[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 63 (Friday, May 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S5048]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF MAJORITY RULE IN THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 489, S. Con. 
Res. 100.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant journal clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 100) celebrating 10 
     years of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and 
     recognizing the momentous social and economic achievements of 
     South Africa since the institution of democracy in that 
     country.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution and preamble be agreed to en bloc, the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements relating 
thereto be printed in the Record, with no intervening action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 100) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            S. Con. Res. 100

       Whereas the Republic of South Africa peacefully and 
     successfully held democratic elections and transitioned to a 
     democratic, nonracial form of government in 1994;
       Whereas South Africa helped initiate and frame the New 
     Partnership for Africa's Development and continues to head 
     this partnership for development and responsible leadership 
     in Africa;
       Whereas South Africa actively supports the South African 
     Development Community, which promotes regional economic 
     cooperation and higher standards of living in Southern 
     Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has made significant advances in 
     housing by constructing 1,600,000 houses for the poor of 
     South Africa;
       Whereas, since 1994, 9,000,000 people in South Africa have 
     gained access to clean water;
       Whereas, before 1994, 22,000,000 people in South Africa did 
     not have access to adequate sanitation, but 63 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have access to adequate 
     sanitation;
       Whereas, before 1994, 60 percent of people in South Africa 
     did not have electricity, but more than 70 percent of 
     households in South Africa now have electricity;
       Whereas, from 1994 to 2004, secondary school enrollment in 
     South Africa increased from 70 percent to 85 percent, and 
     students in South Africa now learn in a racially integrated 
     school system;
       Whereas the Government of South Africa has established 
     nutritional and educational programs to benefit the youngest 
     and poorest people in South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa is experiencing the longest period of 
     consistent positive growth, as measured by its gross domestic 
     product (GDP), since growth in GDP was properly recorded in 
     the 1940s;
       Whereas F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela share a Nobel 
     Peace Prize for their work in ending apartheid in South 
     Africa and establishing a representative government;
       Whereas Desmond Tutu led the Truth and Reconciliation 
     Commission to repair injustices among South Africans and 
     improve race relations in the country, and was awarded a 
     Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts;
       Whereas South Africa has contributed troops to peacekeeping 
     efforts in Burundi, Liberia, the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo, Ethiopia, and Eritrea;
       Whereas South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has forged a 
     relationship with President George W. Bush, making three 
     state visits to the United States and hosting President Bush 
     during his visit to Pretoria, South Africa;
       Whereas South Africa has served as an inspiration for other 
     African nations striving for democracy and the peaceful 
     cooperation of many ethnic groups;
       Whereas, after being isolated for many years because of the 
     odious system of apartheid, South Africa has since 1994 
     become a premier location for large international 
     conferences, a leading tourist destination, and the locale 
     for numerous films; and
        Whereas, in 1993, the Government of South Africa 
     voluntarily halted its biological, chemical, and nuclear 
     weapons programs and, in 1994, hosted the first conference in 
     Africa on the implementation of the Convention on the 
     Prohibition on the Development, Production, Stockpiling, and 
     Use of Chemical Weapons and On Their Destruction, with 
     annexes, done at Paris January 13, 1993, and entered into 
     force April 29, 1997: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) applauds the Republic of South Africa for the 
     remarkable transition to a democratic government and the 
     tremendous progress achieved during 10 years of majority 
     rule;
       (2) looks forward to a continued partnership with South 
     Africa focused on a sustained commitment to the health of 
     South Africans; and
       (3) anticipates continued social development and economic 
     growth in South Africa.

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