[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  COSPONSOR H.R. 4096, A BILL TO RESOLVE COMMERCIAL DISPUTES BETWEEN 
                  UNITED STATES FIRMS AND SAUDI ARABIA

  (Mr. BEVILL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BEVILL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4096, a bill 
to ensure that certain unresolved commercial disputes between United 
States firms and the Government of Saudi Arabia are resolved 
satisfactorily. On September 22, 1992, Senator John Glenn introduced an 
amendment to secure the resolution of United States commercial claims 
by the Government of Saudi Arabia. That amendment was overwhelmingly 
approved by both Houses of Congress on October 6, 1992, as section 9140 
of fiscal year 1993 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.
  The Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations included the words ``to 
resolve satisfactory'' to impact a fair resolution of a claim of a firm 
in my State, Harbert-Howard Cos.
  A large number of Members of both Houses have signed individual as 
well as 12 joint Congressional letters urging the Saudi Government to 
comply with section 9140 by resolving satisfactorily Harbert-Howard 
Co.s' dispute. Regrettably, this has not yet taken place. This case has 
gone unresolved for more than 15 years.
  I strongly urge you to support H.R. 4096, introduced by our colleague 
Earl Hilliard and which I have cosponsored. This bill reaffirms 
congressional intent to secure satisfactory resolution of American 
claims as mandated by section 9140 of the Department of Defense 
Appropriations Act. There is no new policy being set by this bill. The 
language of the bill is straightforward and will have no impact on the 
Saudi participation in the peace process or in any way discourage 
United States-Saudi relations. I appeal to your sense of justice to 
join me in cosponsoring H.R. 4096.

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