[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H7818-H7819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   ANNOUNCEMENT OF INTENTION TO OFFER RESOLUTION RAISING QUESTION OF 
                        PRIVILEGES OF THE HOUSE

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to clause 2 (a)(1) of rule IX, I 
hereby give notice of my intention to offer a resolution which raises a 
question of privileges of the House.
  The form of the resolution is as follows:

Resolution Directing the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to 
undertake an appropriate investigation of the circumstances surrounding 
               Representative Hilliard's travel to Libya

       Whereas Libya is an unapologetic terrorist state that 
     openly supports, promotes and inspires terrorists,
       Whereas Libya arms, trains and harbors terrorists;
       Whereas Libya was involved in the 1985 terrorist attacks on 
     airports in Rome and Vienna that left 20 men, women and 
     children, including 5 American citizens, dead;
       Whereas Libya is responsible for the deaths of two American 
     soldiers in a 1986 terrorist bombing in Berlin;
       Whereas Libya is responsible for the deaths of 270 men, 
     women and children, including 189 Americans, in the terrorist 
     bombing of Pan Am flight 103 in 1988;
       Whereas the Security Council of the United Nations has 
     imposed sanctions on Libya in response to its responsibility 
     for the bombings of both Pan Am flight 103 and UTA flight 
     772; and
       Whereas those sanctions were put into effect in the United 
     States in 1986 by imposing of Treasury Department 
     regulations, the violation of which may be punishable by a 
     civil penalty and by criminal penalties including fine or 
     imprisonment, and which among other things bar United States 
     persons from engaging in transactions relating to 
     transportation to and from Libya and from dealing in any 
     property in which the government of Libya has any interest;
       Whereas Libyan leader Moammar Ghadafi has called terrorist 
     attacks that have left innocent men, women and children dead 
     and wounded ``heroic operations'';
       Whereas Congress has gone on record in its opposition to 
     the Libyan government, passing laws that condemn Libya for 
     supporting terrorism, list Libya among the countries denied 
     direct or indirect United States assistance, authorize the 
     President to prohibit imports and exports to Libya, and ban 
     investment in the Libyan oil industry;
       Whereas Libya is dedicated to destroying the Middle East 
     peace process;
       Whereas the Department of State has reported that 
     Representative Earl Hilliard traveled to Libya in August 
     without authorization of or approval from the Department of 
     State;
       Whereas Representative Earl Hilliard has refused to confirm 
     or deny whether he traveled to Libya or offer an explanation 
     for his travel to Libya;
       Whereas if Representative Hilliard did travel to Libya, his 
     actions would be in direct violation of United States policy 
     toward Libya;
       Whereas this episode raises questions of propriety 
     regarding travel to Libya, Representative Hilliard should 
     explain his reasons for traveling to Libya and his activities 
     while there;
       Whereas the Committee should inquire of Representative Earl 
     Hilliard what individual, organization, government agency or 
     other entity paid for his travel to and from Libya and his 
     expenses while in Libya;
       Whereas Representative Hilliard has not disclosed whether 
     he engaged in any transactions relating to his travel to and 
     from Libya, or in other transactions while in Libya;
       Whereas these circumstances warrant an immediate 
     affirmation by the House of its unequivocal opposition to 
     travel to Libya by its members and to terrorism and the 
     terrorist agenda pursued by the Libyan government of Moammar 
     Ghadafi; and
       Whereas Representative Earl Hilliard has conducted himself 
     in a manner which is inconsistent with the dignity of the 
     House and is not conduct appropriate to the House and its 
     members: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House Committee on Standards of Official 
     Conduct undertake an immediate and thorough investigation of 
     the circumstances surrounding Representative Earl Hilliard's 
     travel to Libya and report back to the House.

[[Page H7819]]

                              {time}  2200

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hutchinson). Under rule IX, a resolution 
offered from the floor by a Member other than the majority leader or 
minority leader as a question of the privileges of the House has 
immediate precedence only at a time or place designated by the Chair in 
the legislative schedule within two legislative days of its being 
properly noticed.
  The Chair will announce the Chair's designation at a later time. The 
Chair's determination as to whether the resolution constitutes a 
question of privilege will be made at the time designated by the Chair 
for consideration of the resolution.


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, presuming that the interpretation is that 
this resolution is an appropriate privileged resolution, would that 
mean that the resolution will have to be considered within the next two 
days, meaning either tomorrow or Friday?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under rule IX, the Speaker will designate a 
time on one of the next two legislative days to address the matter. At 
the designated time, the gentleman will be able to offer the 
resolution. The Chair cannot say how the House may consider it.

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