[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 16 (Wednesday, January 29, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E105]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       INTERNATIONAL CUSTOMS DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 29, 2003

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, it was 50 years ago, on January 26, 1953, 
that the World Customs Organization, formally known as the Customs Co-
operation Council, held its first meeting in Brussels, Belgium. In 
recognition of this occasion, the Council observed January 26 as 
International Customs Day. This occasion also serves to recognize the 
role that customs services around the world play in facilitating trade 
while protecting national borders from importations posing security 
threats.
  I am particularly proud of the U.S. Customs Service for its great 
contributions to the Nation over the past 214 years of its existence. 
U.S. Customs was once the sole revenue producer for the young United 
States. Although that role has diminished over the years Customs 
collected a record $23.8 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2001. Today, 
Customs is still a major source of revenue for the Federal Government, 
returning about $8 to the taxpayer for every dollar appropriated by 
Congress.
  For nearly 125 years, Customs funded virtually the entire government 
and paid for the Nation's early growth and infrastructure. The 
territories of Louisiana, Oregon, Florida and Alaska were purchased; 
the National Road from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, West 
Virginia, was constructed; and the Transcontinental Railroad stretched 
from sea-to-sea. Customs collections built the Nation's lighthouses, 
the U.S. military and naval academies, and the City of Washington, and 
the list goes on. In 1835, Customs revenues alone had reduced the 
national debt to zero.
  Customs was the parent or forerunner to many other agencies. In the 
early days, Customs officers administered military pensions (Department 
of Veterans Affairs), collected import and export statistics (Bureau of 
Census), and supervised revenue cutters (U.S. Coast Guard). Customs 
also collected hospital dues to help sick and disabled seaman (Public 
Health Service) and established standard weights and measures (National 
Bureau of Standards).
  During the first stages of the response to the terrorist attack on 
September 11th in New York and Washington, D.C., U.S. Customs quickly 
assumed a leading role. With terrorism causing concern worldwide, the 
international Customs community has a vital role to play. Every 
administration is playing an active part in efforts to protect the 
international supply chain from terrorist acts, while at the same time 
offering improved trade facilitation.
  Today, the United States Customs Service will have new challenges to 
face as it moves from the traditional home that it has known within the 
Department of the Treasury to the newly created Department of Homeland 
Security. It will be important for Customs to continue to offer the 
world class level of trade service and facilitation that U.S. business 
has come to rely on while insuring that security needs are addressed. 
It will also be important to maintain the revenue collection linkage 
with the Treasury Department that has historically been so significant.
  The U.S. Customs Service represents the United States at the Customs 
Cooperation Council (CCC). The number of Members increased over the 
years, and the Council subsequently adopted the working name ``World 
Customs Organization'' in order to better reflect the fact that the 
Organization was an intergovernmental body that genuinely made the 
transition to worldwide status. The WCO now speaks for 161 Customs 
administrations drawn from every continent and representing every stage 
of economic development. The United States has been a member since 
November 5, 1970.
  At present, WCO Members are responsible for ensuring that more than 
98 percent of international trade is conducted in compliance with 
national legislation and international agreements. The WCO renders 
technical assistance in areas such as customs tariffs, valuation, 
nomenclature, and law enforcement. Its objective is to obtain, in the 
interest of international trade, the best possible degree of uniformity 
among the customs systems of member nations. America benefits when both 
exporters and importers operate in an atmosphere of simple unambiguous 
customs operations around the world.
  I want to take this opportunity to congratulate the U.S. Customs 
Service for its fine work both nationally and internationally, and I 
look forward to the completion of work within the World Customs 
Organization to further harmonizing and simplifying the customs rules 
that affect international commerce.

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