[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 164 (Monday, October 23, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15494-S15495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        JERUSALEM EMBASSY RELOCATION IMPLEMENTATION ACT OF 1995

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the bill.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, what is the pending business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pending business is S. 1322.


                           amendment no. 2941

(Purpose: To provide for the establishment of the United States Embassy 
     in Israel in the capital of Jerusalem, and for other purposes)

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I send a substitute to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Kansas [Mr. Dole] proposes an amendment 
     numbered 2941.

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
     thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Jerusalem Embassy Act of 
     1995''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Each sovereign nation, under international law and 
     custom, may designate its own capital.
       (2) Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been the capital 
     of the State of Israel.
       (3) The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel's 
     President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the site of 
     numerous government ministries and social and cultural 
     institutions.
       (4) The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center of 
     Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the members of 
     other religious faiths.
       (5) From 1948-1967, 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.
       (6) In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited during the 
     conflict known as the Six Day War.
       (7) 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.
       (8) This year marks the 28th consecutive year that 
     Jerusalem has been administered as a unified city in which 
     the rights of all faiths have been respected and protected.
       (9) In 1990, the Congress unanimously adopted Senate 
     Concurrent Resolution 106, which declares that the Congress 
     ``strongly believes that Jerusalem must remain an undivided 
     city in which the rights of every ethnic and religious group 
     are protected''.
       (10) In 1992, the United States Senate and House of 
     Representatives unanimously adopted Senate Concurrent 
     Resolution 113 of the One Hundred Second Congress to 
     commemorate the 25th anniversary of the reunification of 
     Jerusalem, and reaffirming congressional sentiment that 
     Jerusalem must remain an undivided city.
       (11) The September 13, 1993, Declaration of Principles on 
     Interim Self-Government Arrangements lays out a timetable for 
     the resolution of ``final status'' issues, including 
     Jerusalem.
       (12) The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area 
     was signed May 4, 1994, beginning the five-year transitional 
     period laid out in the Declaration of Principles.
       (13) In March of 1995, 93 members of the United States 
     Senate signed a letter to Secretary of State Warren 
     Christopher encouraging ``planning to begin now'' for 
     relocation of the United States Embassy to the city of 
     Jerusalem.
       (14) In June of 1993, 257 members of the United States 
     House of Representatives signed a letter to the Secretary of 
     State Warren Christopher stating that the relocation of the 
     United States Embassy to Jerusalem ``should take place no 
     later than . . . 1999''.
       (15) The United States maintains its embassy in the 
     functioning capital of every country except in the case of 
     our democratic friend and strategic ally, the State of 
     Israel.
       (16) The United States conducts official meetings and other 
     business in the city of Jerusalem in de facto recognition of 
     its status as the capital of Israel.
       (17) In 1996, the State of Israel will celebrate the 
     3,000th anniversary of the Jewish presence in Jerusalem since 
     King David's entry.

     SEC. 3. TIMETABLE.

       (a) Statement of the Policy of the United States.--
       (1) Jerusalem should remain an undivided city in which the 
     rights of every ethnic and religious group are protected;
       (2) Jerusalem should be recognized as the capital of the 
     State of Israel; and

[[Page S 15495]]

       (3) the United States Embassy in Israel should be 
     established in Jerusalem no later than May 31, 1999.
       (b) Opening Determination.--Not more than 50 percent of the 
     funds appropriated to the Department of State for fiscal year 
     1999 for ``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings Abroad'' 
     may be obligated until the Secretary of State determines and 
     reports to Congress that the United States Embassy in 
     Jerusalem has officially opened.

     SEC. 4. FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997 FUNDING.

       (a) Fiscal Year 1996.--Of the funds authorized to be 
     appropriated for ``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings 
     Abroad'' for the Department of State in fiscal year 1996, not 
     less than $25,000,000 should be made available until expended 
     only for construction and other costs associated with the 
     establishment of the United States Embassy in Israel in the 
     capital of Jerusalem.
       (b) Fiscal Year 1997.--Of the funds authorized to be 
     appropriated for ``Acquisition and Maintenance of Buildings 
     Abroad'' for the Department of State in fiscal year 1997, not 
     less than $75,000,000 should be made available until expended 
     only for construction and other costs associated with the 
     establishment of the United States Embassy in Israel in the 
     capital of Jerusalem.

     SEC. 5. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.

       Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report to the 
     Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Foreign Relations of the Senate detailing the Department of 
     State's plan to implement this Act. Such report shall 
     include--
       (1) estimated dates of completion for each phase of the 
     establishment of the United States Embassy, including site 
     identification, land acquisition, architectural, engineering 
     and construction surveys, site preparation, and construction; 
     and
       (2) an estimate of the funding necessary to implement this 
     Act, including all costs associated with establishing the 
     United States Embassy in Israel in the capital of Jerusalem.

     SEC. 6. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.

       At the time of the submission of the President's fiscal 
     year 1997 budget request, and every six months thereafter, 
     the Secretary of State shall report to the Speaker of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign 
     Relations of the Senate on the progress made toward opening 
     the United States Embassy in Jerusalem.

     SEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL WAIVER.

       (a) Waiver Authority.--(1) Beginning on October 1, 1998, 
     the President may suspend the limitation set forth in section 
     3(b) for a period of six months if he determines and reports 
     to Congress in advance that such suspension is necessary to 
     protect the national security interests of the United States.
       (2) The President may suspend such limitation for an 
     additional six month period at the end of any period during 
     which the suspension is in effect under this subsection if 
     the President determines and reports to Congress in advance 
     of the additional suspension that the additional suspension 
     is necessary to protect the national security interests of 
     the United States.
       (3) A report under paragraph (1) or (2) shall include--
       (A) a statement of the interests affected by the limitation 
     that the President seeks to suspend; and
       (B) a discussion of the manner in which the limitation 
     affects the interests.
       (b) Applicability of Waiver to Availability of Funds.--If 
     the President exercises the authority set forth in subsection 
     (a) in a fiscal year, the limitation set forth in section 
     3(b) shall apply to funds appropriated in the following 
     fiscal year for the purpose set forth in such section 3(b) 
     except to the extent that the limitation is suspended in such 
     following fiscal year by reason of the exercise of the 
     authority in subsection (a).

     SEC. 8. DEFINITION.

       As used in this Act, the term ``United States Embassy'' 
     means the offices of the United States diplomatic mission and 
     the residence of the United States chief of mission.

  Mr. DOLE. There is no objection to the substitute.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there be no further debate, the question is 
on agreeing to the amendment.
  The amendment (No. 2941) was agreed to.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, as I understand it, we have 40 minutes? 
There will be 40 minutes of debate beginning at 11 a.m. tomorrow, to be 
followed on a vote on the passage of S. 1322, the substitute. We expect 
a vote about 11:40. I think 10 minutes of that 40 is reserved for 
Senator Byrd and the other is equally divided.
  In addition, I ask at this point to add the following cosponsors to 
the bill: Senators Feinstein, Lautenberg, and Kennedy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask for yeas and nays on final passage.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There is a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.

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