[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S.J. Res. 35 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. J. RES. 35

    Prohibiting funds for diplomatic relations with Vietnam at the 
  ambassadorial level unless the President certifies to Congress that 
Vietnam is making a good faith effort to resolve cases involving United 
States servicemen who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and 
                          for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                 May 26 (legislative day, May 15), 1995

 Mr. Chafee introduced the following joint resolution; which was read 
        twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
    Prohibiting funds for diplomatic relations with Vietnam at the 
  ambassadorial level unless the President certifies to Congress that 
Vietnam is making a good faith effort to resolve cases involving United 
States servicemen who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and 
                          for other purposes.
Whereas 2,231 Americans are still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and 
        approximately 100 of these individuals were last known to be alive;
Whereas the families of missing American servicemen have been waiting for more 
        than 20 years for answers about the fate of their loved ones;
Whereas the United States Government is committed to obtaining the fullest 
        possible accounting of missing American servicemen;
Whereas on January 27, 1994, the Senate voted to support a resolution urging the 
        President to lift the trade embargo against Vietnam;
Whereas on February 3, 1994, the President lifted the trade embargo against 
        Vietnam;
Whereas on February 3, 1995, in Hanoi and February 1, 1995, in Washington, D.C., 
        the United States and Vietnam opened diplomatic liaison offices;
Whereas the United States and Vietnam appear to be moving closer to establishing 
        normal diplomatic relations;
Whereas there is broad consensus that normalization of diplomatic relations with 
        Vietnam must be contingent upon the fullest possible accounting of 
        American servicemen unaccounted for during the Vietnam War;
Whereas normal diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam would 
        require an exchange of ambassadors between the two countries; and
Whereas the Senate, under the United States Constitution, is responsible for 
        confirming ambassadorial appointments by the President: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That none of the funds made 
available under any provision of law may be used to maintain diplomatic 
relations with Vietnam at the ambassadorial level unless, prior to 
Senate confirmation of any ambassador to Vietnam, the President 
certifies to Congress that Vietnam is making a good faith effort to 
resolve cases involving United States servicemen who remain unaccounted 
for from the Vietnam War.
    Sec. 2. Effective one year after the United States commences 
diplomatic relations with Vietnam at the ambassadorial level, none of 
the funds made available under any provision of law may be used to 
maintain diplomatic relations with Vietnam unless a certification 
described in section 3 is in effect.
    Sec. 3. (a) A certification under this section is a certification 
made by the President to Congress that, during the preceding year, 
Vietnam has made a good faith effort to resolve cases involving United 
States servicemen who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
    (b) Each certification made under this section shall be effective 
for a period of one year.
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