[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 96 (Friday, July 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1345-E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        TREASURY AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CHARLES E. SCHUMER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 16, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4104) making 
     appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United States 
     Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and 
     certain Independent Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 1999, and for other purposes:


  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentleman's 
amendment and want to thank him for bringing it to the floor.
  In 1996 we amended the Anti-Terrorism Act precisely to help families 
like the Flatows. Now we find that this law is under attack and the 
Flatows are being made to suffer again. But this time it is not because 
of Iran, it is because our own State protected Iranian assets right 
here in the U.S., right here in Washington, D.C. This is money that 
could easily be used to take yet one more innocent life.
  Mr. Chairman, that is unconscionable.
  Provisions in the Anti-Terrorism Act allow Americans to sue 
governments of state-sponsored terrorism for damages, the Flatows have 
done that. The courts ruled in their favor and judged they should be 
compensated.
  Now its time for Iran to pay up.
  We must send a message to Iran that our own internal divisions will 
not hold us hostage against executing justice. We must also send a 
message to the Flatows and other families to let them know the 
government is on their side. That is why I urge all my colleagues to 
vote for this amendment.

[[Page E1346]]



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