[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 265 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 265

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
  should actively encourage holders of Jordanian debt to provide debt 
          relief in order to strengthen the economy of Jordan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 29, 1999

 Mr. Lantos (for himself, Mr. Gilman, Mr. Gejdenson, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. 
Ackerman, Mr. Berman, Mr. Crowley, Mr. Delahunt, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. 
    Hastings of Florida, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Sawyer, and Mr. Wexler) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                       on International relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the President 
  should actively encourage holders of Jordanian debt to provide debt 
          relief in order to strengthen the economy of Jordan.

Whereas the new king of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, King Abudllah bin al-
        Hussein, has already demonstrated his determination and skill in 
        following in the footsteps of his late father, King Hussein Bin Talal, 
        who was a powerful force for peace and stability in the Middle East;
Whereas an economically strong and viable Jordan would make additional vital and 
        positive contributions in fostering peace and security in that region;
Whereas the United Nations sanctions which have been imposed against the 
        Government of Iraq have placed a disproportionate economic burden upon 
        the people and the Government of Jordan;
Whereas the current burden of Jordan's international debt, which now totals over 
        $7,183,000,000, represents a debilitating and oppressive hardship on the 
        Jordanian people and their well-being and the Jordanian economy, 
        impacting negatively upon King Abudllah's efforts to exert a positive 
        influence in the region;
Whereas during the period 1994 through 1996 the United States Government forgave 
        approximately $698,000,000 of Jordanian debt to the United States;
Whereas Jordan has significant indebtedness with Japan, France, the United 
        Kingdom, Germany, other member countries of the G-7, and the Gulf 
        States; and
Whereas the recent Israeli elections open an encouraging but brief and fragile 
        window of opportunity to proceed toward stability and peaceful progress 
        in Middle East region: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the Administration for its leadership in 
        forgiving $698,000,000 of debt owed by Jordan to the United 
        States;
            (2) urges the President and the Secretary of State to take 
        appropriate diplomatic and other measures to support and assist 
        the Jordanian economy, including advocating that member 
        countries of the G-7 and other countries which are holders of 
        Jordanian debt forgive that indebtedness;
            (3) requests that the Secretary of State report to the 
        Committee on International Relations regarding efforts to 
        strengthen the Jordanian economy and the results of efforts 
        made pursuant to this resolution to secure the forgiveness of 
        Jordanian debt; and
            (4) directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to 
        send a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of State with 
        the request that it be forwarded to the Governments of Japan, 
        France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and other countries which 
        are holders of Jordanian debt.
                                 <all>