[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 49 (Tuesday, April 28, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S3737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        REMOVAL OF INJUNCTION OF SECRECY--TREATY DOCUMENT 105-42

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, as in executive session, I ask unanimous 
consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following 
treaty transmitted to the Senate on April 28, 1998, by the President of 
the United States: Treaty with Brazil on Mutual Legal Assistance in 
Criminal Matters (Treaty Document No. 105-42.)
  I further ask unanimous consent that the treaty be considered as 
having been read for the first time; that it be referred, with 
accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered 
to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered:
  The message of the President is as follows:

To the Senate of the United States:
  With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to 
ratification, I transmit herewith the Treaty between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Federative 
Republic of Brazil on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, 
signed at Brasilia on October 14, 1997. I transmit also, for the 
information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with 
respect to the Treaty.
  The Treaty is one of a series of modern mutual legal assistance 
treaties that the United States is negotiating in order to counter 
criminal activities more effectively. The Treaty should be an effective 
tool to assist in the prosecution of a wide variety of modern 
criminals, including those involved in terrorism, other violent crimes, 
drug trafficking, money laundering, and other ``white-collar'' crime. 
The Treaty is self-executing, and will not require new legislation.
  The Treaty provides for a broad range of cooperation in criminal 
matters. Mutual assistance available under the Treaty includes:
  (1) Locating or identifying persons or items; (2) serving documents; 
(3) taking testimony or statements of persons; (4) transferring persons 
in custody for testimony or other purposes; (5) providing documents, 
records, and items; (6) executing requests for searches and seizures; 
(7) assisting in proceedings related to immobilization and forfeiture 
of assets, restitution, and collection of fines; and (8) any other form 
of assistance not prohibited by the laws of the Requested State.
  I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to 
the Treaty and give its advice and consent to ratification.
                                                  William J. Clinton.  
  The White House, April 28, 1998.

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