[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7509]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 30--RECOGNIZING THE SACRIFICE AND 
 DEDICATION OF MEMBERS OF AMERICA'S NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND 
     PRIVATE VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THEIR HISTORY AND 
SPECIFICALLY IN ANSWER TO THEIR COURAGEOUS RESPONSE TO RECENT DISASTERS 
                     IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND KOSOVO

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon (for himself, Mr. Wellstone, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
Sarbanes, and Mr. Brownback) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

                            S. Con. Res. 30

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
     Congress--
       (1) recognizes and commends the sacrifice, dedication, and 
     commitment of those serving with, and those who have served 
     with, American non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and 
     private volunteer organizations (PVO's) that provide 
     humanitarian relief to millions of the world's poor and 
     displaced;
       (2) urges all Americans to join in commemorating and 
     honoring those serving in, and those who have served in, 
     America's NGO and PVO community for their sacrifice, 
     dedication and commitment; and
       (3) calls upon the people of the United States to 
     appreciate and reflect upon the commitment and dedication of 
     relief workers, that they often serve in harm's way with 
     threats to their own health and safety, and their 
     organizations who have responded to recent tragedies in 
     Central America and Kosovo with great care, skill and speed, 
     and to take appropriate steps to recognize and encourage 
     awareness of the contributions that these relief workers and 
     their organizations have made in helping ease human 
     suffering.

  Mr. SMITH of Oregon. Mr. President, I rise today to submit S. Con. 
Res. 30, in order to recognize the sacrifice and dedication of members 
of America's non-governmental organizations and private volunteer 
organizations throughout their history and specifically in answer to 
their courageous response to recent disasters in Central America and 
Kosovo. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Wellstone, Thomas, 
Sarbanes and Brownback as original cosponsors.
  While much time on the Senate floor has been devoted to America's 
response to the natural disaster wrought by Hurricane Mitch in Central 
America and the human disaster wrought by the horrifying aggression in 
the Balkans, little has been devoted to those organizations conducting 
humanitarian relief efforts in those areas.
  I am proud to note that several Oregon humanitarian organizations 
have been on the front lines in both Central America and the Balkans--
particularly in Kosovo. Mercy Corps International based in Portland, 
Oregon, is one of the largest humanitarian agencies helping Kosovar 
Albanian refugees and first began work in that area in 1993. Over the 
past six years, the agency has provided more than $30 million in relief 
and development aid to 250,000 people in the area.
  Whether it be providing food, blankets, clothing, hygiene and cooking 
utensils to the first onslaught of refugees, or managing refugee camps 
in Senekos, Mercy Corps International has made humanitarian aid a 
priority in a desperate situation.
  In Central America, Mercy Corps' Hurricane Mitch relief efforts 
included evacuating thousands of children and families, delivering 
housing materials for tents and temporary shelter, and providing more 
than 200,000 pounds of food to the hungry and 60 tons of clothing and 
blankets to the homeless. I am truly proud of Oregon's Mercy Corps 
International.
  Mercy Corps is not alone as a humanitarian presence in Oregon. 
Portland's Northwest Medical Team International has provided disaster 
response and emergency relief to refugees of wars and to victims of 
hurricanes, floods and famines. Each year, Northwest Medical Teams 
International recruits, equips and dispatches volunteer surgical, 
medical and redevelopment teams to areas of the world in need of this 
type of humanitarian aid and assistance.
  Northwest Medical Teams International ships more than $50 million in 
humanitarian assistance to over 50 countries each year. Currently, 
Northwest Medical Teams International is helping to manage the flow of 
humanitarian aid and to assist refugees in the Balkans and is 
collecting donations for humanitarian aid in the region through its 
Kosovo Relief Fund.
  These two Oregon humanitarian organizations embody what is good in 
America--the noble effort to reach out and help a neighbor in need, 
regardless of geography, cultural or linguistic differences. This 
outreach from non-governmental organizations deserves far more than 
this resolution, it deserves the sincere acknowledgment and thanks from 
each citizen of this country.

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