SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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42–203
1997
CONSIDERATION OF MISCELLANEOUS BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
H. RES. 115, H. RES. 121, H. CON. RES. 50, AND H. CON. RES. 63
APRIL 16 AND MAY 7, 1997
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
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COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman
WILLIAM GOODLING, Pennsylvania
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
MATT SALMON, Arizona
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
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JOHN McHUGH, New York
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
JERRY MORAN, Kansas
KEVIN BRADY, Texas
LEE HAMILTON, Indiana
SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD BERMAN, California
GARY ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT ANDREWS, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
PAT DANNER, Missouri
EARL HILLIARD, Alabama
WALTER CAPPS, California
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
STEVE ROTHMAN, New Jersey
BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee
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BILL LUTHER, Minnesota
JIM DAVIS, Florida
RICHARD J. GARON, Chief of Staff
MICHAEL H. VAN DUSEN, Democratic Chief of Staff
JOHN MACKEY, Investigative Counsel
WALKER ROBERTS, Senior Professional Staff Member
HILLEL WEINBERG, Senior Professional Staff Member and Counsel
JOHN HERZBERG, Professional Staff Member
LESTER MUNSON, Professional Staff Member
PETER BROOKES, Professional Staff Member
PARKER H. BRENT, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
WITNESSES
April 16, 1997:
Markup of H. Res. 115, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives concerning the promotion of peace, stability, and democracy in Zaire
May 7, 1997:
Markup of H. Res. 121, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the March 30, 1997, terrorist grenade attack in Cambodia; H. Con. Res. 50, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the status of the investigation of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992; and H. Con. Res. 63, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to the principles that led to the establishment of that program
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APPENDIX
April 16, 1997:
H. Res. 115, reprint
May 7, 1997:
H. Res. 121, reprint
H. Con. Res. 50, reprint
H. Con. Res. 63, reprint
Prepared statement of Chairman Benjamin Gilman on H. Con. Res. 63
H. RES. 115, EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE CONCERNING THE PROMOTION OF PEACE, STABILITY, AND DEMOCRACY IN ZAIRE
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16, 1997
House of Representatives,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 12:15 p.m. in room H–139, The Capitol, Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman of the Committee, presiding.
Chairman GILMAN. The Committee will come to order.
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Our committee meets in open session today to mark up a resolution relating to the situation in Zaire. We are doing this at the request of the Subcommittee on Africa chairman, Mr. Royce.
H. Res. 115 is a resolution that was introduced by Mr. Royce, chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa. We will be taking up the legislation in the near future either by unanimous consent or on the suspension calendar.
Does the distinguished ranking member, Mr. Hamilton—he is not here—Mr. Hastings, do you have any opening remarks?
Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Chairman, in the interest of time, I would like to compliment you and the chairman for expediting this resolution.
I have no further comments at this time. I reserve the right to make any other statement as necessary.
Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Hastings.
The Chair lays the resolution before the Committee, and the clerk will report the title. We have a substitute—hold it just a moment.
Mr. Hamilton, we are just starting. Do you have any opening remarks with regard to the resolution?
Mr. HAMILTON. Just call on me when you are ready.
Chairman GILMAN. The Chair lays the resolution before the Committee. The clerk will report the title.
Mr. WEINBERG. House Resolution 115, Concerning the promotion of peace, stability, and democracy in Zaire.
Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the Committee will consider the preamble and operative language of the draft resolution in that order for amendment.
The clerk will read the draft resolution.
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Mr. WEINBERG. Whereas——
Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the preamble and operative language of the draft will be considered as read, and as open for amendment at any point.
[H. Res. 115 appears in the appendix.]
Chairman GILMAN. The distinguished gentleman from California, the chairman of our Subcommittee on Africa, Mr. Royce, is recognized in support the resolution.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you and I want to thank your staff for moving quickly on this resolution. But I also want to thank Mr. Hamilton for his support, and I especially want to thank the members of the Africa Subcommittee and their staff who have worked hard to craft this important resolution.
Last week we held a hearing on Zaire's future, and at that hearing there was strong support for the view that Mr. Mobutu, who misused his office for 3 decades, has no role to play in the future of Zaire. Mr. Menendez, Mr. Payne, Mr. Hastings, Mr. Campbell, and I forcefully made this point. I know the Administration heard the message, and I know the message was heard in Zaire.
Since that hearing, the members of the Africa Subcommittee have worked with Mr. Gilman and Mr. Hamilton to reflect a resolution that voiced our position at the hearing which several members, particularly Mr. Payne, have been voicing for some time. The Subcommittee and Full Committee and now the U.S. House are ready to speak on the message that Mobutu should immediately resign, leave Zaire, and withdraw from all political activity in Zaire.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. HAMILTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for bringing the bill forward.
I want to say to Mr. Royce how much I appreciate his leadership in bringing this bill forward, and of course on the minority side, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Payne, and Mr. Hastings have all been very helpful.
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I strongly support the resolution. I think, Mr. Royce, you may help accomplish in the next few days what I have ardently desired for 3 decades. That is to get rid of Mr. Mobutu. If you do, I salute you and the chairman as well.
So I think the resolution is a good one. I think all of us are deeply concerned about the Zairean crisis, and I support its adoption.
Mr. KIM. Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Kim.
Mr. KIM. Thank you for recognizing me.
I do support this resolution, but I have a serious concern. This resolution calls for the resignation of President Mobutu. Supposing he ignores this and doesn't resign? What is our next step?
Mr. ROYCE. Well, let me respond that I think at this point it is only by a thread that Mr. Mobutu is held in power, part of that thread being the expectation on the part of the people around him that perhaps the United States is still supporting him.
By delivering this message loud and clear, it is a clear sign that it is time for him and his entourage to now make peace, make the arrangements with the democratic forces in Zaire, and leave the country. I think for the sake of those around Mobutu who might misconstrue our position, it is important for us to go on the record. That way, it cuts out from under him the last vestiges of his support there.
Mr. KIM. I understand, Mr. Chairman. But do you have any idea of what the next step would be if he laughs at us on the resolution, simply ignores it?
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Royce.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I think that the reality is that the democratic forces in Kinshasa, the rebels, control half the country today. It is only, as I said, by a thin string that he holds on to power, and the only reason he does hold on to power is the fact he can misrepresent the people; that is, the United States has not forcefully come forward and said they do not back Mobutu, it is time for him to stand down.
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I can only reiterate the point that by cutting out this last element of support, it assures us that the message is heard in the capital that his time has come, and the result of that would be to have Mr. Mobutu stand down.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Menendez.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I just want to commend the chairman of the Subcommittee on his work. I strongly support the resolution.
I thank the chairman for his offer to cosponsor it. I would ask him to ask Mr. Payne to be the cosponsor with him because of his long-standing interest in this regard. I have spoken to Mr. Payne, and he would like to do that.
Mr. ROYCE. Sure.
Mr. MENENDEZ. On the question raised, clearly we have an opportunity to make a difference and to get engaged and see the future of Zaire go in a direction we would like it to be. If we don't take a definitive position and clearly state our position as relates to Mobutu now, our prospects in a very changing political atmosphere in Zaire will be limited dramatically.
By taking a very firm position on behalf of the Congress, we are not saying what the State Department will say but what Congress will say. We create the opportunity to deal with the other forces at work, including the rebel leadership and other parties, so that we can see in Zaire what we hope to see, which is a process of transition to multiple parties, democratic pursuits.
But if we don't do this, we find ourselves in a very limited aspect of having an influence in what is a very important country in the heart of Africa which has great opportunities to change its course for history.
I want to commend the chairman. I want to commend Mr. Payne—what a propitious moment he walked in so he could hear me say that—on his long-standing work on this issue. I want to urge my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to be supportive. If we send a strong message through, I hope, unanimous adoption of the resolution, I think it will make a very big difference.
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Chairman GILMAN. Thank you.
Mr. Smith.
Mr. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to commend Chairman Royce for his resolution. It is timely and puts this on the record where we want to be on record regarding the Mobutu regime, which continues to be an outrage, and his fleecing of his country and people who have been impoverished adds insult to injury and a very bad legacy for him.
Mr. Chairman, if I could reserve my comments for one moment on the possibility of an amendment.
Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Chairman, I think my friend from New Jersey is about to offer an amendment which is being introduced late in the game, but I understand, he just told me, that he has checked this amendment with the members of the Committee. I want to make certain that we do have copies of that.
Mr. SMITH. Yes.
Chairman GILMAN. I have not seen the amendment.
Mr. SMITH. I will explain it.
I was willing to defer because the chairman had suggested that there might be an objection until you see if this amendment were added. But as people look at the substance—we only found out about the markup last night, so we tried as best we could to put it together.
We had a hearing on this, and Mr. Payne was very much a part of this, and we heard from the Administration about the humanitarian organizations being denied access to refugees, and most of the groups are very, very disturbed that people were dying who could be saved but for the Rwandan Government and rebel forces hindering access to refugee camps.
This language just encourages the Administration to do everything that is humanly possible to ensure that Mr. Kabila's new government, if he has the government, will indeed provide for provisional aid by allowing these international organizations, with the aid and donors that we are a part of, to get to these people. It is estimated that about 100 people a day are dying. This is all preventable if they just have access. The relief organizations, UNHCR on the ground there, want more action in terms of diplomacy to get to this ill-affected population.
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Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. I certainly support the spirit of the resolution and actually support it. Let me try to clarify the issue.
The people should be able to get back, but we don't want it to appear that this crisis is the way it is now because of the rebel movement. The crisis is there because Mobutu's army in Zaire is in harm's way by the perpetrators of the genocide in Rwanda who refuse to allow the refugees to leave.
If you recall, the United States agreed with Canada and some other countries that they would attempt to send in humanitarian forces to help the people out. Mr. Kabila's attack on Mobutu's army and the Hutu militants led the way for 800,000 refugees to be freed and released, and they were able to walk back, and it was found then it was unnecessary for the United States and Canada and the others to send in the troops.
Those who could get out got out, but once again the Zairean Army and Hutu genocide perpetrators used the refugees as a shield, and they have kept them as a shield, so they pushed them further back into the jungle.
So Kabila has allowed the United Nations to come in. At first he felt there would be hostile forces coming in because of the Belgians and France who wanted to contain him, but I think 1,500 troops had been flown out; the United Nations is getting full access to Kisangani.
I just want it on the record—and I am not pro-Kabila or anti-Kabila—but this crisis was helped by Kabila, and I think we should continue to see the refugees go home.
Chairman GILMAN. Did you comment on the amendment?
Mr. PAYNE. I would be supportive of the amendment.
Chairman GILMAN. Anyone else seeking recognition?
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Mr. Smith, are you prepared to offer your amendment?
Mr. SMITH. I offer the amendment to the resolution.
Chairman GILMAN. An amendment has been offered by Mr. Smith.
The clerk will report the amendment.
[Text of the amendment to the resolution follows:]
On page 2, insert the following after the first full paragraph:
Whereas many thousands of Rwandans seeking to return home are now too ill to walk and scores succumb each day to cholera, malnutrition, malaria, dehydration, and other diseases while awaiting final agreements among parties to the conflict, the Government of Rwanda, and international humanitarian organizations to permit the organization and implementation of a speedy air evacuation and the regular supply of urgently needed relief supplies and medical care;
Whereas in Zaire there have been numerous attempts to obstruct humanitarian relief to these populations at risk and to hinder relocation of civilians and the repatriation of refugees wishing to return home;
Add, as a new Section (F) to the Resolutions:
(F) the United States should actively pursue an immediate agreement among the various parties to permit the immediate and unhindered provision of humanitarian relief and the presence of international humanitarian workers to aid refugees and displaced persons in Zaire.
Mr. WEINBERG. On page 2, insert the following after the first full paragraph: Whereas many thousands of Rwandans seeking to return home are now——
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Mr. SMITH. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be considered as read.
Chairman GILMAN. The amendment is considered as having been read, without objection.
Chairman GILMAN. Does anyone want to comment on the amendment? If not, all in favor of the amendment signify in the usual manner.
Opposed?
The amendment is agreed to.
Any further comments on the bill, as amended?
Mr. Chabot.
Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Chairman, I would like to comment briefly.
I am supportive of this bill. I just want to make one comment relative to the future of Zaire: There is no question that Mobutu has taken great advantage of the citizens of that country, and many of the assets, unfortunately, have been used for his purposes and are perhaps in bank accounts in other parts of the world, and to the degree which we are able to, through intelligence or however, help to secure those assets so they are used for the people of Zaire as opposed to supporting Mobutu's life style, I would like to encourage us to make that effort. The people of Zaire are the people who have suffered the greatest due to Mobutu's very corrupt government. I would like to see whatever assets might be remaining be used for the people.
Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chabot.
Mr. Payne.
Mr. PAYNE. Just before you call the vote, I want to commend the chairman of the Committee, Mr. Royce, and Mr. Menendez, Mr. Hastings, and the chairman for working on this legislation.
I just want to indicate that this has been an ongoing personal kind of a situation with me. Long before I came to Congress, I was opposing Mobutu even when the United States flew in the Moroccan troops to prop him up. But in the 102d Congress, I was able to get a resolution passed overwhelmingly to say that Mobutu should leave at that time. In the 104th Congress, I introduced a resolution but it did not surface. So I am pleased here in the 105th Congress we are able to do this. Of course the situation continues to change, but the people continue to suffer.
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I just want to spread that on the record.
Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word.
I won't comment extensively, but I want to compliment the staff for the extraordinary amount of work they have done in a hurry and personally thank the staffs of the chairman, of Mr. Payne, Mr. Menendez, and my staff as well who had input.
Mr. ROYCE. If I could just again compliment Congressman Payne and Congressman Menendez and other members of the Africa Subcommittee and their staff one more time for their diligent work over the past 72 hours.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. This is an important resolution, and I want to join in to thank Chairman Royce, Mr. Payne, the staff, the rest of the Subcommittee on Africa, for working together on this resolution.
I ask that my name be added as a cosponsor.
Mr. ROYCE. Thank you.
Chairman GILMAN. The people of Zaire have suffered under a corrupt dictatorial government for decades. Too many of Zaire's rulers, from King Leopold of Belgium to President Mobutu, have been willing to fatten their own bank accounts with Zaire's mineral resources.
President Mobutu's days as leader of Zaire are numbered, and there will be an opportunity in the coming days to bring a more responsible and more democratic form of government to Zaire. I hope that the Clinton administration will use this occasion as an opportunity to press those who will be the new leaders of Zaire to form a government that will not use Zaire's vast natural resources in a way to get rich but as a source of development for the entire nation.
Mr. Royce, again I commend you and your subcommittee in bringing the resolution forward in such a timely and cooperative manner.
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If there are no further amendments—Mr. Bereuter.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I want to join the commendation of our leadership on the Subcommittee and you for holding the hearing and our staffs and Mr. Smith for his amendment.
I would ask Mr. Royce if he would add my name and any members who might like to be added as cosponsors.
I move the chairman of the Committee be requested to seek consideration of this resolution on the suspension calendar or by unanimous consent.
Chairman GILMAN. Thank you. The question is on the motion.
As many as are in favor of the motion, say aye; opposed, no.
The ayes appear to have it.
The ayes do have it. The motion is agreed to.
Thank you, gentlemen.
The Committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 12:40 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
BUSINESS MEETING ON H. RES. 121,
H. CON. RES. 50, AND H. CON. RES. 63
WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1997
House of Representatives,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 11:30 a.m. in room H–139, The Capitol, Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman of the Committee, presiding.
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Chairman GILMAN. The Committee will be in order.
I want to first of all thank our members for their patience yesterday, and for being here again today. I think we are moving on an historical measure if we can now move it through the House and through the Senate.
The Committee on International Relations meets again today in open session pursuant to notice to consider several resolutions relating to Cambodia, the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, and to the Marhsall Plan.
Does the ranking member have any statement to make?
Mr. HAMILTON. No, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. The first item of business for consideration is H. Res. 121 expressing the sense of the House regarding the March 30, 1997, terrorist Grenada attack in Cambodia. This resolution was considered in subcommittee last month and reported to the Full Committee.
The Chair lays the measure before the Committee. The clerk will read the title of the bill.
Mr. WEINBERG. House Resolution 121, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the March 30, 1997, terrorist grenade attack in Cambodia.
Chairman GILMAN. The clerk will read the preamble and text of the resolution for amendment.
Mr. WEINBERG. Whereas Cambodia continues to recover from more than——
Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the preamble and the text of the resolution will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.
[H. Res. 121 appears in the appendix.]
Chairman GILMAN. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska, the chairman of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, to explain the resolution. The gentleman from Nebraska is recognized for 5 minutes.
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Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
H. Res. 121 was introduced by Representative Steve Horn of California on April 17th, and approved by the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee on April 23rd.
I would add that Mr. Berman, through staff, has asked that his name be added to the cosponsorship of the bill, and I would be happy to do that.
I would tell my colleagues that 2 weeks ago the Senate completed action on a very similar resolution with a broad variety of cosponsors from both parties.
Cambodia has made tremendous strides toward democracy since the killing fields of Pol Pot and the Vietnamese occupation but serious problems remain.
There are real concerns about the deterioration of human rights problems and conditions in that country. The most troubling is a recent string of violent incidents occurring Easter morning March 30th. At a morning rally before the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh, unknown assailants threw hand grenades into a peaceful rally being held by several opposition parties. Almost certainly, the target of this highly coordinated attack was Sam Rainsy, the former Finance Minister and leader of the opposition Khmer National Party. Mr. Rainsy escaped serious injury only because his bodyguard sacrificed his life when he shielded him from the blast. Although it is difficult to get firm numbers, at least 16 individuals were killed and over 100 were wounded.
One of those who was seriously wounded was Ron Abney, an employee of the National Endowment for Democracy's International Republican Institute. He was present at this rally in his capacity as an employee of the National Endowment for Democracy, and it almost cost him his life.
The United States and the international community have an enormous amount invested in the peace process in Cambodia. Following the 1991 Paris peace accord, international donors have plunged more than $1 billion into ensuring that peace and normality return to Cambodia.
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H. Res. 121 sends a strong message that political violence should not be allowed to return to Cambodia. Assassinations, bombings, and grenade attacks are not acceptable forms of political expression. Political parties in Cambodia must be made to understand that they cannot go down the path of political violence. They must know that the international community will not tolerate or support parties that condone political intimidation or violence.
H. Res. 121 represents a balanced, I believe, and constructive effort to advance democracy and human rights in Cambodia. I don't think we as a Congress can let this last attack, which was clearly coordinated and came in waves—when they missed their target the first time they tried another one. So I think we need to speak out on this issue.
I want to commend my colleague, Representative Stephen Horn, for bringing this issue to the attention of the Committee. I am pleased to have joined in supporting this bill as cosponsor. I urge adoption of the resolution, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. I thank the gentleman for his remarks. Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. HAMILTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to commend you, Mr. Bereuter, and Mr. Horn, for this resolution. I certainly support it and urge my colleagues to do likewise.
Mr. Berman is not here. He is the ranking member of the subcommittee.
All of us agree that violence has no place in a democracy. I think it is important for us to pass this resolution and speak out against this act of violence.
I want to urge my colleagues to vote for the adoption of the resolution.
Chairman GILMAN. Are any other members seeking recognition?
I want to thank the chairman of the Asia and Pacific Subcommittee, Mr. Bereuter, for bringing this important measure to our attention and commend Mr. Horn for introducing this legislation.
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This resolution rightfully condemns the attack made against this peaceful political rally at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on March 30 of this year. This tragic event, which left many dead and countless others wounded, was not only an attack on a political party, it was an assault on the entire democratic process in Cambodia.
This barbaric act casts a shadow on the great progress the Cambodian people have made toward democracy—progress in a country which just a few years ago was suffering at the hands of the Khmer Rouge. In addition, this senseless attack jeopardizes the significant efforts of the entire international community in ensuring peace, promoting democracy and promoting economic development, and placing its bright future in Cambodia in doubt.
As crucial national elections approach, it is appropriate for this House to denounce this act of terror and to call upon all parties to renounce violence. We encourage the people and the Government of Cambodia to embrace democratic principles and processes and to move away from the horrors of the past. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to approve the resolution. Thank you.
Are there any amendments?
If not, the gentleman from Nebraska is recognized to offer a motion.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I move the chairman be requested to seek consideration of this measure on the suspension calendar.
Chairman GILMAN. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska. As many as are in favor of the motion say aye.
Opposed say no.
The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. Further proceedings on this measure are postponed.
Chairman GILMAN. The next item of business is H. Con. Res. 50, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the status of the investigation of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992.
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The clerk will report the title of the resolution.
Mr. WEINBERG. H. Con. Resolution 50, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the status of the investigation of the bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992.
Chairman GILMAN. The clerk will read the preamble and operative text of the resolution for amendment.
Mr. WEINBERG. Whereas on March 17, 1992, the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, a school, and several nearby buildings were destroyed——
Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the preamble and operative text of the resolution are considered as having been read and as open to amendment at any point.
[H. Con. Res. 50 appears in the appendix.]
Chairman GILMAN. The Chair recognizes the distinguished gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos, to introduce the resolution.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, I offer this resolution with profound regret and equally profound outrage. The Israeli Embassy was subject to terrorist attack a little over 5 years ago. This is the fifth anniversary of this outrageous attack which killed 29 innocent people, including children, and wounded 250 others.
I might add for the sake of accuracy that the killed and wounded included obviously not only members of the Israel Embassy staff and people who visited there, but a priest and children of a nearby Catholic elementary school. It is an attack for which the Islamic Jihad publicly and proudly claimed credit. According to our State Department officials, diplomatic representatives of the Iranian Embassy participated in the preparation of this attack, and after 5 years not a single human being has been indicted, brought to justice, and it is yet another example of the preposterous performance of the Argentinian Government at all levels in failing to deal with this outrageous pattern of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli attacks.
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Mr. Chairman, I believe partly because of the failure of the Argentinian authorities to deal with this issue, in July 1994 the community center of the Argentine Jewish community was subjected to a second terrorist attack in which 86 innocent human beings were killed and over 200 were wounded.
So we are now dealing in Buenos Aires with two major terrorist attacks, one directed at the Embassy of Israel, the second directed at the community center of the center of the Jewish community. The degree of complicity of the Argentine police in the attack itself is very much open to question.
The failure of the government at the highest level to conduct a serious investigation is profoundly in doubt, and I will do my utmost to give this resolution the greatest possible publicity because Argentina deserves a big black eye in the international community, (a), for allowing these two terrorist attacks to occur, and (b), in being totally incompetent or unwilling to prosecute the perpetrators.
I would stop, Mr. Chairman.
Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Lantos.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. HAMILTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me just thank Tom Lantos for sponsoring this resolution and for getting the cosponsors on it and for his very eloquent statement a moment ago.
I, of course, support the resolution. It is important for us to speak out on this. All of us have been terribly disappointed in the progress made, or I should say the lack of progress. Argentina has made some progress moving away from a dictatorship to a democracy and market economy. We want to encourage that. But this case simply has to be resolved and for it to go 5 years, as Tom pointed out a moment ago, without any arrests and convictions is really quite outrageous.
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I strongly support the resolution and urge passage.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Chabot.
Mr. CHABOT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I would also like to commend the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos, for bringing this forward and also ask him if he would add my name as a cosponsor as well. It would be an honor for me to be on there.
Mr. LANTOS. Thank you.
Chairman GILMAN. Do any other colleagues wish to make a comment?
Mr. Bereuter.
Mr. BEREUTER. I want to commend the gentleman, and add my name as a cosponsor. I think most or all of the original cosponsors are Jewish-American and I think it would be appropriate that we have a larger variety of people involved. But I think it is necessarily an action we have to take to try to urge the Argentinians to do what is appropriate. And if you would add my name on the Marshall Plan resolution, I would be happy to cosponsor that resolution as well.
Mr. LANTOS. Be happy to.
Chairman GILMAN. I want to commend our colleague, Mr. Lantos, for introducing this measure. I am proud to be an original cosponsor and pleased to bring it before the Full Committee.
Five long years, as Mr. Lantos has indicated in the past, since the March 1992 car bombing of the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires cost the lives of 29 innocent persons, and injured over 250 others. The terrorist Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility for the act, but the perpetrators have not been brought to justice despite the allegations by the Argentinian Government that they were doing whatever they can.
I believe it is also important that we recall the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center that took place in July 1994. And Mr. Lantos appropriately reminded us of that terrorist bombing that murdered 90 people and injured 200 others and the terrorist group, Hezbollah, is thought to be responsible for that act of violence, but no one has been brought to justice for that incident.
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This resolution is an important message to the families of the victims as well as to the entire Jewish community of Argentina and to the Argentinian Government that we stand in solidarity with them. We have not forgotten these crimes.
The resolution also makes several practical suggestions, including appointment of a single investigative judge to approve the efficiency of the inquiry of this bombing. The current process of having the entire Supreme Court responsible for coordinating the investigation is a prescription for failure and has proven to be highly ineffective. We also call upon our government to provide appropriate assistance sought by the Government of Argentina to investigate these acts of terrorism.
In particular, we are anxious to see how the Argentinian authorities follow up on our staff suggestion that they offer a reward in order to aid the investigation. I am pleased our State Department has provided assistance to initiate such a reward program.
Accordingly, I urge our colleagues to support the resolution. I thank Mr. Lantos for his leadership.
If there are no amendments, the gentleman from Nebraska is recognized to offer a motion.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I move the chairman be requested to seek consideration of this measure under the suspension calendar.
Chairman GILMAN. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska.
As many as are in favor of the resolution, signify by the usual manner.
Those opposed.
The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it.
The motion is agreed to.
Further proceedings on this measure are now postponed.
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One more resolution.
The final item of business is H. Con. Res. 63 regarding the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. The Chair lays the measure before the Committee. The clerk will report the title of the resolution.
Mr. WEINBERG. H. Con. Res. 63, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan and reaffirming the commitment to the United States to the principles that led to the establishment of that program.
Chairman GILMAN. The clerk will read the preamble and operative text of the resolution for amendment.
Mr. WEINBERG. Whereas on June 5, 1947, in a speech at Harvard University, then-Secretary of State George C. Marshall proposed the establishment of a joint——
Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the preamble and the operative text of the resolution are considered as having been read and as open to amendment at any point.
[H. Con. Res. 63 appears in the appendix.]
Chairman GILMAN. At this time the Chair recognizes the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos, to introduce the resolution.
Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Lantos.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Chairman, in this instance it is a great pleasure to bring to the Committee's attention the half-century anniversary of the Marshall Plan.
Yesterday's debate toward the end of our meeting served as a reminder, at least to some of us, that we surely don't have the vision that seemed to be present on a bipartisan basis a half a century ago in a society, which was not only infinitely less affluent in terms of per capita income than the society we live in today, but a society that just finished a brutal, costly, bloody, global war.
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It seems that in 1947 there was enough vision in our leadership and enough vision in our public to proceed with the most costly and largest program of economic assistance designed to bring about the economic recovery, and more importantly, the democratization of the whole of western Europe.
I might mention parenthetically, Mr. Chairman, that I was a young university student in Budapest at the time with a radio program on Radio Budapest and I had the privilege of encouraging Hungary's participation in the Marshall Plan, because as you well know, both the Soviet Union and Hungary were invited to participate and, of course, the Communist or Communist-dominated regimes blocked this.
I sincerely believe if it had not been for the Marshall Plan blocking the further expansion of communism in the west of Europe, the whole shape of 20th century history would have been altered if there had not been this remarkable measure. This was the second of three measures, as you know, aimed at building democracy in Europe.
First, President Truman called for aid to Greece and Turkey; then came the Marshall Plan; and ultimately NATO.
The resolution that I am introducing also calls on the countries of western Europe to display the same degree of farsightedness with the transition of central and eastern Europe to democracy and capitalism and prosperity that we assisted them with in connection with the Marshall Plan.
I made that proposal at the collapse of the Berlin Wall and, of course, the aid that has been forthcoming with the exception of West Germany's aid to East Germany was negligible with respect to the scope of the Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan in today's terms represents $130 billion in economic aid to western Europe. However useful our modest aid program has been to central and eastern Europe, and former nations of the Soviet Union was negligible compared to the need and compared to the resources of Europe and the United States and Japan.
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Nevertheless, I think it is important that we commemorate this half-century anniversary, and I trust my colleagues will join me.
Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Lantos.
Mr. Hamilton.
Mr. HAMILTON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will be very brief.
Thank you again, Tom, for your initiative in offering this resolution. I think as we look back over the significant initiatives of American foreign policy, you can get unanimous agreement that this was one of the most important initiatives ever, certainly in the post-war period, because it laid the groundwork for the close political and economic cooperation we have had in the transatlantic community.
So I strongly support it. I think it is a worthy initiative. I like the final resolve clause in which you call upon these nations to exercise the same kind of generous spirit that characterized the Marshall Plan. It is a very good resolution. I support it.
Mr. LANTOS. Thank you.
Chairman GILMAN. Are any other members seeking recognition?
Mr. Chabot.
Mr. CHABOT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I guess the gentleman referred to the discussion we had last night on the Marshall Plan. Some remarks you made to Mr. Sanford concerning——
Mr. LANTOS. In great friendship.
Mr. CHABOT. In great friendship, yes. It started out that way. The Marshall Plan was certainly something that was historic; it followed the greatest war we have had in this century, perhaps in history, and certainly worked well in bringing Europe back from the devastation suffered in that war.
But there are a number of us who do have some concerns about the level of foreign aid and foreign assistance in the countries we are giving it to and don't feel comfortable in using the Marshall Plan and its success as justification to basically say any amount of money to whatever country is acceptable and anybody who is against whatever level of funding we want to spend would have voted against the Marshall Plan. Or that that is justification to open up the taxpayers' pockets.
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So there are a number of us who just don't agree at this point and probably never will on the issue of what is the appropriate level of foreign aid and what countries should get it, and have great reservations and will oftentimes oppose various levels that this committee or this Congress may wish to establish.
Chairman GILMAN. Are there any other members who wish to be recognized?
Thank you.
I ask my full statement be made part of the record to save time.
[Chairman Gilman's statement appears in the record.]
Chairman GILMAN. I want to commend the gentleman for bringing this resolution to the Committee and it helps us celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Marshall Plan. That celebration will take place on June 5th of this year and it reminds us of the great commitment made by Secretary of State, George Marshall, President Harry Truman, supported by a farsighted bipartisan group of Congressmen and Senators, and we all recognize the good works of the Marshall Plan over that period of time.
So, again, I commend the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos, for his good work in seeing that we don't overlook this important anniversary, and am pleased to be an original cosponsor. I ask the Committee to fully support the resolution.
Are there other members seeking recognition? If there are no amendments, the gentleman from Nebraska is recognized to offer a motion.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I move the chairman be requested to seek consideration of this measure on the suspension calendar.
Chairman GILMAN. The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska.
As many as are in favor of the motion, indicate by the usual sign.
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Those opposed, no.
The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it.
The motion is agreed to.
Further proceedings on this matter are postponed.
I thank everyone for your patience and for taking part.
The Committee is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 12:05 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]