Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

For half a century, the Antarctic Treaty has served as the indispensable element, allowing for the expansion of knowledge about that continent and its central role in the life of our planet. As stated in its preamble, the purpose of the treaty is to ensure that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes, the interests of science and the progress of all mankind.

That promise has been fulfilled, Mr. Speaker. The treaty is an enduring demonstration that international cooperation is not only possible across a broad and expanding range of subjects but also among an array of countries that in other areas have been strong competitors and even enemies.

The original seven signatories have since been joined by 40 more, which together represent the vast majority of the population of the world. The growing list of countries with active research efforts on the continent include the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Argentina, among others, underscoring the welcoming setting the treaty has created.

Once a mysterious and far-off land of seemingly marginal relevance to the world in which we live, half a century of scientific research has resulted in the universal recognition of Antarctica's global role. Although cooperation is not mandated, the treaty's promotion of the exchange of research, joint endeavors and free access to all areas of the continent and surrounding waters has resulted in an extraordinarily productive outpouring of knowledge about the continent and its direct impact on the life of our planet.

The treaty has been a laboratory for more than just science and research, however. It has also demonstrated that cooperation across a broad and expanding range of interests can occur without the need for international bureaucracy, bureaucrats or tribunals. The treaty itself was only the beginning. A long list of agreements followed that have promoted increasingly close cooperation and added additional protections for their continent, ranging from the convention for the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources to the protocol on environmental protection.

In this past half century, we have learned that although Antarctica can be an intimidating and even a harsh environment, it is also a fragile place which humans can easily degrade and even destroy. Thanks to the success of the Antarctic Treaty, we have gained countless benefits for all mankind, learned to care for a precious part of Earth and preserve this wonderful, irreplaceable inheritance for all generations to come.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H. Con. Res. 51, Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Antarctic Treaty.

This resolution recognizes that the Antarctic Treaty has ensured Antarctica's peaceful use and the continuance of international harmony for the past half century. Also, it encourages international and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Antarctic Treaty Summit.

The Antarctic Treaty was signed by the United States and eleven other nations in Washington, D.C. on December 1, 1959. Over the past five decades, the Antarctic Treaty has succeeded as a firm foundation for ongoing international cooperation. It has grown to include 47 nations, representing nearly two-thirds of the world's population.

The Antarctic Treaty was established to continue and develop international ``cooperation on the basis of freedom of scientific investigation in Antarctica as applied during the International Geophysical Year.''

November 30th through December 3, 2009, on the 50th anniversary of its signing, the Antarctic Treaty Summit will convene in Washington, D.C. at the Smithsonian Institution. The summit will be an international and interdisciplinary meeting that will offer a unique venue for scientists, legislators, administrators, lawyers, historians, educators, executives and others to explore the scientific and policy achievements of the Antarctic Treaty System and its global precedents in international governance.

This resolution also encourages international and interdisciplinary collaboration in the Antarctic Treaty Summit to identify lessons from 50 years of international cooperation under the Antarctic Treaty that have legacy value for humankind.

I would especially like to recognize my constituent, Dr. Paul A. Berkman. Professor Berkman was awarded a Fulbright Distinguished Scholarship at the University of Cambridge to plan the Antarctic Treaty Summit: Science-Policy Inter-actions in International Governance. Dr. Berkman now serves as Chair of the international board for this interdisciplinary project. I am thankful for his dedication, passion, and enthusiasm for the Antarctic Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty Summit.

I hope that my colleagues will join me in recognizing the important contributions, and peaceful international cooperation the Antarctic Treaty has encouraged for the past half century by passing H. Con. Res. 51. A truly bipartisan measure will both capture and accurately honor the spirit of the Antarctic Treaty.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the

concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 51) recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 51, a resolution introduced by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Tiberi), recognizing the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty. On December 1, 1959, 12 countries, including the United States and the former Soviet Union, signed the Antarctic Treaty here in Washington, D.C. The treaty, which was created to govern activities in Antarctica, has been widely seen as a success. The treaty's preamble states: ``It is in the interest of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord.''

As a result of the treaty, the Antarctic was the first space in which the international community agreed to preclude acts or activities to assert, support or deny a claim to territorial sovereignty. This exclusion led to the peaceful and scientific exploration of the continent without geopolitical competition. In celebration of the 50th anniversary, the Smithsonian Institution will host the Antarctic Treaty Summit between November 30 and December 2 in Washington. This gathering will raise awareness of the treaty's accomplishments, provide a forum for a broad cross section of civil society to examine lessons learned from the treaty and discuss how they can be applied globally.

I commend Mr. Tiberi for sponsoring this timely resolution. I urge my colleagues to support it.

I reserve the balance of my time.

I yield back the balance of my time