[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 123 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7812]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SAUDI ARABIA NEEDS TO RESOLVE U.S. COMPANY'S CLAIM OF UNPAID DEBT

  (Mr. DEUTSCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DEUTSCH. Mr. Speaker, I, too, join my two previous colleagues on 
the floor this morning, really out of absolute frustration. I came to 
the House 6 years ago and was involved in trying to help resolve this 
claim by Hill International with the Saudi Government. And here, for me 
personally, 6 years later, we are still at that point.
  This is the only one of 19 claims filed against the Saudi Government 
by American companies in the 1980s that still remains unpaid. Over the 
last 5 years, literally dozens of Members of Congress have vocalized 
their support for resolution of this final claim but have received 
nothing but empty promises from Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United 
States, Prince Bandar.
  A former member of this chamber, Bill Emerson, in 1995, met with 
Ambassador Bandar and was asked to broker a compromise agreement to the 
claim. Despite Representative Emerson's diligent efforts to implement 
this compromise before his passing, Ambassador Bandar has refused to 
honor this gentleman's agreement.
  Over the last year, Prince Bandar has repeatedly committed to meet 
with the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Jo Ann Emerson) in an effort 
to conclude this matter, but has been unwilling to set a date. How long 
must this American company continue to wait? We need to get this 
settlement resolved.

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