[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 171 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H9106-H9108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORT FOR TENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF ASIA PACIFIC PARLIAMENTARY FORUM

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur 
in the Senate concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 58) expressing 
support for the tenth annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary 
Forum.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 58

       Whereas the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum was founded by 
     former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in 1993;
       Whereas the Tokyo Declaration, signed by 59 
     parliamentarians from 15 countries, entered into force as the 
     founding charter of the forum on January 14 and 15, 1993, 
     establishing the basic structure of the forum as an 
     interparliamentary organization;
       Whereas the original 15 members, one of which was the 
     United States, have increased to 27 member countries;
       Whereas the forum serves to promote regional identification 
     and cooperation through discussion of matters of common 
     concern to all member states and serves, to a great extent, 
     as the legislative arm of the Asia-Pacific Economic 
     Cooperation;
       Whereas the focus of the forum lies in resolving political, 
     economic, environmental, security, law and order, human 
     rights, education, and cultural issues;
       Whereas the forum will hold its tenth annual meeting on 
     January 6 through 9, 2002, which will be the first meeting of 
     the forum hosted by the United States;
       Whereas approximately 270 parliamentarians from 27 
     countries in the Asia Pacific region will attend this 
     meeting;
       Whereas the Secretariat of the meeting will be the Center 
     for Cultural and Technical Exchange Between East and West in 
     Honolulu, Hawaii;
       Whereas the East-West Center is an internationally 
     recognized education and research organization established by 
     the United States Congress in 1960 largely through the 
     efforts of the Eisenhower administration and the Congress;
       Whereas it is the mission of the East-West Center to 
     strengthen understanding and relations between the United 
     States and the countries of the Asia Pacific region and to 
     help promote the establishment of a stable, peaceful and 
     prosperous Asia Pacific community in which the United States 
     is a natural, valued, and leading partner; and
       Whereas it is the agenda of this meeting to advance 
     democracy, peace, and prosperity in the Asia Pacific region: 
     Now, therefore be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the Congress--
       (1) expresses support for the tenth annual meeting of the 
     Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and for the ideals and 
     concerns of this body;
       (2) commends the East-West Center for hosting the meeting 
     of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and the 
     representatives of the 27 member countries; and
       (3) calls upon all parties to support the endeavors of the 
     Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum and to work toward achieving 
     the goals of the meeting.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on the Senate concurrent 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  (Mr. Bereuter asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton), who is the 
sponsor of this legislation; and he has been the leading force in the 
House participation in the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
  Mr. HOUGHTON. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time 
to me.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to talk very briefly on Senate Concurrent 
Resolution 58, which really supports the tenth annual meeting of the 
Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
  Madam Speaker, this is a forum, I think it is important to know, that 
was organized by parliamentarians in the Pacific Rim, including about 
27 different nations. The reason we are part of it is because of 
California, Oregon,

[[Page H9107]]

Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. It was started by former Prime Minister 
Nakasone of Japan, and also Senator William Roth, who worked very, very 
closely together; and it is loosely modeled on the APEC forum.
  The forum is hosted in a different country every year, and we have 
been to Australia and Chile and Japan and Canada and many other 
nations. This is the first year that this forum will be held in the 
United States, and we are hoping that this resolution will pass in 
order to authenticate that.
  It starts on January 6 and it goes through January 9. We will meet in 
Honolulu. Senator Akaka, who is the Senate co-chair, had introduced 
this resolution in the Senate earlier.

                              {time}  1515

  It is really going to be hosted by the East-West Center which is 
headed by a group out in Honolulu. Dr. Charles Morrison has a great 
program, and he has worked very hard, and we are going to be discussing 
issues, I think, that are important for all of us: terrorism, the 
economy, the environmental issues, defense cooperation, cultural ties 
and things like that.
  Also, we are delighted that the Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hastert), will speak at the forum's opening ceremony. We have had 
participation from many distinguished people, including the gentleman 
from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), and we hope to have others out there.
  Essentially this bill, Madam Speaker, expresses support for this 
meeting, our hosting of the meeting and commends the East-West Center 
for their hosting and also hopes that other people will join us in the 
process.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 58. I want to thank the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Hyde) for bringing this legislation to the floor, but I 
particularly want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Houghton), my dear friend, our distinguished colleague, for 
having provided extraordinary leadership on this and on so many other 
issues that our Committee on International Relations deals with.
  I also want to recognize the contribution of my good friend, Senator 
Akaka of Hawaii, for his co-chairmanship of this important conference. 
The resolution before us today expresses the support of our Members for 
the 10th annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum to be 
held next January in Honolulu. It also commends the East-West Center, 
an outstanding academic institution, for hosting the meeting and for 
supporting the endeavors of the forum.
  Madam Speaker, we are fortunate as a Nation to have our bright and 
talented foreign service personnel working overtime to promote our 
interests throughout the Asia Pacific region. Our diplomats have many 
opportunities to meet with their colleagues and to develop positive 
solutions to the challenges we face in the Pacific area.
  Until the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum was founded a decade ago, 
there were few opportunities for the region's parliamentarians to meet 
as a group to discuss key foreign policy and economic matters. The 
forum has tackled such critical issues as terrorism, weapons of mass 
destruction, cross boundary environmental pollution, human rights and 
the need to combat corruption in the region.
  The upcoming meeting will tackle these important issues, and 
hopefully, they will contribute to a partial resolution of many of 
these matters. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. Con. Res. 
58.
  The distinguished gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) has 
explained the purpose of this legislation, and I want to commend him 
not only for the legislation but, as I mentioned earlier, for his 
leadership for the U.S. House of Representatives in our participation 
in the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum. He, along with the former 
distinguished senior Senator from Delaware, William Roth, provided that 
initial leadership and continue today through the work of the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Houghton). And, the gentleman from American Samoa 
(Mr. Faleomavaega) has also been a very important participant, as have 
Senator Akaka and others. It was my pleasure to participate in the 
meeting in Seoul.
  This forum, which is really the creation in some ways of the former 
Prime Minister Nakasone of Japan, has provided an important opportunity 
for the parliamentarians of the Asia Pacific region to address a whole 
range of important National mutual interests and concerns. To some 
extent it also has served as a legislative arm for APEC, the Asia 
Pacific Economic Cooperation organization, since the forum's inception 
almost a decade ago.
  The fact is that its 10th annual meeting will take place at the East-
West Center, as the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) mentioned. 
The East-West Center is a distinguished research and academic 
institution that is our creation here in the Congress. A meeting of the 
forum on U.S. soil for its first time is an honor not only for the 
State of Hawaii, but for the United States.
  The parliamentary cooperation and consultation with key Pacific and 
Asian countries, has become more critical today as a result of the 
tragic events of September 11th. I urge Madam Speaker, all Members to 
express their unqualified support for this resolution, and I encourage 
interested Members to participate in the upcoming meeting of the Asia 
Pacific Parliamentary tours at upcoming meeting of the Asia Pacific 
Parlimentary Tours at the East-West Center.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield as much time as he 
might consume to the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega), 
my dear friend and distinguished colleague, the ranking Democratic 
member of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 58, a measure which expresses Congress' support 
for the 10th annual meeting of the Asia Pacific Parliamentarian Forum 
which shall be hosted by the East-West Center in Hawaii next month.
  Madam Speaker, I deeply commend the distinguished Senator from 
Hawaii, Senator Daniel Akaka, for introducing and moving this important 
legislation. I also wish to recognize the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Houghton), our distinguished colleague, who for the past 10 years, has 
provided leadership for the U.S. delegations participating in the 
meetings of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
  As a member of the past U.S. delegation to the APPF, I can attest 
that it has been a distinct pleasure for me in working closely with the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Houghton) to represent U.S. interests. I 
further commend the House Committee on International Relations 
chairman, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), our ranking Democratic member, for their 
assistance and support in bringing this legislation in a timely 
fashion.
  I also want to especially commend the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. 
Bereuter), not only as the manager of this legislation, my good friend, 
Mr. Bereuter, former chairman of the Subcommittee on East Asia and the 
Pacific, a subcommittee of the Committee on International Relations, 
who I believe, and my personal opinion, has been one of the primary 
moving forces for the past 10 years in his capacity as chairman of the 
Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific, and I certainly want to 
commend him for his outstanding leadership and service. In fact, he has 
been one of the primary forces in seeing that our country hosts the 
APPF conference now will be hosted next month in Hawaii.
  I sincerely hope that our colleagues will not be intimidated by the 
press

[[Page H9108]]

which always seems to be the case whenever there are conferences and 
meetings to be held in Hawaii. The press always takes a negative way of 
thinking that all we are doing is getting suntan and enjoying the beach 
there in a warm climate. I would like to invite all of the members of 
press to see how much of an opportunity we get to enjoy the sun and 
warm weather in Hawaii besides having these important meetings with 
some 270 parliamentarians from some 27 Asia-Pacific countries.
  Madam Speaker, since the founding of the Asia Pacific Parliamentary 
Forum in 1993, its membership from the original 15 countries has now 
increased to some 27 members countries which includes the United 
States. This is a strong testament to the relevance and growing 
importance of the APPF as an institution where this January, over some 
270 national parliamentarians from these Asia-Pacific governments shall 
meet to review and discuss pressing issues affecting the Asia-Pacific 
region as well as our own national interests.
  In its deliberations, the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum has 
traditionally focussed in several areas, such as the promotion of 
peace, stability and security of the region through multi-lateral 
dialogue as embodied in the ASEAN Regional Forum; liberalizing trade 
and investment to spur increased growth and development in the Asia-
Pacific economies; protecting the regions environment and resources of 
clean water and air and land against degradation; and fostering respect 
for human rights, enforcement for the rule of law, and the expansion of 
universal education throughout all Asia-Pacific nations.
  Madam Speaker, as noted in the legislation, this year will mark the 
first time that the United States shall host the Asia-Pacific 
Parliamentary Forum. On this auspicious occasion, I find it 
particularly appropriate and fitting that the internationally respected 
East-West Center shall be the Secretariat and the host for the APPF 
meeting.
  As many of our colleagues know, the East-West Center was established 
by the Congress in 1960 to further the foreign policy interests of the 
United States and by promoting constructive relations and deeper 
understanding between the peoples and the leaders of the United States 
and our Asia-Pacific neighbors.
  Madam Speaker, the East-West Center has done an outstanding job in 
this mission and today, over 47,000 government officials, scholars, 
businessmen, journalists and other professionals from throughout the 
Asia-Pacific and the United States are alumni of the East-West Centers 
programs of collaborative study and research. In fact, a number of the 
Center's graduates are now national leaders and parliamentarians, many 
of whom shall participate in the Asia-Pacific parliamentary forum.
  I submit it is in our vital national interest that the United States 
continue to play a leading role in the fastest growing sector of the 
world, the Asia-Pacific region, where the U.S. conducts nearly $500 
billion in two-way trade and ensures regional peace and stability with 
over 100,000 deployed military personnel.
  We can further that goal, Madam Speaker, by strong and active 
participation of the United States Congress in the upcoming meetings or 
conferences of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum.
  Madam Speaker, in that regard, I urge the adoption of our colleagues 
of this important legislation before us.
  Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House 
suspend the rules and concur in the Senate concurrent resolution, S. 
Con. Res. 58.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate concurrent resolution 
was concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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