[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 10, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H6140-H6142]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE AND TIMELINESS OF UNITED STATES-
                        IRELAND BUSINESS SUMMIT

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 513) recognizing the historical 
significance and timeliness of the United States-Ireland Business 
Summit, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 513

       Whereas from September 4, 2002, to September 6, 2002, the 
     United States-Ireland Business Summit was held at the Ronald 
     Reagan Building International Trade Center in Washington 
     D.C.;
       Whereas global economic change and the war against 
     international terrorism have challenged industries and 
     governments throughout the world to look at new ways to 
     resolve conflicts, eliminate barriers, and expand markets;
       Whereas the Summit brought together senior level corporate, 
     government, and academic leaders from across the United 
     States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland for discussions on 
     economic competitiveness and important issues that are 
     confronting the sectors of information and communications 
     technology, biotechnology, and financial services in the 
     United States and European markets;
       Whereas the discussions focused on new public and private 
     sector priorities, market development and entry, regulatory 
     issues, and opportunities for joint ventures and economic 
     growth, generating alliances between businesses with 
     operations in the United States, Ireland, and Northern 
     Ireland;
       Whereas increased economic growth and job creation in 
     Northern Ireland can further help promote the peace and 
     shared governance under the terms of the Good Friday 
     Agreement of 1998;
       Whereas President George W. Bush has offered a compelling 
     new vision for peace in Northern Ireland that emphasizes 
     private sector leadership and innovation to restore economic 
     vitality and cooperation;
       Whereas the United States-Ireland Business Summit was a 
     bold step toward making the vision of President Bush a 
     reality and creating new opportunities in the United States, 
     Ireland, and Northern Ireland; and
       Whereas approximately 44,000,000 citizens of the United 
     States identify themselves as having Irish ancestry and the 
     United States has a strong and enduring interest in 
     maintaining close ties with the people of Ireland and in 
     supporting efforts to ensure peace, justice, and prosperity 
     in Northern Ireland: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Congress recognizes the historical 
     significance and timeliness of the United States-Ireland 
     Business Summit held in Washington, D.C. from September 4, 
     2002, to September 6, 2002.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. 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 resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, today we bring before the House H. Res. 513, 
recognizing the historical significance and timeliness of the United 
States-Ireland Business Summit which took place last week.
  This groundbreaking economic forum, strongly supported by the Bush 
administration, brought together more than 400 key government officials 
and successful CEOs from the United States, Ireland and Northern 
Ireland to build upon the strong business relations existing between 
our nations, and to foster an even greater economic climate that will 
enable a just and lasting peace to take hold in Northern Ireland.
  We know that for so much of its history Ireland's economic progress 
was tragically inhibited by British economic rule. In fact, it was pure 
economic conditions in Ireland that prompted millions of Irish to 
emigrate to the United States. The Irish who came to America helped 
build the infrastructure of our great Nation; they helped boost our 
young, industrial economy; and they played historic roles in the growth 
of our democracy.
  Today there are at least 44 million Americans who trace their 
ancestry to Ireland. Irish Americans have leading roles in government, 
business and academia. A year ago this week, we again witnessed the 
strengths and unselfishness of many Irish American heroes who gave 
their lives as New York's firemen and policemen at the World Trade 
Center on September 11.
  The U.S.-Irish Business Summit, convened last week here in 
Washington, marked a new chapter in our Nation's great friendship with 
the people of Ireland, both north and south. The 3-day forum promoted 
new venues for shared prosperity and new business partnerships 
especially in the areas of financial services, communications fields 
and biotech.
  Next to human rights, economic progress in Ireland, especially in the 
north, is crucial to a just and sustainable peace. We know when 
prosperity abounds, strife and turmoil are often quelled. Increased 
economic investment in Northern Ireland is especially important now 
that we have worked to cement the peace and usher in the new human 
rights protections envisioned by the Good Friday Agreement. Despite 
strong support from the governments in the region, the U.S. Government, 
and most of the people in Northern Ireland itself, much more needs to 
be done to achieve a full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
  The United States has known for some time that economic prosperity, 
so long as it is complemented by real protections in human rights, can 
be a key to peace. And we have put our money where our mouth is over 
these many years. Since 1986, the United States has contributed more 
than $320 million to the International Fund for Ireland, a joint 
British-Irish government program designed to help create jobs. The Fund

[[Page H6141]]

has had a tremendous impact, especially in the north and the border 
communities where economic development and cross-community cooperation 
have been needed the most.
  The private sector can join and build upon our government's 
investment in peace in Northern Ireland. I am hopeful that the U.S.-
Ireland Business Summit will provide added momentum to the success of 
the International Fund for Ireland. Added private investment will mean 
that more people have jobs. It will ensure that more people, regardless 
of their political or religious affiliation, can have access to job 
creation and a greater quality of life.
  Madam Speaker, I note that the manager's amendment to this resolution 
contains some minor technical and grammatical changes to reflect that 
the U.S.-Irish Business Summit occurred last week. I congratulate the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh), a prime sponsor of this, for his 
tremendous leadership in the area not just of the summit, but in Irish 
affairs in general.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. WATSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 513. I first 
commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his leadership on 
this important resolution, and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) 
for introducing it.
  Madam Speaker, for decades the people of Ireland have longed for 
peace and stability. Since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement of 
1998, this dream is closer to reality than ever before. The Good Friday 
Agreement is a testament to the leadership abilities of George Mitchell 
and is one of the great achievements of President Clinton's foreign 
policy. However, the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has 
not been without its setbacks, and it is critically important that all 
parties continue to push strongly for progress on political, security 
and economic fronts.
  Madam Speaker, just a few miles away business leaders from the United 
States, Ireland and Northern Ireland met last week at the United 
States-Ireland Business Summit. I am pleased to report that these 
leaders helped lay the groundwork for the economic prosperity for 
Northern Ireland which is so critical to the peace process. This summit 
focused on generating new opportunities for business between the United 
States, Ireland and Northern Ireland, including promoting foreign 
investment, reducing regulatory barriers and increasing bilateral 
trade. Progress on these critically important issues can create new 
jobs for those unemployed on both sides of the Atlantic and make a 
tangible contribution to the success of the Good Friday Agreement.
  I commend the leaders who participated in the summit, and urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), the chairman 
emeritus of the Committee on International Relations.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 513, 
recognizing the historical significance and timeliness of the 3-day 
U.S.-Ireland Business Summit which was held last week in Washington in 
which I was pleased to participate.
  That business summit brought together business leaders from the 
Republic of Ireland, from Northern Ireland and the United States to 
discuss the importance and the advancement of our bilateral commercial 
ties across the Atlantic, and I thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Walsh) and the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson) for bringing this measure to 
the floor at this time.
  Our special relationship and history that our Nation enjoys with 
Ireland is reflected in the increased trade between our two nations 
over the past decade. This has produced mutual benefits both for 
Ireland as well as the United States, and continues to underscore our 
common values, our traditions and our commitment to free trade. 
Moreover, expanding international commercial links has underscored and 
reinforced the benefits of peace in Northern Ireland. An environment 
free of violence and fear is vital to fostering a prosperous business 
community. However, the hard-won peace in Northern Ireland still 
remains fragile, which is why last week's summit was so critical for 
continuing the positive changes which have been made to date.
  Regrettably, the interface violence we saw this last summer 
demonstrates that we are not yet over all of the troubles in the north. 
Accordingly, I want to commend President Bush for his strong support of 
this U.S.-Ireland summit, and particularly the summit chairman, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Davis) and the Irish-American 
Republicans for their leadership on this summit initiative. I urge my 
colleagues to continue our support of this worthy endeavor.

                              {time}  1200

  Ms. WATSON of California. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
  Mr. PAYNE. Madam Speaker, let me thank the gentleman from New Jersey 
(Mr. Smith), who has really done such an outstanding job not only in 
his work in Ireland in general but in human rights throughout the 
world. Many people are much better off because of his interests, his 
compassion, and his tenacity in seeing that those who have the least 
voice in the world are heard. Let me thank the ambassador for bringing 
forth this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to have visited 
both Ireland and Northern Ireland on several occasions. Taking 
satisfaction that the peace process is moving forward, I would like to 
reiterate my support for the goals of the U.S.-Ireland summit, this 
summit designed to bring together senior-level corporate government and 
academic leaders for discussion on economic competitiveness, consider 
important issues in the areas of information and communications 
technology, biotechnology, and financial services in the United States 
and European markets.
  The emphasis of the summit on new public and private sector 
opportunities, market development, joint ventures, and economic growth 
between businesses in the U.S., Ireland, and Northern Ireland is truly 
commendable. I solute its promotion of peace and shared governance 
under the terms of the Good Friday agreement of 1998. As well, I 
support the emphasis it places on private sector leadership and in its 
leadership.
  It is important for the United States to maintain close ties with all 
people of Ireland in supporting mutual peace, justice, and prosperity. 
There has been, however, an apparent oversight in the resolution, I 
believe, that I would like to address at this time.
  The resolution failed to mention the tireless effort of special envoy 
Senator George Mitchell, who negotiated the Good Friday agreement. 
Neither did it remark on the dedication and commitment of former 
President Clinton in bringing the peace process in Northern Ireland to 
a successful conclusion. So I would just like to highlight that and 
bring attention to my colleagues of the establishment of the William J. 
Clinton International Peace Center in Enniskillen, Ireland, and that 
Ms. Steller O'Leary and others who have been working so much for 
advocating peace are involved in this and we look forward to having 
Members of our Congress visit that. I trust that the present 
administration will continue this important effort so that the 
reconciliation process does not falter. So I ask that my colleagues 
join me in honoring Senator Mitchell and President Clinton for their 
crucial role that they played in bringing peace to Northern Ireland.
  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Quinn). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 513, as amended.
  The question was taken.

[[Page H6142]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. 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.

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