[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1732]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONCERNING HILL INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEVE R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 16, 1998

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to add my full support for the 
settlement of outstanding claims filed by U.S. companies against the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
  In the early 1980's dozens of American companies filed claims 
totaling hundreds of millions of dollars for debts owed to them by the 
Kingdom. Following the creation of a formal claims resolution process 
by Congress in 1993, each of these claims have been settled, save one--
the claim filed by Hill International, Inc., a New Jersey company to 
whom Saudi Arabia still owes over $55 million.
  The merits of Hill International's claims are not in dispute. Our own 
State Department has promised its full support and has even pledged to 
aid Hill International in their fight to collect what is owed to them. 
Dozens of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have made an appeal 
for fairness on this issue and have urged Saudi Arabian authorities to 
settle this final claim promptly. But sadly, to this day, no movement 
has been realized on this important issue.
  Perhaps the government of Saudi Arabia believes their efforts to 
settle outstanding claims have been ``close enough.'' Mr. Speaker, I 
want to send a message to Saudi Arabia that as a friend of the United 
States they should lead by example and pay this final debt.

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