A resolution reaffirming support of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and anticipating the commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the enactment of the Genocide Convention Implementation Act of 1987 (the Proxmire Act) on November 4, 2003.

Mr. Speaker, last Sunday, I attended a ceremony to remember the victims of the Armenian genocide in Times Square in New York City, and I have to say it was a very moving moment. There were several, I would not say many, because there are not that many genocide survivors that are still around, but I did have a chance to talk briefly with maybe 10 or so.

It was incredible to hear them tell the stories of the families and atrocities that had occurred 89 years ago now. More and more countries and States and even the media are now in the process of recognizing the genocide, and I just wanted to mention specifically that the Canadian House of Commons last week joined France, Italy, the Vatican and a number of other European countries and the European Parliament in acknowledging this crime against humanity as genocide.

Also last week, The New York Times reversed decades of ambiguity by declaring in favor of using the term ``genocide'' to describe the Armenian cataclysm of 1915. The Boston Globe adopted a similar policy change last year.

Mr. Speaker, the unfortunate thing is, although so many other countries and so many of our own States have recognized the Armenian genocide, we in the Congress continue not to recognize it. I think it is important that we do so.

The gentleman from California (Mr. Schiff) was here earlier, and he mentioned the House Genocide Resolution, H. Res. 193, which has now 111 cosponsors. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the House Committee on the Judiciary on May 21, 2003, but it has not been brought to the floor for consideration. I would urge the Speaker and the leaders on the Republican side of the aisle to bring this resolution to the floor. It is important that they do so.

Now, this year, as we do every year, the members of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues put together a letter to the President of the United States asking him to acknowledge the Armenian genocide. This year there were 169 signatures, more than we have ever had before in that letter that we sent to the President; and I just wanted to read, if I could, some sections of that letter, because I think it is important.

We say, ``Dear Mr. President: We are writing to urge you to join us in reaffirming the U.S. record on the Armenian genocide in your April 24 commemorative statement.

``By properly recognizing the atrocities committed against the Armenian people as genocide in your statement, you will honor the many Americans who helped launch our first international human rights campaign to end the carnage and protect the survivors. The official U.S. response mirrored the overwhelming reaction by the American public to this crime against humanity and, as such, constitutes a proud, irrefutable and groundbreaking chapter in U.S. diplomatic history.

``Now, more than ever, as your administration seeks to bring an end to global terrorism and to help establish democracies in Afghanistan and Iraq, the memory of the genocide underscores our responsibility to help convey our cherished tradition of respect for fundamental human rights and opposition to mass slaughters. The victims of the Armenian genocide deserve our remembrance and their rightful place in history. It is in the best interests of our Nation and the entire global community to remember the past and learn from these crimes against humanity to ensure they are never repeated.''

That is really the essence of what we are trying to achieve here today in asking that the President and this Congress basically reaffirm the Armenian genocide, because we simply do not want it repeated again. We know how many times in the 20th century that genocide occurred.

House Resolution H.R. 193, and also its Senate counterpart, Senate Resolution 164, which I would like to add has 37 cosponsors right now, basically state that the purpose of the resolutions are to strengthen America's commitment to the value of the genocide convention that was implemented 15 years ago.

This convention recognizes essentially a number of the genocides that occurred in the 20th century. And as some of my colleagues mentioned earlier, not only the Armenian genocide, but that in Rwanda, Burundi, and, of course most important, the Nazi Holocaust genocide against the Jews.

The fact of the matter is, Mr. Speaker, that when we talk about the Armenian genocide, we are simply acknowledging the fact. And we feel very strongly that if at the time the genocide occurred the world and the nations of the world had taken more notice and had tried to prevent it, I think it would have served as a lesson so that the Nazi Holocaust against the Jews and so many other atrocities that took place in the 20th century would not have occurred. If we are going to see a situation in the future, in this 21st century, where we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, we must acknowledge the Armenian genocide.

Mr. President, I rise to submit a concurrent resolution on behalf of myself, Senator Chafee and Senator Kennedy. This resolution deals with an issue that I have been working on for many years in a bipartisan manner. It simply calls on the United States to take a leading role in the drafting of an international convention on the human rights of individuals with disabilities. Such a treaty could improve the lives of over 600 million individuals with disabilities throughout the world.

For the past twenty years, the United States has put politics aside and has taken a lead role in the world toward the understanding that disability rights are human rights. I chaired the Senate's Subcommittee on the Handicapped at the time that the Americans With Disabilities Act was being considered by Congress and was a leading author of the ADA. During hearings, I heard over and over again stories of people with disabilities suffering from discrimination--not getting a job because of a disability; being locked up in a nursing home or institution because of a disability; not being able to get into schools, restaurants, stores, banks and other places of business because of a disability. This kind of discrimination is wrong. It is wrong in the United States and it is wrong throughout the world.

In 1990, then President Bush signed the ADA into law. He said, ``This historic Act is the world's first comprehensive declaration of equality for people with disabilities. Its passage has made the United States the international leader on this human rights issue.'' The United States did lead the way in 1990, and it has another historic opportunity to lead the way today.

The issue of disability rights is very personal to me. As many of my colleagues know, my brother Frank was deaf. Because of his disability, he was sent to a school for the ``deaf and dumb'' across the State. Frank said to me, ``I may be deaf but I am not dumb.'' I think of how many children, like Frank, in the world are suffering the effects of this sort of discrimination. How many children are not going to school because they are deaf, or use a wheelchair, or are blind? How many adults with these same disabilities are not working, not earning a living, not participating in civil society?

In recent months, we have all witnessed the situation people with disabilities face in Iraq and in Afghanistan. We have seen footage of the results of the tyranny of Saddam Hussein. We have seen many individuals who have life-long disabilities as a result of his cruelty. Many more are victims of terrorism and cruelty who now suffer the added injury of discrimination.

America has an historic opportunity to help change the lives of these children and adults from around the world and open the doors of opportunity to them. It is time for the world community to come together and write an important new chapter and break down the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating in their communities and play an active role in civil society. It is time to say to all of the world that disability rights are human rights, not just in the United States, but everywhere in the world. I strongly urge the Bush Administration to take a lead and work with other member Nations in the drafting of this resolution. Under the auspices of the United Nations, member states are scheduled to meet next week in New York to consider proposals for a comprehensive treaty to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. I cannot think of a more worthwhile role the Administration could play than to be a leader on this issue and to fully support a convention on the rights of individuals with disabilities.

America's leadership in this process will help create a treaty that is both well intentioned and relevant, one that may fulfill its potential and vastly improve the perceptions, treatment and conditions of people with disabilities throughout the world. The United States must continue to lead the way in this important international effort.