, some are standing in the way of a genuine
dialogue on these painful issues by seeking to hijack the U.N.
Conference on Racism into a racist attack against specific states. A
draft resolution sponsored by a number of Arab states tends to equate
Zionism with racism and thereby singles out Israel for attack.
Our resolution denounces this attempt to single out an individual
state and to undermine the conference by using it as a platform for a
hate-filled political agenda.
I urge my colleagues to join me in support of our resolution and
getting the U.N. Conference on Racism back on track. The work of
combatting racial discrimination and reducing racial tensions worldwide
is far too important to be sidetracked by disruptive and hateful
political interests. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 212.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
California (Mr. Waxman).
Mr. WAXMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 212.
The upcoming U.N. World Conference Against Racism is an important
opportunity to condemn discrimination in all forms and dispel the
hatred and misunderstanding that promotes it.
[[Page H4789]]
By holding it in Durban, South Africa, it is supposed to be a
celebration of the world's triumph over apartheid, and a call to action
against the ongoing injustice of slavery, genocide, religious
oppression, gender discrimination, and other forms of intolerance that
continue to plague our world.
That is why I am deeply concerned that Arab countries have tried to
overshadow these objectives by hijacking the conference to bash Israel.
Language inserted in the draft declarations revives hateful anti-Jewish
lies that Zionism is racism and that Israel practices ethnic cleansing
and apartheid.
This targeted attack on Israel is another blatant attempt by the
enemies of peace to undermine the peace process and make political
dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians impossible. If it succeeds
in poisoning the U.N. conference declarations, it will inevitably
become a new platform for Palestinian incitement against Israel and
fuel the cycle of terrorist attacks and violence.
This resolution underscores U.S. support for the underlying goals and
objectives of the U.N. World Conference. I am hopeful, therefore, that
the Bush administration will be successful in the final preconference
meeting in Geneva this week in bringing the conference agenda back on
track. Otherwise its domination by extremist anti-Israeli bias will be
harmful to Israel, its allies, and the purpose of the U.N. Conference
itself, and will earn the condemnation of those who believe in an end
to racism and bigotry.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
New York (Mr. Israel).
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this
time.
Mr. Speaker, in November of 1975, Israel's Ambassador to the United
Nations stepped up to the General Assembly as they debated the
ludicrous proposition that Zionism is racism and held that resolution
aloft and said that that proposition was worth no more than the piece
of paper it was written on and tore that paper apart and left the well
of the General Assembly. He was right then and those of us today who
combat the notion that Zionism is racism are right as well.
It is ludicrous, it defies imagination to suggest that Zionism and
racism are the same thing. I would suggest to friends of the United
Nations as I am a friend of the United Nations that continuing to test
that proposition, that revisiting that issue 25 years later is
wrongheaded. It defies common sense and it strains the patience of
people like me and Members of Congress like me who believe in the value
of the United Nations.
This is a bad idea. It is a senseless resolution. It is going back in
time and it is not worthy of the United Nations or U.S. support in the
United Nations.
Mrs. MEEK of Florida. Mr. Speaker, next month's U.N. World Conference
against Racism in Durban, South Africa is an extremely important
conference which offers the world community an unprecedented
opportunity to address racism and global discrimination. For this
dialogue to be constructive, it must take place in an atmosphere of
tolerance and mutual respect. Thus, it is essential to ensure that the
Conference does not degenerate into a sideshow of hateful and extreme
views that revives such lies as the shameful assertion that Zionism is
racism.
The Conference attendees must not be diverted from the essential task
of confronting racism through a Draft Declaration for the Conference
that revives the despicable falsehood that Zionism is a ``movement
which is based on racial superiority.'' Nor can the United States sit
idly by and passively accept language that minimizes the historical
significance of the Holocaust and the evil of anti-Semitism, or which
in any way questions the legitimacy of our long-time ally, the State of
Israel.
I completely reject the false choice between abandoning the United
States' participation in this Conference and supporting the State of
Israel. There is no inconsistency in attending this Conference and
rejecting anti-Zionist, anti-Israel or anti-Semitic rhetoric. The
United States can and must do both.
As Mr. Lantos so cogently observed, racism is at the root of
countless international conflicts, and is a formidable barrier to
international cooperation. It remains a stubborn and shameful stain on
humanity, one that I believe that the United States must address
whenever it has an opportunity.
Thus, notwithstanding my concerns about certain aspects of the Draft
Declaration for the Conference, I believe that the United States must
attend the World Conference against Racism with a high level
delegation, hopefully one led by our Secretary of State Colin Powell.
I understand and recognize the concerns have been raised about
various aspects of the Conference's proposed agenda, but I fervently
believe that the way to deal with these controversial issues is for the
United States to participate fully in all aspects of developing the
Conference's agenda and in all aspects of the Conference. Thus, I
support H. Res. 212, the Ballenger-Lantos Resolution. I also urge the
leadership to bring Representative McKinney's Resolution, H. Res. 211,
to the floor. Passing H. Res. 211 will clearly put the House on record
as supporting full U.S. participation in the World Conference against
Racism without any precondition.
This participation should extend to all subjects that may be covered
at the Conference, including such discussion as may take place
concerning the subject of slavery and reparations, an issue in which
Mr. Conyers and I and many other Members of the Congress and the
American public are intensely interested.
I know that strong differences of opinion exist on the subject of
reparations and I would hope and expect that this subject will be only
one of a great many that may be considered at the Conference. But
however much (or little) attention reparations may receive, surely, the
mere consideration of this issue is not a reason for anyone to suggest
that the United States not participate in the Conference.
There's a simple solution to these issues. The United States should
participate fully in the Conference and take whatever steps our
Delegation deems necessary to reject and disassociate the United states
from any ``Zionism as Racism' language or any other anti-Israel
language at the Conference.
Mr. Speaker, we know who our friends and our enemies are. Our friend
is Israel and all others in the Middle East who seek a just and lasting
peace. Our enemy is racism. We need not, and must not, sacrifice one to
pursue the other. They are entirely compatible.
In my view, we accomplish nothing if we simply duck the issues to be
addressed at the Conference by not attending or by sending a low-level
delegation that lacks the authority to speak forcefully for the United
States on issues of such critical importance. The subject of racism is
simply too important not to be addressed in a meaningful way.
Mr. Speaker, when racism is the subject, the United States must never
be a ``no-show,'' no matter what the provocation. The United States
should make the most of this historic occasion to deal with racism in a
systematic way through full U.S. participation in the World Conference.
I urge all my Colleagues to support H. Res. 212 and yield back the
balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution
offered by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos).
Mr. Speaker, the forthcoming World Conference Against Racism ought to
be a moment to look forward to ways to deal with ``racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance,'' as the formal
title of the conference refers to them.
It is clear that the issue of racism needs to be dealt with. We need
to allow our governments and NGOs an opportunity to share thoughts and
come up with an appropriate plan of action.
The problem is that people who really do not care whether or not the
conference is successful are trying to hijack it.
They have succeeded in getting language into the draft conclusions
reviving the old canard that ``Zionism equals racism'' and minimizing
the Holocaust. Of all the countries on the face of the earth, they have
named only Israel as a miscreant on the issue of racism.
Of course, our Administration is working hard against this effort.
If they do not succeed, I hope that the Administration will consider
several alternatives. One would be not to go. Another would be to send
someone of the stature of a Colin Powell to tell the assembled nations
how we have dealt with our race problem--not perfectly, but with some
success over the years. And then, he should continue to denounce the
document for what will be its fatal flaws, and walk out. But there
should certainly be no ``business as usual''.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution is an excellent one. I am proud to be
associated with it. It says just what needs to be said: we want a good
world conference.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to fully support this resolution.
Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 212 that
expresses the importance of the Bush Administration sending a high-
level delegation to participate at the United Nations World Conference
Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related
Intolerance (WCAR) scheduled August 31 through September 7, 2001.
[[Page H4790]]
The United States of America where I am proud to be a citizen and who
I proudly fought for in the Korean War, is a major global power that is
called upon daily by nations around the world for leadership and
guidance. As a global power, historically we have been outspoken on
important matters concerning human rights abuses and civil rights
offenses around the world. Our legacy is freedom for all human beings.
We as a nation must once again exhibit the strong leadership that is
our heritage and do the right thing by fully participating in the
upcoming World Conference Against Racism. It is unconscionable that the
Administration would even consider not attending such an important
conference or provide the leadership needed to address this very
important issue of world racism. Our full attendance is the only way we
can ensure that the conference fulfills its primary purpose of
addressing the issue of racism around the world.
Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, the world conference against racism is
an important meeting to people of African descent, and indigenous
people all over the world. It is critical that this country fully
participate and demonstrate its commitment to ending racism, racial
intolerance, xenophobia and other forms of intolerance in this country
and all over the world. A full discussion and a strong resolution
decrying racism and the support of agreed to means of addressing its
impact are important to the health of our nation and the well-being of
the entire global community. Having a substantive declaration decrying
racism, colonialism, and the forceful subjugation of people will not in
and of itself make us whole, but it will foster a long overdue healing
process.
Mr. Speaker, I want my country to fully participate, to be involved
in all discussions and work with the other countries of the world to
develop such a resolution and programs. It neither serves this country
or the world well for it to be gagged on this important issue.
While I support this resolution in its supporting the United States
participation, I feel that the resolution introduced by Congresswoman
Eddie Bernice Johnson which calls on the highest level of
participation, for funding, and which urges the adoption and advancing
of policy positions that indicate clearly that our country understands
the ling k between racism in its current day forms and is firm in its
commitment to ending its impact on indigenous communities an
communities of color all over the world.
Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Res. 212, expressing the
Sense of Congress on the UN World Conference Against Racism.
I want to thank and express my appreciation to my colleague,
Congressman Lantos, for authorizing this legislation.
I believe this bill is a step in the right direction. In addition, I
firmly believe that the United States must not boycott this conference.
The World Conference Against Racism will provide an important and
credible platform to discuss slavery, xenophobia, sexism, religious
intolerance, hate crimes and other forms of racism.
In addition, it is long past due for the United States to formerly
acknowledge its role in the institution of Trans-Atlantic Slavery and
to begin the healing process for more than 30 million African
Americans--many of whom are descendants of slaves.
Representatives from the Bush administration have stated that the
United States will not send an official delegation to the World
Conference Against Racism in Durban, South African if language
regarding slavery and reparations, is included in the WCAR agenda.
However, I strongly believe that the Bush Administration's position
on excluding the discussion on slavery and reparations is wrong and
must be reconsidered. The United States' unwillingness to address this
issue sends the wrong message.
The United States Government sanctioned slavery in this country for
hundreds of years, completely devastating the lives of generations and
generations of Africans in America. It is imperative that this
government, which played such a massive role in slavery, be at the
table in discussions about slavery, its lasting impact, and on
reparations.
On the International Relations Committee, we regularly question the
human rights practices in other countries. I believe it is equally
important that we apply this same scrunity to our own society and
examine the very visible vestiges of slavery manifested by the current
racial and economic divides we experience today.
When we do, we realize that as a country, we have not yet conquered
the twin problems of racism and economic inequality.
Ours is a country where people of color are regularly pulled over by
our police force because they are simply the wrong color, or in the
wrong neighborhood, or driving the wrong kind of car. It's happened to
me, it's happened to millions of African Americans and other
minorities.
Ours is a country where millions of young men of color are behind
bars. Our justice system claims to be blind, yet look at the skin color
of those in prison, of those sitting on death row. Those are black and
brown faces staring out from behind those bars.
Ours is a country where the votes of African Americans and other
minorities are less likely to be counted than those of white Americans.
Ours is a country where blacks earn less than whites, are less likely
to own homes than whites, and are still subject to the economic
marginalization that has marked this nation for centuries.
Ours is also a nation that is struggling to overcome many of these
deep-rooted problems. It is time for America to also recognize that
many of these problems are rooted in slavery.
We can do more and we must.
Racism is a fundamental question of human rights.
Racial prejudice underlies much of the conflict and injustice in the
modern world. It fuels wars, drives ethnic cleansing, and exacerbates
economic inequities.
Racial barriers compound health problems: HIV/AIDS disproportionately
affects communities of color. This terrible disease is sweeping across
Africa where millions are dyining. We may not know how to cure AIDS
yet, but we know how to prevent it and we know how to treat it. We know
how, but every day six thousand Africans die from AIDS. Six thousand a
day.
In the United States the AIDS crisis is having a devastating effect
in the African American community. Although African Americans make up
only 12 percent of the population, they make up more than 34 percent of
reported AIDS cases, and African American children and women comprise
two-thirds, respectively, of all pediatric and female AIDS cases in the
United States.
The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination,
Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance will represent a historic
opportunity to find real solutions and provide real assistance to the
victims of racial discrimination.
We must send a strong message to the Bush Administration that we will
no longer bury our heads in the sand.
Minimally, the United States Government should apologize for the
horrific institution of slavery and explore methods to address the
current economic, health, and social inequalities experienced in daily
life by the descendants of slaves: African Americans.
Ms. McKINNEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) that the House suspend
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 212, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
____________________