[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1175 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 187
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1175
To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a United States
citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 23, 1999
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 30, 1999
Reported by Mr. Helms, with an amendment
[Insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a United States
citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that--
(1) Zachary Baumel, a United States citizen serving in the
Israeli military forces, has been missing in action since June
1982 when he was captured by forces affiliated with the
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) following a tank
battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in Lebanon;
(2) Yehuda Katz and Zvi Feldman, Israeli citizens serving
in the Israeli military forces, have been missing in action
since June 1982 when they were also captured by these same
forces in a tank battle with Syrian forces at Sultan Ya'akub in
Lebanon;
(3) these three soldiers were last known to be in the hands
of a Palestinian faction splintered from the PLO and operating
in Syrian-controlled territory, thus making this a matter
within the responsibility of the Government of Syria;
(4) diplomatic efforts to secure the release of these
individuals have been unsuccessful, although PLO Chairman
Yasser Arafat delivered one-half of Zachary Baumel's dog tag to
Israeli Government authorities; and
(5) in the Gaza-Jericho agreement between the Palestinian
Authority and the Government of Israel of May 4, 1994,
Palestinian officials agreed to cooperate with Israel in
locating and working for the return of Israeli soldiers missing
in action.
SEC. 2. ACTIONS WITH RESPECT TO MISSING SOLDIERS.
(a) Continuing Communication with Certain Governments.--The
Secretary of State shall continue to raise the matter of Zachary
Baumel, Yehuda Katz, and Zvi Feldman on an urgent basis with
appropriate government officials of Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian
Authority, and with other governments in the region and elsewhere that,
in the determination of the Secretary, may be helpful in locating and
securing the return of these soldiers.
(b) Provision of Economic and Other Assistance to Certain
Governments.--In deciding whether or not to provide United States
economic and other forms of assistance to Syria, Lebanon, the
Palestinian Authority, and other governments in the region, and in
deciding United States policy toward these governments and authorities,
the President should take into consideration the willingness of these
governments and authorities to assist in locating and securing the
return of the soldiers described in subsection (a).
SEC. 3. REPORTS BY SECRETARY OF STATE.
(a) Initial Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall prepare and submit
to the Committee on International Relations of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
written report that describes the efforts of the Secretary pursuant to
section 2(a) and United States policies affected pursuant to section
2(b).
(b) Subsequent Reports.--Not later than 15 days after receiving
from any source any additional credible information relating to the
individuals described in section 2(a), the Secretary of State shall
prepare and submit to the committees described in subsection (a) a
written report that contains such additional information.
(c) Form of Reports.--A report submitted under subsection (a) or
(b) shall be made available to the public and may include a classified
annex.
Passed the House of Representatives June 22, 1999.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 187
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1175
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, a United States
citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action.
_______________________________________________________________________
June 30, 1999
Reported with an amendment