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85–640PDF 2003

REQUESTING THAT DOCUMENTS IN THE PRESIDENT’S

POSSESSION RELATING TO IRAQ’S DECLARATION ON ITS

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION PROVIDED TO THE U.N.

ON 12/7/02 BE TRANSMITTED TO THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES NOT LATER THAN 14 DAYS FROM THE

ADOPTION OF THIS RESOLUTION; AND

NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION

SUPPORT ACT

MARKUP

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON 

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

ON

H. Res. 68 and H.R. 1208

MARCH 12, 2003

Serial No. 108–4

Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations

(

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.house.gov/international—relations 

(II)

COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS 

HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois, Chairman 

JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa 

DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska 

CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, 

Vice Chairman 

DAN BURTON, Indiana 

ELTON GALLEGLY, California 

ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida 

CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina 

DANA ROHRABACHER, California 

EDWARD R. ROYCE, California 

PETER T. KING, New York 

STEVE CHABOT, Ohio 

AMO HOUGHTON, New York 

JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York 

THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado 

RON PAUL, Texas 

NICK SMITH, Michigan 

JOSEPH R. PITTS, Pennsylvania 

JEFF FLAKE, Arizona 

JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia 

MARK GREEN, Wisconsin 

JERRY WELLER, Illinois 

MIKE PENCE, Indiana 

THADDEUS G. MCCOTTER, Michigan 

WILLIAM J. JANKLOW, South Dakota 

KATHERINE HARRIS, Florida 

TOM LANTOS, California 

HOWARD L. BERMAN, California 

GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York 

ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American 

Samoa 

DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey 

ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey 

SHERROD BROWN, Ohio 

BRAD SHERMAN, California 

ROBERT WEXLER, Florida 

ELIOT L. ENGEL, New York 

WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts 

GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York 

BARBARA LEE, California 

JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York 

JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania 

EARL BLUMENAUER, Oregon 

SHELLEY BERKLEY, Nevada 

GRACE F. NAPOLITANO, California 

ADAM B. SCHIFF, California 

DIANE E. WATSON, California 

ADAM SMITH, Washington 

BETTY MCCOLLUM, Minnesota 

CHRIS BELL, Texas 

THOMAS E. MOONEY, SR., Staff Director/General Counsel 

ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Staff Director 

DANIEL FREEMAN, Counsel/Parliamentarian 

LIBERTY DUNN, Staff Associate 

(III)

C O N T E N T S 

Page

MARKUP OF 

H. Res. 68, Requesting the President to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution 

documents in the President’s possession relating to Iraq’s declaration on 

its weapons of mass destruction that was provided to the United Nations 

on December 7, 2002 ............................................................................................ 2

H.R. 1208, To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for 

United States contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, and 

for other purposes ................................................................................................ 6

APPENDIX 

The Honorable Christopher H. Smith, a Representative in Congress from 

the State of New Jersey, and Vice Chairman, Committee on International 

Relations: Prepared statement on H.R. 1208 ..................................................... 15

The Honorable Joseph Crowley, a Representative in Congress from the State 

of New York: Prepared statement on H.R. 1208 ............................................... 16

(1)

REQUESTING THAT DOCUMENTS IN THE 

PRESIDENT’S POSSESSION RELATING TO 

IRAQ’S DECLARATION ON ITS WEAPONS OF 

MASS DESTRUCTION PROVIDED TO THE 

U.N. ON 12/7/02 BE TRANSMITTED TO THE 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOT LATER 

THAN 14 DAYS FROM THE ADOPTION OF 

THIS RESOLUTION; AND NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SUPPORT ACT 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2003

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:15 a.m., in Room 

2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Doug Bereuter presiding. 

Mr. BEREUTER. The meeting will be in order. Pursuant to notice, 

I now call up H. Res. 68, requesting the President to transmit to 

the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date 

of the adoption of this resolution documents in the President’s possession related to Iraq’s declaration of its weapons of mass destruction that was provided to the United Nations on December 7, 2002, 

for purposes of markup and move its adverse recommendation to 

the House. 

Without objection, the resolution will be considered as read and 

open for amendment at this point. 

[The resolution, H. Res. 68, follows:]

2

1

IV

108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 68

Requesting the President to transmit to the House of Representatives not

later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution

documents in the President’s possession relating to Iraq’s declaration

on its weapons of mass destruction that was provided to the United

Nations on December 7, 2002.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 12, 2003

Mr. KUCINICH (for himself and Mr. MCDERMOTT) submitted the following

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Requesting the President to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of

the adoption of this resolution documents in the President’s possession relating to Iraq’s declaration on its

weapons of mass destruction that was provided to the

United Nations on December 7, 2002.

1 Resolved, That the President is requested to transmit

2 to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days

3 after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents

4 in the President’s possession relating to Iraq’s declaration


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•HRES 68 IH

1 on its weapons of mass destruction that was provided to

2 the United Nations on December 7, 2002.

Æ


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4

Mr. BEREUTER. The Chair yields himself 5 minutes for purposes 

of a statement. Mr. Kucinich of Ohio has introduced H. Res. 68, a 

resolution of inquiry requesting the President to transmit to the 

House of Representatives ‘‘documents in the President’s possession 

related to Iraq’s declaration of its weapons of mass destruction that 

was provided to the United Nations on December 7, 2002.’’

Iraq submitted the declaration in response to U.N. Security 

Council Resolution 1441. This resolution required Iraq to provide 

U.N. weapon inspectors with a complete and accurate declaration 

of all aspects of its chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons programs and ballistic missile systems, as well as information on other 

chemical, biological, and nuclear programs which were supposed to 

be for civilian purposes. 

In his remarks addressed to the House of Representatives when 

introducing the resolution of inquiry, the Sponsor stated that Congress had not seen the full Iraqi declaration and had only heard 

interpretations of the document from the White House and the 

United Nations. Asserting that the Congress has the right to see 

the declaration, the Sponsor requested that the, ‘‘primary documents be transmitted in their complete and unedited form,’’ to Congress. 

The Department of State has transmitted the Iraqi declaration of 

December 7, 2002 in its ‘‘complete and unedited form’’ to the 

House, and it is in the custody the Permanent Select Committee 

on Intelligence, which has the facilities to handle such documents. 

The declaration, consisting of approximately 12,000 pages of documents, is classified Secret and contains information relating to 

weapons design and weapons of mass destruction. 

The declaration is available for review by Members, consistent 

with House Rule XXIII, of the Code of Official Conduct, which governs access by Members to classified information. The Department 

of State’s transmittal of the declaration in its ‘‘complete and unedited’’ form to the House of Representatives renders moot as a matter of substance the Sponsor’s resolution of inquiry. Consequently, 

that is why the pending motion is to move to report H. Res. 68 adversely. 

I would say that Mr. Kucinich, in short, has won his point. I 

would remind Members that clause 1(b)(1) of House Rule XVII governing relevance of debate requires Members to confine remarks to 

the question under debate. The Parliamentarian’s commentary on 

that rule states, ‘‘It has always been held, and generally quite 

strictly, that in the House the Member must confine himself to the 

subject under debate.’’ Of course, the Rules of the House apply with 

equal force to the Committee. 

The question before the Committee today is simply the issue of 

transmittal of the complete Iraqi declaration to the House, not the 

larger political and strategic question of the possible use of force 

to accomplish regime change and compliance with U.N. Security 

Council resolutions by Iraq. In light of this, I ask Members to limit 

their remarks to the sole issue before the Committee—that is, the 

request for transmittal of the document—and to refrain from making remarks on broader issues not currently before the Committee. 

5

With this statement I am pleased to recognize the distinguished 

gentleman from California, the Ranking Member of the Committee, 

Mr. Lantos. 

Mr. LANTOS. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I am invariably in favor of Congress getting full access to all information. In 

this case, the documents in question have been provided to the 

Congress in a responsible way and any Member of the House of 

Representatives has an opportunity to study these documents in 

toto in the offices of our Intelligence Committee, and public debate 

at this time could undermine whatever remaining possibility there 

might be for unified Security Council action, and therefore I will 

vote to report the resolution unfavorably. 

Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you very much, Mr. Lantos. 

Are there any Members who seek to strike the last word? Ms. 

Lee, the Gentlelady from California, is recognized for 5 minutes. 

Ms. LEE. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I am just speaking 

in support of this resolution and in opposition to an unfavorable report by this Committee. It is being called moot today, but that is 

because it was successful really. This resolution asked for important information about Iraq, and this Congress should have really 

received it months ago. Because of this resolution, and because of 

the efforts of its authors, Congressman Kucinich and Congressman 

McDermott, Iraq’s declaration to the United Nations was finally delivered to Congress last Friday. 

The request for the transmittal for documents, of course, was 

based on the notion that this Congress and this Nation are being 

asked to go to war without either just cause or full information. 

Hopefully this document will provide additional information with 

regard to the evidence that many have been asking for with regard 

to any imminent threat to the United States. 

So I am speaking in support of this resolution, which really did 

bring us one piece of information, and I urge my colleagues to continue to demand that the Administration treat Congress really as 

an equal partner in our system of government. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield the balance of my time. 

Mr. BEREUTER. I thank the gentlelady for her statement. 

Are there other Members that seek recognition? Seeing none, 

then, without objection, the previous question is ordered on the motion to report the resolution. Further proceedings on the motion 

will be postponed until the Chair observes the presence of a reporting quorum, and for purpose of information, that requires the 25 

Members. 

In the meantime, I would like to take up the second and only 

other remaining item on the agenda. That is a consideration of 

H.R. 1208, the Northern Ireland Peace and Reconciliation Support 

Act. 

[The bill, H.R. 1208, follows:]

6

1

I

108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1208

To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for United States

contributions to the International Fund for Ireland, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 11, 2003

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. HYDE, Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. WALSH, and Mr.

PAYNE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

A BILL

To authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005

for United States contributions to the International

Fund for Ireland, and for other purposes.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Northern Ireland

5 Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:

8 (1) The United States has been effectively en9 gaged in the Northern Ireland peace process through


85640a.AAB
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2

•HR 1208 IH

1 both participating in negotiations and contributing

2 to the economic development of the region.

3 (2) Both the Government of Ireland and the

4 Irish people and the Government of the United

5 Kingdom and the British people are long-standing

6 friends of the United States and the American peo7 ple.

8 (3) In 1986, the United States, in support of

9 the Agreement Between the Government of Ireland

10 and the Government of the United Kingdom

11 (‘‘Anglo-Irish Agreement’’) dated November 15,

12 1985, initiated annual contributions to the Inter13 national Fund for Ireland (‘‘International Fund’’) to

14 help bolster economic development and support pro15 grams that would foster peace and reconciliation in

16 Northern Ireland and the affected border areas of

17 the Republic of Ireland.

18 (4) The United States has been a generous and

19 faithful donor to the International Fund, contrib20 uting more than $386,000,000 to help improve rela21 tions between Catholics and Protestants in Northern

22 Ireland through the creation of thousands of jobs

23 and cross community business development.

24 (5) More than 80 percent of the International

25 Fund’s investments have been in disadvantaged


85640a.AAC
8

3

•HR 1208 IH

1 areas offering work experience and important job

2 training programs for disadvantaged and unem3 ployed youth through the economic, social, and phys4 ical regeneration of deprived areas.

5 (6) The International Fund has also developed

6 a series of community-building programs promoting

7 greater dialogue and understanding between Catho8 lics and Protestants and leadership programs de9 signed to develop a new generation of leaders in

10 Northern Ireland to bring about a more peaceful

11 and prosperous future in the region.

12 (7) Through the Anglo-Irish Agreement Sup13 port Act of 1986 (Public Law 99–415), the United

14 States also seeks to ensure that its contributions

15 promote ‘‘reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the

16 establishment of a society in Northern Ireland in

17 which all may live in peace, free from discrimination,

18 terrorism, and intolerance, and with the opportunity

19 for both communities to participate fully in the

20 structures and processes of government.’’.

21 (8) The Good Friday Agreement reached by the

22 Government of Ireland, the Government of the

23 United Kingdom, and political party leaders on April

24 10, 1998, created the Northern Ireland Executive

25 Assembly and Executive Committee and provided for


85640a.AAD
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4

•HR 1208 IH

1 a ‘‘democratically elected Assembly in Northern Ire2 land which is inclusive in its membership, capable of

3 exercising executive and legislative authority, and

4 subject to safeguards to protect the rights and inter5 ests of all sides of the community.’’.

6 (9) The Good Friday Agreement also called for

7 police reform and establishment of a ‘‘new begin8 ning’’ in policing in Northern Ireland with an effec9 tive, accountable, and fair police service capable of

10 attracting and sustaining support from the commu11 nity as a whole, capable of maintaining law and

12 order, and based on principles of protection of

13 human rights.

14 (10) In 1999, the Independent Commission on

15 Policing in Northern Ireland, mandated by the Good

16 Friday Agreement, made 175 recommendations for

17 policing reform in Northern Ireland, some of which

18 have been implemented.

19 (11) In 2002, the Department of State, as re20 quired by section 701(d) of the Foreign Relations

21 Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law

22 107–228), issued a ‘‘Report on Policing Reform and

23 Human Rights in Northern Ireland’’ and concluded

24 that among key areas of concern that had not been

25 fully implemented was the establishment of a critiVerDate Mar 21 2002 15:02 Apr 07, 2003 Jkt 085640 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\FULL\M031203\85640 HINTREL1 PsN: SHIRL

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•HR 1208 IH

1 cally-needed new police training facility and an in2 crease in funding for training programs.

3 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con4 gress that—

5 (1) United States assistance for the Inter6 national Fund has contributed greatly to the eco7 nomic development of Northern Ireland and that

8 both objectives of the Anglo-Irish Agreement Sup9 port Act of 1986, economic development and rec10 onciliation, remain critical to achieving a just and

11 lasting peace in the region, especially in the eco12 nomically-depressed areas;

13 (2) although there has been positive economic

14 development in both the Republic of Ireland and

15 Northern Ireland, International Fund contributions

16 to support much-needed projects in economically-de17 pressed areas of Northern Ireland remain very im18 portant, and an expansion of efforts in reconciliation

19 projects as a way to promote peace and economic

20 stability is also encouraged; and

21 (3) since policing reform is a significant part of

22 winning public confidence and acceptance in the new

23 form of government in Northern Ireland, the Inter24 national Fund is encouraged to support programs

25 that enhance relations between communities, and beVerDate Mar 21 2002 15:02 Apr 07, 2003 Jkt 085640 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\FULL\M031203\85640 HINTREL1 PsN: SHIRL

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•HR 1208 IH

1 tween the police and the communities they serve,

2 promote human rights training for police, and en3 hance peaceful mediation in neighborhoods of contin4 ued conflict.

5 SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT

6 SUPPORT ACT OF 1986.

7 (a) FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.—Section 2(b) of the

8 Anglo-Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 is amended

9 by adding at the end the following: ‘‘Furthermore, the

10 International Fund is encouraged to support programs

11 that enhance relations between communities, and between

12 the police and the communities they serve, promote human

13 rights training for police, enhance peaceful mediation in

14 neighborhoods of continued conflict, and promote training

15 programs to enhance the new district partnership police

16 boards recommended by the Patten Commission.’’.

17 (b) UNITED STATES CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE INTER18 NATIONAL FUND.—Section 3 of the Anglo-Irish Agree19 ment Support Act of 1986 is amended by adding at the

20 end the following:

21 ‘‘(c) FISCAL YEARS 2004 AND 2005.—Of the

22 amounts made available for fiscal years 2004 and 2005

23 to carry out chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign Assistance

24 Act of 1961 (relating to the economic support fund), there

25 are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for each


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•HR 1208 IH

1 such fiscal year for United States contributions to the

2 International Fund. Amounts appropriated pursuant to

3 the authorization of appropriations under the preceding

4 sentence are authorized to remain available until ex5 pended. Of the amount authorized to be appropriated for

6 fiscal years 2004 and 2005 under this subsection, it is

7 the sense of Congress that not less than 20 percent of

8 such amount for each such fiscal year should be used to

9 carry out the last sentence of section 2(b).’’.

10 (c) ANNUAL REPORTS.—Section 6(1) of the Anglo11 Irish Agreement Support Act of 1986 is amended by add12 ing at the end before the semicolon the following: ‘‘, spe13 cifically through improving local community relations and

14 relations between the police and the people they serve’’.

Æ


85640a.AAH
13

Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, the Chairman is authorized to 

seek consideration of this matter under suspension of the rules. 

Without objection, any Member who wishes to place a statement in 

the record will be permitted to do so. 

And we are now awaiting a reporting quorum, and I would remind Members that we would like to finish this matter, if at all 

possible with that quorum, because you know that we have proceedings on the Floor beginning at 11 when Members are expected 

to be in their place. So I would like to complete no later than 10:45 

with the Members’ cooperation. Thank you. We will wait for a 

quorum. And I know both sides——

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Chairman, the legislation——

Mr. BEREUTER. For what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. The legislation that we are waiting for now, 

is what again? 

Mr. BEREUTER. This is on the Kucinich resolution. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. No. Wasn’t there something else about—you 

mentioned a second one. 

Mr. BEREUTER. Yes. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. And what was that second piece of legislation? 

Mr. BEREUTER. We just did it. We authorized the authorization for the $25 million for the next fiscal—2 fiscal years—with 80 percent of it dedicated for a particular purpose, and 20 percent for the 

traditional activities. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. And this is for which theater of operation 

again? 

Mr. BEREUTER. Ireland. Northern Ireland. 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. Right. Northern Ireland. I just—I believed 

that was what we did and I just thought that while we were waiting, we could discuss the fact that it is 5 days to St. Patrick’s Day, 

and it is a very significant time. Those of us who do not have any—

you know, they asked me was Rohrabacher an Irish name, and I 

want to recommend for everyone to note that my middle name is 

Tyrone, and there is a county in Ireland named Tyrone. But let me 

also note that my mother claimed that that had nothing to do with 

why she named me Tyrone. It was—Dana Andrews and Tyrone 

Power, who were famous movie actors at the time I was born. 

Would you like anymore discussion on St. Patrick’s Day? 

Mr. BEREUTER. Well, if the gentleman would yield. 

Mr. LANTOS. Will the gentleman yield? 

Mr. ROHRABACHER. I certainly will. 

Mr. LANTOS. Could we see some baby pictures of you at this 

point? 

Mr. BEREUTER. I notice that the gentleman from North Carolina 

is appropriately dressed in advance.

The Chair notices the presence of a reporting quorum and the 

question occurs on the motion to report the resolution H. Res. 68 

adversely. 

All in favor say aye. 

All opposed say no. 

The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it, and the motion 

to report adversely is adopted. Without objection, the staff is diVerDate Mar 21 2002 15:02 Apr 07, 2003 Jkt 085640 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 6633 Sfmt 6633 F:\WORK\FULL\M031203\85640 HINTREL1 PsN: SHIRL
14

rected to make any technical and conforming changes. The Committee stands adjourned. I thank the Committee. 

[Whereupon, at 10:40 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

(15)

A P P E N D I X 

MATERIAL SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING RECORD

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AND VICE CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Thank you Mr. Chairman. The bill before us, H.R. 1208, ‘‘The Northern Ireland 

Peace and Reconciliation Support Act of 2003’’ reauthorizes US contributions to the 

International Fund for Ireland and re-affirms our government’s commitment to the 

historic Good Friday Agreement which is aimed at bringing peace and reconciliation 

to the north of Ireland. 

I thank the Chairman, Mr. Hyde, and other members from the committee, Mr. 

King, Mr. Crowley and Mr. Payne, for cosponsoring this legislation. 

Historically, the United States has helped advance the peace process in Northern 

Ireland through several avenues. We have provided economic support to the International Fund for Ireland—more than $380 million since 1986. Additionally, we held 

a series of hearings in this committee and written successful legislative provisions 

designed to ensure that due process rights and fundamental human rights remain 

a central theme of the peace process. 

H.R. 1208, brings together our economic and legislative efforts in one bill by reauthorizing the fund at last year’s level of $25 million, and by urging the IFI to expand it’s programs to include more direct reconciliation efforts that will help secure 

a just and lasting peace. 

I recently returned from a human-rights mission to Northern Ireland and I am 

pleased to report that much has changed since my last trip there in 1997. There 

are many signs of hope. Sections of Northern Ireland have experienced substantial 

economic growth. And as a result of the restored cease-fire of 1997 and the Good 

Friday Agreement, signed in 1998, both communities in the north are working hard 

to attain a just and lasting peace and to secure a local democratic government. 

Regrettably, the process has not been without setbacks. Last October, the British 

government suspended the Northern Ireland Assembly. Policing reform and criminal 

justice review, demilitarization and the completion of decommissioning are among 

the issues still unresolved. 

Thankfully, in recent weeks, there has been a renewed and concerted effort by the 

British and Irish governments to address these issues, bring the major political parties together, and find a way forward before new elections are held in May. 

Needless to say, the peace process is in Northern Ireland is at a most important 

juncture. It would be a tragic mistake if, at this hour, the US was perceived to be 

retreating from its visible and active role in the process. Our support of the IFI over 

the last nearly twenty years has helped create thousands of new jobs—35,000 in last 

ten years ago. Through job creation, community regeneration, and simply bringing 

people from different communities to the same job site, the Fund has been a consistent and effective medium for fostering reconciliation and building a peaceful future for the people of Northern Ireland. 

H.R. 1208 ensures that the US will continue to support this successful program 

and urges the Fund to do more in the area of direct reconciliation programs. In particular, we are hoping the IFI will look even more closely at programs aimed at enhancing inter-community relations, community relations with the new police service, 

and programs that promote and ensure human rights. 

I urge my colleagues to continue US support for peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland by supporting H.R. 1208. 

16

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE JOSEPH CROWLEY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN

CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK

H.R. 1208, NORTHERN IRELAND PEACE AND RECONCILIATION SUPPORT ACT

Thank you Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Lantos for bringing this important bill before the committee. 

I also want to thank Representative Chris Smith, the author of this bill and a 

true friend to Ireland. 

I am pleased to work with Representative Smith on this resolution and would like 

to notify all supporters of Ireland here that I will be co-leading a letter with Representative Chris Smith to the appropriations committee to back up the bill with 

a $25 million appropriation for the IFI. 

As we all know, the peace process in Northern Ireland is at a critical juncture 

and now is not the time to decrease funding for such a critical program such as the 

International Fund for Ireland. 

Prime Minister Tony Blair and Irish Prime Minister Berti Ahern understand that 

the peace process is at an important point, to highlight this Prime Minister Blair 

extended peace negotiations by an extra day last week to try to push towards an 

agreement, even as he faced domestic pressure regarding possible war against Iraq. 

Prime Minister Blair understands the significance of reaching a peace agreement. 

That is why I am concerned about the significant cut to the International Fund for 

Ireland. The International Fund for Ireland is so important because it promotes economic and social advance and encourages contact, dialogue and reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists throughout Ireland. 

This program brings together two groups and teaches them to work together and 

helps to foster friendships and understanding. 

Dialogue is a key tool to lead to the disarmament of all parties, a fair police force 

and a feeling of unity and peace in Ireland. 

Now is the not the time to decrease this program. 

Thank you.

Æ