Political Quotes

“this week in the Russell Building Rotunda, there is an exhibit of photographs which I urge all Senators and staff to stop by and see. They are photographs of victims of anti-personnel landmines. There are also several actual landmines on display--with the explosive removed, of course--and some printed materials which describe in shocking detail the global problem of landmines. This exhibit is not meant to offend anyone. In fact, the photographs that were selected do not depict the worst aspects of landmine injuries. But they do show the terrible consequences of landmines for hundreds of thousands of civilians around the world. Over the past 2 years, the Congress has taken bold steps to focus world attention on the epidemic of civilian casualties from landmines. Two years ago, my amendment to impose a 1-year moratorium on exports of anti-personnel landmines from the United States was signed into law by President Bush. Last year, the Senate voted 100-0 to extend the moratorium for an additional 3 years. On Veterans Day last year, I went to the United Nations to introduce on behalf of the United States a resolution calling on all countries to support an international export moratorium. That resolution passed the General Assembly unanimously on December 16. These are more than symbolic gestures, but they are only a beginning. By themselves, they will do little to stop the enormous numbers of civilian casualties from landmines.”