[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 30 (Thursday, March 17, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS ACT OF 1993

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask that the pending amendment to the 
bill be set aside.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Amendment No. 1538

(Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate concerning United Nations 
                       resolutions on Jerusalem)

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk on behalf 
of Senator Moynihan, Senator D'Amato, and myself.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Colorado [Mr. Brown] for Mr. Moynihan for 
     himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. D'Amato, Mr. Packwood, Mr. DeConcini, 
     Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Specter, Mr. Sasser, Mr. Dole, Mr. Burns, 
     and Mrs. Feinstein proposes an amendment numbered 1538.

       At the appropriate place in the bill, add the following new 
     section:

     SEC.  . UNITED NATIONS RESOLUTIONS CONCERNING JERUSALEM.

       (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
       (1) For three thousand years Jerusalem has been the focal 
     point of Jewish religious devotion;
       (2) Jerusalem is also considered a holy city by the members 
     of other religious faiths;
       (3) The once thriving Jewish majority of the historic Old 
     City of Jerusalem was driven out by force during the 1948 
     Arab-Israeli War;
       (4) From 1948 to 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;
       (5) In 1967, Jerusalem was reunited during the conflict 
     known as the Six Day War;
       (6) 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;
       (7) In 1990, the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives overwhelmingly adopted Senate Concurrent 
     Resolution 106 and House Concurrent Resolution 290 declaring 
     that Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, ``must remain an 
     undivided city'';
       (8) The Vice President has stated the Administration's 
     intention not to ``forget the meaning of Jerusalem'';
       (9) The Secretary of State recently reiterated U.S. 
     opposition to attempts in the United Nations to refer to 
     Jerusalem as ``occupied territory'';
       (10) It is reported that the United Nations Security 
     Council may consider a resolution condemning the Hebron 
     massacre but which also refers to Jerusalem as ``occupied'' 
     territory;
       (b) Sense of Congress.--Therefore, it is the sense of the 
     Congress--
       (1) That the Administration should be commended for its 
     efforts not to ``forget the meaning of Jerusalem'' and to 
     oppose attempts in the United Nations to refer to Jerusalem 
     as ``occupied'' territory;
       (2) That sacrificing core principles for short term 
     objectives will ultimately retard, not advance, the peace 
     process;
       (3) That the United States should exercise its veto in the 
     United Nations Security Council on any Security Council 
     resolution that states or implies that Jerusalem is 
     ``occupied'' territory.

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I should note first of all that Senator 
Mack from Florida and Senator Moynihan from New York have taken the 
lead in circulating a letter expressing similar sentiments among the 
Senators.
  The urgency of this particular measure comes about because of the 
potential that this particular question will be addressed in the United 
Nations.
  We think it is particularly important that this vital matter, 
specifically involving the status of Jerusalem, not go unnoticed or 
unaddressed by this Chamber.
  So I rise not only to join Senator Moynihan and Senator D'Amato in 
offering this amendment, but to express my thanks for the leadership of 
Senator Mack in circulating that letter, and his particular leadership 
on this subject.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mr. D'AMATO addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from New York is recognized.
  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I cannot on one hand say that we 
recognize that Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel and then on 
the other hand allow the U.N. to vote to change the status of Israel or 
Jerusalem to now be known as occupied territory.
  That is simply sending the wrong message and the wrong signal to 
those who are determined to bring war to that area, particularly to the 
State of Israel. That is why it is appropriate and necessary for us to 
vote on this sense of the Senate resolution, in which we send to the 
State Department a very clear-cut message that the State of Israel will 
not be jeopardized as a result of the horrible act that took place in 
Hebron.
  This will not help the peace process. It will indeed create grave 
doubts as to our determination to continue our steadfast relationship 
with Israel and it will embolden others to take, what I believe, is the 
kind of precipitous acts that cannot enhance peace.
  I strongly support the resolution. I think it is appropriate for us 
to show our strong support for an Israel that has Jerusalem as its 
capital and that we, the United States of America, should demonstrate 
that it is determined not to put Jerusalem in the territory or in the 
area known as occupied territory. That would be simply unacceptable.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. DOLE addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Mathews). The Republican leader is 
recognized.

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