[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 27, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E 1336]]


  ACTION ON FINAL RESOLUTION OF GIBBS AND HILL AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT

                                 ______


                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 1995
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to voice a specific 
and direct concern, and a demand for action from our State Department, 
over the inexcusable delay in the final resolution of the $43.4 million 
commercial claim of Gibbs & Hill against the Government of the Kingdom 
of Saudi Arabia. This claim is the last remaining unpaid claim under 
the special claims process established by the Congress in 1992 in 
recognition of a pattern of commercial abuse by the Kingdom towards the 
American companies working there during the period of the late 1970's 
and early 1980's.
  Gibbs & Hill's story is not unlike that of all of the other American 
companies whose claims were satisfactorily resolved by Saudi Ambassador 
Bandar under the special claims process. Gibbs & Hill provided services 
to the Kingdom and was not paid for the services provided. The claim 
was notified to the Saudi Government for resolution under Ambassador 
Bandar's mandate to resolve these claims' and Ambassador Bandar pledged 
to spare no efforts in so doing fairly and expeditiously. This was more 
than 2 years ago. Since that time, a message on behalf of none other 
than the King has been provided to our country's representative in 
Riyadh that the claim was soon to be paid. Yet the claim still has not 
been paid.
  We have included legislation in the fiscal year 1996 American 
Overseas Interest Act to further the policy of our country that the 
claim be favorable resolved for the company, as has been repeatedly 
committed to by the Saudis to our Government and the company. This is 
only the first of such steps the Congress can take to ensure that the 
wrongful acts of the Kingdom against Gibbs & Hill are rectified.
  What is needed, and what is expected from our State Department, is 
its immediate and unrelenting effort to bring this matter to a 
successful conclusion, through the full and prompt payment of the 
claim, so as to conclude successfully the claims issue. Nothing short 
of this will be tolerated, nor is acceptable. The importance of the 
successful conclusion of this singular issue to our bilateral 
relationship cannot be overemphasized. Until it is resolved, it will 
continue to fester and threaten to undermine our relationship with the 
Kingdom.


                          ____________________