[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1595 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1595

To provide for the relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel to 
                   Jerusalem, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 9, 1995

Mr. Gingrich (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Horn, Mr. Lazio, Mr. Zimmer, 
Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Weller, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Paxon, Mr. Solomon, 
 Mr. McIntosh, Ms. Molinari, Mr. Hastert, Mr. Archer, Mrs. Myrick, Mr. 
 Nussle, Mrs. Vucanovich, Mr. Barr, Mr. Torkildsen, and Mr. Burton of 
   Indiana) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for the relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel to 
                   Jerusalem, and for other purposes.
    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Jerusalem Embassy Relocation 
Implementation Act of 1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Each sovereign nation, under international law and 
        custom, may designate its own capital.
            (2) Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital 
        of the State of Israel.
            (3) The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel's 
        President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of 
        numerous government ministries and social and cultural 
        institutions.
            (4) The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center of 
        Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of 
        other religious faiths.
            (5) From 1948-1967, Jerusalem was a divided city and 
        Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jewish citizens of 
        all states were denied access to holy sites in the area 
        controlled by Jordan.
            (6) In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the 
        conflict known as the Six Day War.
            (7) Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united city 
        administered by Israel, and persons of all religious faiths 
        have been guaranteed full access to holy sites within the city.
            (8) This year marks the 28th consecutive year that 
        Jerusalem has been administered as a unified city in which the 
        rights of all faiths have been respected and protected.
            (9) In 1992, the United States Senate and House of 
        Representatives unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent 
        Resolution 113 of the One Hundred Second Congress to 
        commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reunification of 
        Jerusalem, and reaffirming congressional sentiment that 
        Jerusalem must remain an undivided city.
            (10) The September 13, 1993, Declaration of Principles on 
        Interim Self-Government Arrangements lays out a timetable for 
        the resolution of ``final status'' issues, including Jerusalem.
            (11) The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area 
        was signed May 4, 1994, beginning the five-year transitional 
        period laid out in the Declaration of Principles.
            (12) In March of 1995, 93 members of the United States 
        Senate signed a letter to Secretary of State Warren Christopher 
        encouraging ``planning to begin now'' for relocation of the 
        United States Embassy to the city of Jerusalem.
            (13) The United States maintains its embassy in the 
        functioning capital of every country except in the case of our 
        democratic friend and strategic ally, the State of Israel.
            (14) The United States conducts official meetings and other 
        business in the city of Jerusalem in
         de facto recognition of its status as the capital of Israel.
            (15) In 1996, the State of Israel will celebrate the 
        3,000th anniversary of the Jewish presence in Jerusalem since 
        King David's entry.

SEC. 3. TIMETABLE.

    (a) Statement of Policy.--It is the policy of the United States 
that--
            (1) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the 
        State of Israel;
            (2) groundbreaking for construction of the United States 
        Embassy in Jerusalem should begin no later than December 31, 
        1996; and
            (3) the United States Embassy should be officially open in 
        Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.
    (b) Construction Determination.--Not more than 50 percent of the 
funds appropriated to the Department of State for fiscal year 1997 for 
``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' may be obligated 
until the Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress that 
construction has begun on the site of the United States Embassy in 
Jerusalem.
    (c) Opening Determination.--Not more than 50 percent of the funds 
appropriated to the Department of State for fiscal year 1999 for 
``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' may be obligated 
until the Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress that 
the United States Embassy in Jerusalem has officially opened.

SEC. 4. FISCAL YEAR 1995 FUNDING.

    Of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 1995 for the Department 
of State and related agencies, not less than $5,000,000 shall be made 
available until expended for costs associated with relocating the 
United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, including but not limited 
to site identification, surveys, and land acquisition. Such funds shall 
be made available in accordance with the procedures contained in 
section 34 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 
2706).

SEC. 5. FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997 FUNDING.

    (a) Fiscal Year 1996.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
for ``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' for the 
Department of State in fiscal year 1996, not less than $25,000,000 
shall be made available until expended only for construction and other 
costs associated with the relocation of the United States Embassy in 
Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.
    (b) Fiscal Year 1997.--Of the funds authorized to be appropriated 
for ``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' for the 
Department of State in fiscal year 1997, not less than $75,000,000 
shall be made available until expended only for construction and other 
costs associated with the relocation of the United States Embassy in 
Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.

SEC. 6. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.

    Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of State shall submit a report to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
detailing the Department of State's plan to implement this Act. Such 
report shall include--
            (1) estimated dates of completion for each phase of the 
        relocation of the United States Embassy, including site 
        identification, land acquisition, architectural, engineering 
        and construction surveys, site preparation, and construction; 
        and
            (2) an estimate of the funding necessary to implement this 
        Act, including all costs associated with relocating the United 
        States Embassy to Jerusalem.

SEC. 7. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.

    Beginning January 1, 1996, and every six months thereafter, the 
Secretary of State shall report to the Speaker of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on 
the progress made toward opening the United States Embassy in 
Jerusalem.

SEC. 8. DEFINITION.

    As used in this Act, the term ``United States Embassy'' means the 
offices of the United States diplomatic mission and the residence of 
the United States chief of mission.
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