[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12007-12009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING SEEDS OF PEACE

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 337) honoring Seeds of Peace for 
its 15th anniversary as an organization promoting understanding, 
reconciliation, acceptance, coexistence, and peace in the Middle East, 
South Asia, and other regions of conflict.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.

[[Page 12008]]

  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 337

       Whereas Seeds of Peace, founded by the late John Wallach, 
     is a program that brings together young people and educators 
     from regions of conflict to study and learn about coexistence 
     and conflict resolution;
       Whereas these young people study and learn primarily at an 
     international conflict resolution summer camp operated by 
     Seeds of Peace in Otisfield, Maine, and also through its 
     regional programs such as the facilitation training course in 
     the Middle East, the homestay programs in South Asia, and 
     international regional conferences;
       Whereas the first international conflict resolution camp 
     welcomed Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and Egyptian youths 
     in the summer of 1993, and has since expanded to involve 
     youths from other regions of conflict, including from Greece, 
     Turkey and divided Cyprus, the Balkans, India, Pakistan, and 
     Afghanistan;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace utilizes the summer camp to initiate 
     dialogue between the youths of the United States and the 
     youths from various conflict regions to dispel hatred and 
     create religious and cultural understanding;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace regional programs have trained 
     hundreds of educators to teach peaceful conflict resolutions 
     techniques in their classrooms, positively influencing 
     thousands of students;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace works to dispel fear, mistrust, and 
     prejudice, which among others are root causes of violence and 
     conflict, and to build a new generation of leaders who are 
     committed to achieving peace;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace reveals the human face of those whom 
     youth may have been taught to hate, by engaging campers in 
     both guided coexistence sessions and ordinary summer camp 
     activities such as living together in cabins, sharing meals, 
     canoeing, swimming, playing sports, and creative exploration 
     through the arts and computers;
       Whereas long-term peace between Arabs and Israelis, Indians 
     and Pakistanis, and Afghans and Pakistanis can only be 
     achieved with the emergence of a new generation of leaders 
     who will choose dialogue, friendship, and openness over 
     violence and hatred;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace provides year-round opportunities 
     via regional programming and innovative technology to enable 
     former participants to build on the relationships forged at 
     camp, so that the learning processes begun at camp may 
     continue subsequently in the participants' home countries;
       Whereas youth graduates of the camp, known as Seeds, 
     currently number over 4,000, with an additional 567 adult 
     delegation leaders also having completed Seeds of Peace 
     training;
       Whereas this graduate network receives continued support 
     from Seeds of Peace in promoting professional cooperation;
       Whereas Seeds of Peace is strongly supported by 
     participating governments and many world leaders; and
       Whereas continued partial Federal funding for Seeds of 
     Peace demonstrates its recognized importance in promoting 
     peaceful resolution of conflicts as a primary goal of United 
     States policy: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) reaffirms that youth should be involved in long-term, 
     visionary solutions to violent conflicts;
       (2) honors the accomplishments of Seeds of Peace in its 15 
     years of promoting understanding, reconciliation, acceptance, 
     coexistence, and peace among youth from the Middle East and 
     other regions of conflict around the world; and
       (3) views Seeds of Peace as a highly creative and 
     successful effort to achieve reconciliation among peoples 
     from areas of conflict, which inspires great hope that 
     nations in conflict ultimately can learn to live together in 
     peace, cooperation, and security.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Members may have 
5 legislative days 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. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Con. Res. 337, a 
resolution honoring Seeds of Peace for its 15th anniversary as an 
organization promoting tolerance and peaceful coexistence in the Middle 
East and around the world.
  While the peace process has had its ups and downs over the last 15 
years, Seeds of Peace has blossomed into a widely recognized 
organization that has facilitated interaction among thousands of young 
people and young leaders and educators from all around the world.
  Seeds of Peace lays a foundation for sustainable peace by promoting 
dialogue among young leaders before their fears, mistrust and inherited 
prejudices have permanently shaped their vision of their enemy. We get 
them in time to prevent that from happening.
  After a summer program in Maine, which also includes many American 
participants, these young seeds, as they are known, and their teachers, 
continue with regional and international programming that furthers the 
dialogue among and across nationalities and supports the development of 
future leaders. Seeds of Peace also fulfills an important 
recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, reaching out to young people, 
particularly in Arab and other Muslim countries, and offering them hope 
and a positive vision of the future.
  A decade and a half ago, Seeds of Peace, founded by the late John 
Wallach, envisioned a handful of Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and 
Jordanian teenagers coming together in the woods of Maine and breaking 
down barriers of mistrust. Since its inaugural camp session 15 years 
ago, the mission of Seeds of Peace has grown to include not just those 
from the Middle East, but young people from throughout South Asia and 
Afghanistan. Governments negotiate agreements, but Seeds of Peace has 
remained as the only people that can define a quality of peace.
  Every new seed, you may recall that is what they are called when they 
complete the course, whether he or she is in Kabul or Tel Aviv, 
Ramallah or Islamabad, represents one more person who has the potential 
and the required skills to see through mistrust and prejudice and 
thereby to contribute to making and building peace. That is why we seek 
to honor the terrific organization Seeds of Peace. That is why I urge 
my colleagues to join me in supporting this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 337, which honors Seeds of Peace on its 15th anniversary. We 
in Congress and all people of goodwill worldwide want to see peace, 
stability and security prevail in the Middle East, and indeed in all 
regions of conflict. However, that goal remains illusive when leaders 
act in ways that distort, perpetuate and aggravate otherwise resolvable 
disputes between nations and peoples.
  Such leaders make peace impossible by programming their citizens into 
viewing other nations and other people as wicked, inhumane and worthy 
of hatred and death. The most obvious example of this phenomenon is the 
unceasing dissemination by Arab countries of anti-Israel and anti-
Semitic propaganda. Children in the Arab world and Iran are taught 
using textbooks and official media to hate Israel, to hate the Jews and 
to forfeit their own lives in order to kill as many Israelis and Jews 
as possible.
  Fortunately, Seeds of Peace has spent 15 years bringing together 
youth from the Middle East and other conflict-torn regions and 
encouraging them to engage their peers as fellow human beings worthy of 
respect and tolerance. Programs like Seeds of Peace cultivate the young 
leaders who can oppose violent extremism and hateful propaganda, who 
can promote a culture of life and seek peaceful, rational and mutually 
beneficial solutions to seemingly intractable conflicts.
  Mr. Speaker, given that Seeds of Peace is devoted to promoting 
peaceful resolution of the world's most dangerous conflicts, it is 
important to note that the allocation of vital and scarce resources 
contributes to conflicts around the globe. In the Middle East, oil and 
natural gas resources enable many authoritarian governments

[[Page 12009]]

to resist reform and to finance destabilizing actions, including 
weapons programs and sponsorship of Islamic jihadists. Therefore, it is 
especially important for our national security and for the cause of 
peace worldwide for the United States to stop our dependence on foreign 
sources of energy.
  I thank my good friend and colleague from Maine (Mr. Allen) for 
introducing this Seeds of Peace anniversary resolution. I urge the 
House to adopt it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), chairperson of the Transportation 
and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.

                              {time}  1430

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Let me thank the Chair and the 
subcommittee chairs of these committees.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Representative Allen in bringing 
forth this House Concurrent Resolution 337 honoring the Seeds of Peace 
for its 15th anniversary as an organization.
  The importance of peace in the world today is often overlooked due to 
the severity of constant conflict. As a mother and a lawmaker, the 
reality of war concerns me for the future of our Nation and the world.
  Seeds of Peace is dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions 
of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance 
reconciliation and coexistence. I am proud to say that I worked with 
them here in Washington and in Dallas, and I have partnered with 
Congressman Barney Frank at times to host them.
  Due to its proven impact and success in the Middle East, Seeds of 
Peace has earned international recognition as an effective model for 
resolving conflict worldwide, and these are young people who have not 
been kept away from communication or a part of irritation of Israel.
  I firmly support Seeds of Peace because I believe peace ultimately 
depends upon breaking down barriers and mistrust among people from 
these regions of conflict. Governments negotiate agreements, but only 
people can define the quality of peace. Innovative people-to-people 
programs like Seeds of Peace successfully accomplish this goal on a 
rather modest budget.
  I am proud to support the passage of this resolution and urge my 
colleagues to support it. I thank Mr. Payne for allowing me to make 
these statements.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Con. Res. 337, ``Honoring the Seeds of Peace for its 15th 
Anniversary as an Organization.'' I would like to thank my colleague 
Congressman Allen for introducing this important resolution, which I am 
proud to cosponsor, as well as the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, Congressman Berman, for his leadership in bringing this 
resolution to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, fifteen years ago, in 1993, Seeds of Peace hosted its 
first international conflict resolution camp. In that first year, 
amidst regional conflict and fighting a history of hatred, the 
organization brought together Israeli, Palestinian, Jordanian, and 
Egyptian youth. Founded by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace 
initially brought together 46 Israeli and Arab youth. Since that time, 
Seeds of Peace has offered summer camps for youths from conflict 
regions around the world and from the United States, involving young 
people from the initial countries as well as from Greece, Turkey, 
Cyprus, the Balkans, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. These summer 
camps have made enormous strides toward fostering cultural and 
religious understanding.
  Seeds of Peace empowers a new generation of leaders with the tools 
they need to overcome prejudice and to communicate and negotiate 
effectively. The summer camps help these youth to develop empathy, 
respect, and confidence, while giving their ``enemies'' a human face. 
The young people who attend these summer camps are the same people who 
will grow up to build a future of peace and stability. There are now 
nearly 4,000 young Seeds of Peace leaders who are working to make a 
positive difference in some of our world's most troubled regions.
  As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I strongly believe 
in investing in our children. By doing so, we are investing in our 
future. Long-term peace between warring parties, including Arabs and 
Israelis, Indians and Pakistanis, and Afghans and Pakistanis, is 
dependent on the emergence of a new generation of leaders able and 
willing to engage in constructive dialogue.
  By bringing young people from different backgrounds together in a 
recreational environment, Seeds of Peace lays a foundation for 
sustainable peace by facilitating interaction among young leaders 
before their fears, mistrust, and inherited prejudices have permanently 
shaped their vision of their ``enemy.'' After spending a summer at camp 
in Maine, participants and teachers continue to interact through 
regional and international programming, furthering the dialogue among 
and across nationalities. Seeds of Peace supports the development of 
future leaders.
  In addition to these summer camps for children from conflict regions, 
Seeds of Peace now operates a domestic program called ``Maine Seeds,'' 
addressing ethnic and racial tensions between diverse communities in 
Maine. Also, in 2004, Seeds of Peace launched its ``Beyond Borders'' 
initiative, bringing teens from additional Middle East countries, such 
as Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, to participate in a cultural 
exchange program between American and Arab youth.
  Mr. Speaker, while the Arab/Israeli peace process has moved forward 
haltingly since 1993, Seeds of Peace has grown into a major 
organization that continues to foster interaction among thousands of 
young leaders and educators from around the world. It continues to 
build upon the basic premise the prejudices dispelled during youth will 
be prejudices dispelled for life.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution, honoring Seeds of Peace for its fifteen years of promoting 
reconciliation, coexistence, and peace among youth of the Middle East 
and other conflict areas.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 337.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________