[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S7090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LEGISLATION ON TERRORISM

  Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, we have just witnessed one of the worst 
terrorist incidents against the United States since the Beirut bombing 
in 1983. To date, we have lost 19 young Americans in this cowardly 
attack that has taken place in Saudi Arabia. One of those killed was a 
constituent from Long Island, Capt. Christopher J. Adams, of Massapequa 
Park.
  With this as a background, Mr. President, I implore my colleagues to 
move as expeditiously as we can in seeing to it that the Iranian-Libyan 
sanctions bill, which passed the Senate unanimously and passed the 
House of Representatives, 415-0, last week--a similar bill--be taken 
up, that we appoint conferees, and that we act on it now, because it 
sends a clear message to Iran and Libya. It provides our President with 
the tools necessary to see to it that sanctions are imposed.
  We are not saying who, nor do we know who has sponsored this 
particular act of terrorism. But both Iran and Libya have been the 
chief sponsors of state-sponsored terrorism--war--against the United 
States, and that is the most cowardly kind of war. I think it is 
important for us to move now and not to hold this legislation up, 
because our version might be slightly different from that in the House 
of Representatives. We can work out those differences. I may not get 
all that I want.
  I am for tough sanctions. I am actually for sanctions that would say, 
if you are going to deal with Iran and Libya and you are going to buy 
their oil, you are going to invest with them, then we are not going to 
do business with you. Other colleagues may have a difference of 
opinion, but we can work that out.
  Let us pass this bill. Let us send a bill now that says we are going 
to take you on, and that we are going to give our President the ability 
to deal with these terrorist nations and invoke strong action. Not all 
of our actions should be military, but we have the ability to take on 
the Iranians and Libyans and to punish them for their continuous 
support of terrorist activities.
  I hope we can pass this bill today. There is no reason for us not to 
do it. It passed in December unanimously here. I hope that we will act 
on this.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Kansas is recognized.

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