[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10456-H10457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REGARDING THE 
    TERRORIST BOMBING OF THE UNITED STATES EMBASSIES IN EAST AFRICA

  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H.Res. 523) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding the terrorist bombing of the United States 
embassies in East Africa, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 523

       Whereas on August 7, 1998, 254 people, 12 of whom were 
     United States citizens, were killed when a bomb exploded at 
     the United States Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, and 9 people 
     were killed when a bomb exploded at the United States Embassy 
     in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
       Whereas these bombs were detonated minutes apart and were 
     clearly coordinated;
       Whereas in both cases trucks, driven by suicidal terrorists 
     and loaded with explosives, approached the embassies but were 
     diverted from attacking their primary targets by quick 
     thinking Embassy security staff;
       Whereas the bombs did explode, injuring thousands of 
     innocent civilians and destroying millions of dollars worth 
     of local property;
       Whereas the Governments of Israel and France immediately 
     sent search and rescue teams to aid in the aftermath of the 
     bombings;
       Whereas on August 7, 1998, Pakistani police arrested 
     suspect Muhammad Sadiq Odeh, who confessed to being part of a 
     team which was orchestrated and financed by Osama bin Laden; 
     and
       Whereas Osama bin Laden, an exiled Saudi Arabian 
     businessman who is believed to be currently living in 
     Afghanistan, is a known sponsor of international terrorism 
     against secular Middle Eastern regimes and has publicly 
     stated his support for attacks against American influence, 
     Americans, and American targets: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses the deep condolences of the House of 
     Representatives and the American people to the families of 
     all persons killed or injured in the bombing;
       (2) expresses our dismay for the mayhem and destruction 
     visited upon the Governments and people of Kenya and 
     Tanzania;
       (3) expresses gratitude to the people and the Governments 
     of Kenya and Tanzania for their assistance to the people and 
     the property of the United States in the aftermath of the 
     bombings;
       (4) expresses our gratitude to the United States Embassy 
     guards whose quick thinking and heroic actions prevented even 
     more deaths and injuries;
       (5) expresses our gratitude to the people and the 
     Governments of Israel, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, 
     Japan, Australia, and South Africa, as well as the many 
     private organizations which volunteered to assist the United 
     States in the aftermath of the bombings;
       (6) expresses our gratitude to United States personnel for 
     their dedication in serving abroad and promoting United 
     States interests and courageously assuming the risks of 
     living and working overseas;
       (7) expresses our gratitude to United States Federal and 
     local agencies which assisted in the aftermath of the 
     bombings;
       (8) expresses our condemnation of all persons and parties 
     involved in the outrageous and illegal attacks which resulted 
     in the tragic loss of life of so many Americans, Kenyans, 
     Tanzanians, and others;
       (9) expresses the determination of the House of 
     Representatives to assist, in any way possible, in the arrest 
     of all persons responsible for these attacks; and
       (10) expresses the intention of the House of 
     Representatives to examine whether security needs of United 
     States facilities overseas are being met and what kinds of 
     tools can be employed to discourage nations from harboring 
     terrorists.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).


                             General Leave

  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 days in which to revise and extend their remarks on this 
measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings), a member of our committee, for submitting this resolution to 
express our condolences to the families of the victims of that terrible 
bombing of two of our embassies in Africa. August 7 was a tragic day in 
this country's history and in their history. Many innocent people were 
injured or lost their lives because of senseless, cowardly acts of 
terrorists.
  We are grateful to the many friends who responded to our Nation, who 
responded immediately with assistance, the Israelis, the French, the 
Britons, the Germans, the Japanese and the Australians. Terrorism is a 
global problem, and we must stand united with our international 
partners to dismantle organizations which seek only to terrorize our 
civil societies.
  I fully support the resolution of the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings), and I urge full support of the House.
  I want to thank the original sponsors of this resolution--who are my 
colleagues--fellow members in the Ukraine Caucus here in the Congress--
for their work to bring this measure to the floor today.
  Those original sponsors are: the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Levin, 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania, a member of our International 
Relations Committee, the gentlelady from Ohio, Ms. Kaptur, the 
gentleman from Colorado, Mr. Bob Schaeffer, and the gentlelady from New 
York, Ms. Slaughter.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased that we have the opportunity to consider 
this very important piece of legislation today, and I thank the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the members of the Committee 
on International Relations, as well as our other colleagues, for their 
expediting of this piece of legislation.
  Like us all, I shared the shock, sorrow and outrage of the entire 
Nation when I learned of the bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya 
and Tanzania.
  Madam Speaker, like so many of us, people lost family and personal 
friends. I would ask the personal prerogative to do, as I am sure many 
Members could and likely did in their appropriate memorials in the 
Record, but a 40-year friend of mine, Jean DeLiza, was killed in the 
embassy bombing in Kenya. As sort of an extended family, her mother 
Rose, her sister Joyce, her children, Laurie and others, and her 
siblings and all of us were stunned.
  As a member of this committee, I have had the opportunity to visit 
many of our embassies, and a lot of them I have visited with the 
chairman of this committee, who has worked exceedingly diligently 
internationally and nationally to bring to the attention of this body 
and the world the needs of a stable and peaceful world.
  Our embassy workers do more than process visas. They promote 
investment in the United States, they facilitate the selling of 
American products overseas, and they assist Americans who are lost or 
who have lost their money or passports or are imprisoned in foreign 
countries. To murder these public servants because one has a grudge 
against the United States is ludicrous and pathetic. The thought that 
one can settle a vendetta against the United States or the West by 
planting a bomb in Africa would be laughable were it not for the loss 
of Americans' lives and others in Kenya and Tanzania.

                              {time}  1645

  The governments, many that the chairman mentioned, the NGOs and

[[Page H10457]]

courageous individuals whom we must thank for their assistance in the 
aftermath of the bombing are too numerous to mention at this time.
  First of all, the governments and the people of Kenya and Tanzania 
were instrumental in saving lives and property. The street 
demonstrations held in support of the United States by the peoples of 
Kenya and Tanzania were noted, and they are to be recognized as being 
deeply appreciated in this country.
  The quick thinking of the United States Embassy guards, many of them 
locals, was instrumental in preventing even more death and destruction. 
The people of the governments of Israel, France, the United Kingdom, 
Germany, Japan, Australia and others provided vital assistance for 
which all Americans are extremely grateful.
  Numerous United States Federal and local agencies gathered quickly on 
the sites, and their outstanding work in securing the scenes paved the 
way for superlative investigative work which has already led to some 
arrests in these cases.
  This resolution expresses the intention of the House to examine 
whether the security needs of United States facilities overseas are 
being met. This issue is particularly relevant to the work that we do 
under the guidance and leadership of the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) in this committee.
  We must examine all of our facilities overseas and where weaknesses 
exist, reinforce those facilities. We must support this administration 
and the next administration in building alliances with like-minded 
friends to ensure that terrorists who wish to harm the United States 
are eliminated.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Hastings) for the resolution, for his eloquent remarks in support of 
it.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), our distinguished 
chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human 
Rights.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for introducing this legislation and for 
giving us this opportunity as a body, Democrats and Republicans, to 
express our condolences not just to the American families but also to 
those in Kenya and Tanzania who lost loved ones or had loved ones hurt 
very severely, and also to thank the countries of Kenya and Tanzania 
for the cooperation they have given in trying to apprehend these 
cowardly terrorists.
  Let me also remind the body that within hours of that horrific act, 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), who 
is the ranking member on the Helsinki Commission, the gentleman from 
Maryland (Mr. Cardin) and I convened a press conference on the grassy 
triangle. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) and others were all 
very supportive of that.
  We made it clear that no terrorist should take any solace in any 
bickering that they may see going on in the Capitol of Washington; that 
whatever the President's problems may be, we are united in our fight 
against terrorism; that we will stand shoulder-to-shoulder in trying to 
apprehend terrorists; and that when you pick on Americans, when you go 
after Americans, we are absolutely united.
  I think that message is coming across. This resolution will help. I 
want to commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Hastings) for bringing 
us this important resolution.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I would like to echo and 
associate myself with the remarks of the distinguished gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith).
  Madam Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I yield back the rest of 
our time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his very forceful remarks in support of the 
resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness, that 
we all recall the day early this past August when several American 
officials were killed and injured when terrorist planted bombs exploded 
at the U.S. embassies in Nairobi and in Tanzania.
  These bombs sent powerful explosions throughout U.S. embassy 
buildings in Nairobi and Dar-es-Salaam, causing significant damage to 
both buildings, and resulting in the death and wounding of numerous 
individuals.
  These bombings were violent and cowardly acts that preyed on innocent 
people. As a member of this Congress, we must not tolerate this 
violence! These bombings were a sobering reminder that violence can 
occur even in parts of the world where you would least expect it. We 
must continue to deliberate over what actions to take, both to step up 
security at other US installations and embassies around the world and 
to see what help we can give to the Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities in 
their investigation of the two blasts. These bombings were devastating 
to all of us here in Congress.
  The last major attack against a U.S. facility abroad was in June 
1996, when a car bomb devastated a military housing complex near 
Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, killing 19 Americans. The culprits are not known 
to have been found. In this last attack, the U.S. worked with local 
officials in both countries to rapidly move medical, engineering, 
security and other support personnel and equipment from U.S. facilities 
inside and outside the region to both locations.
  In addition, the U.S. has taken appropriate security measures at our 
embassies and military facilities throughout the region and around the 
world. Along with the President we must pledge to use all the means at 
our disposal to bring those responsible to justice, no matter what or 
how long it takes. As a member of Congress, I believe the United States 
should do everything it can to assure that American citizens serve in 
safety. The families and the loved ones of the American and African 
victims of these cowardly attacks will of course remain in our thoughts 
and prayers, and we must continue to express our outrage at the 
devastation caused by these terrorist acts.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Emerson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 523, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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