[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 100 (Tuesday, July 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      S. 768--MEILI FAMILY RELIEF

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Bentsen] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BENTSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 768, 
legislation to provide permanent residency status for the Meili family. 
This legislation would provide relief for the family of a courageous 
hero who deserves our gratitude and admiration. Mr. Meili's actions in 
Switzerland not only endangered his personal safety, but also that of 
his family. We should offer protection to Mr. Meili and his family to 
ensure the truth is told regarding Holocaust-era Swiss bank practices.
  In January, 1997, Michael Christopher Meili was on duty at a Swiss 
bank where he noticed that employees were shedding Holocaust-era 
documents. Meili reported the destruction of documents, which is a 
violation of Swiss law, and turned over some of these documents to 
members of the Jewish community in Zurich and to the Swiss police.
  Subsequently, Mr. Meili was fired from his job and investigated for 
violating Swiss bank secrecy law. After receiving death threats, Mr. 
Meili and his family came to the United States in April on a temporary 
visitors visa. This visa will expire in the near future, and we must 
provide special relief for the Meili family to protect them. This 
legislation would provide permanent residency status for the Meili 
family, as they are not eligible for either a political asylum or work-
based visa exemption. I am pleased that we are considering this 
critical legislation in an expedited manner. We must ensure that the 
Meili family and other whistleblowers are encouraged to tell the truth.
  As a member of the House Banking Committee, I participated in two 
hearings on the disposition of Jewish assets in Swiss Banks. We heard 
testimony on the courage and determination of Mr. Meili to protect 
these documents. Without these documents, it may be difficult for 
Jewish families and their heirs to determine the outcome of assets they 
deposited in Swiss accounts. It is imperative that the world learn the 
truth, heirs be compensated and we put an end to this final secret of 
the tragedy of the Holocaust.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and to protect the 
Meili family so the truth can be known.

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