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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 71 – SUBMISSION OF A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE FOR JOINT MEETING OF CONGRESS TO HEAR STUDENTS ON THE WAR AND PEACE
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senators HART, Moss, INOUYE, GRAVEL, and CRANSTON, I am submitting a concurrent resolution calling for a joint session of Congress, for the purpose of hearing five students on the related subjects of the war in Indochina and the growing turmoil on our college and university campuses today. I ask unanimous consent that the text of this concurrent resolution be printed in the RECORD at the end of my remarks.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. GRAVEL). The concurrent resolution will be received and appropriately referred, and, without objection, the concurrent resolution will be printed in the RECORD.
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, the essence of democracy rests in the principle of a free exchange of ideas between the people of a nation and those who represent them.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that many Americans have lost faith in the openness of this exchange. Especially among our young people, there is a growing feeling that they cannot be heard.
In recent weeks most of us have met with students. They have been responsible, intelligent, and concerned. They have conveyed a sincere conviction that our democratic system can and must be made to work.
I believe that the time for us to uphold that conviction, the time to listen and to act, is now. We must be willing not only to hear what our young people are saying, but to act in a substantive way. Two weeks ago, Democrats in Maine participated in a significant step toward a new dialog with the young people of our State. For the first time in our State, students had a voice in shaping political policy. Young and old say that unity and harmony could result from giving students a meaningful voice. Students learned that they can indeed be heard, and age discovered that by listening, it too, can learn.
I believe that this cooperative effort need not, and must not, reflect only a fleeting moment of unity. I feel that it must carry beyond the State of Maine and beyond the Democratic Party.
A positive step has been taken, as both students and Congressmen have become more aware of the problems each faces. I am certain that innovative ideas will come from the meetings and discussions of recent weeks. The resolution I am introducing today, brought to me by a group of concerned students trying to find constructive ways to air their views, can carry us one step further in our efforts to cement this feeling of cooperation.
This resolution would provide for a joint session of Congress to hear five students, representing not only their own institutions but the larger gathering of colleges and universities in their regions as well. I am hopeful that such action can provide the meaningful forum needed to focus attention on the crisis on our campuses today.
For I believe that the vast majority of our young people are simply asking that we have the decency to listen to them, and the understanding to respond in an intelligent manner. We cannot let this manifestation of their campaign go unattended.
The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 71), which reads as follows, was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
S. CON. RES. 71
Whereas there is widespread national concern over continuing American involvement in the war in Southeast Asia; in specific the recent events in Cambodia; and
Whereas the most intense concern has been expressed by the young men and women of America, particularly those in our colleges and universities; and
Whereas many of these university students have sent delegations to Washington to express their grave concern in a peaceful and constructive fashion to members of Congress and the Administration; and
Whereas there is widespread skepticism among all young people of this nation as to whether their representatives will accord their expression of concern an effective hearing:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That it may be in order at any time before June 15, 1970, for the Speaker to declare a recess subject to the call of the chair for the purpose of receiving in joint meeting five students, one each from a parochial university and universities from the West coast, Midwest, East coast and South. These students, who shall represent not only their own schools but also the larger groupings of universities in their area, shall present their views about the Indochina War and the cause of Peace.