Congressional Record, Volume 145 Issue 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)

[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[House]
[Pages H2102-H2104]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT GOVERNMENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF
YUGOSLAVIA AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RELEASE UNITED STATES SERVICEMEN AND
ABIDE BY GENEVA CONVENTION

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on International Relations and the Committee on Armed Services be
discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H.
Con. Res. 83) expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan
Milosevic release the three illegally detained United States servicemen
and abide by the Geneva Convention protocols regarding the treatment of
both prisoners of war and innocent civilians, and ask for its immediate
consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I
will not object, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman)
for an explanation of the concurrent resolution.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that
the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President,
Slobodan Milosevic, should release the three U.S. servicemen now in his
custody. This certainly is an issue of the highest national concern,
and our thoughts and prayers are with these brave individuals and their
families.
I want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano)
for bringing this measure forward at this time. This resolution duly
states that the Yugoslav authorities are responsible under the Geneva
Convention for the treatment of Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone of
Smith's Creek, Michigan; Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez of Los
Angeles, California; and Specialist Steven M. Gonzales of Huntsville,
Texas.
Frankly, it is outrageous that Milosevic and his henchmen are toying
with these soldiers, exploiting them for their own purposes and at the
same time refusing to honor their commitment under the Geneva
Convention to permit access of the International Committee of the Red
Cross to verify that these men are not being mistreated.
The only photos that we have seen of these men since their abduction
indicate that we indeed have cause to be highly concerned with regard
to their well-being. The fact that our servicemen were engaged in a
peaceful activity, ensuring the stability of the region

[[Page H2103]]

and helping to prevent the spread of the conflict, only heightens our
outrage over the exploitation of their captivity by the Yugoslav
authorities.
I hope that we will, through this resolution, signal our strong
support for our military personnel, for their families, and also send
the message to the Yugoslav Government and its leaders that we are
going to hold them strictly accountable for their swift and safe
return.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Con. Res.
83.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I
yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior).
Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
I just wanted to take the floor, Mr. Speaker, to express my
appreciation to the Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert),
for bringing this resolution to the floor in a timely fashion and for
being cooperative on this. I think he does the House proud in the way
he has acted on this piece of legislation, and I wanted him to know
that we thank him on this side of the aisle for his courtesies and for
the expeditious manner in which he has handled this.
I also want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), as
well as my colleague from California (Mrs. Napolitano) who has offered
this resolution and for her leadership, the gentleman from Connecticut
(Mr. Gejdenson), my friend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman),
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the gentleman from South
Carolina (Mr. Spence) and all of the others who made this possible.
With this resolution, the House reaffirms its deep commitment and
concern for our soldiers in captivity: Christopher Stone, Steven
Gonzales, and Andrew Ramirez.
And as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) so correctly stated
just a second ago, we insist that Slobodan Milosevic and the Yugoslavs
follow the Geneva Convention with respect to these three soldiers and
that they be allowed to be visited by the Red Cross and they be treated
humanely while they are captive. These brave men are in our thoughts,
and we join Americans everywhere in praying for their swift and safe
return.
Again, I want to congratulate my colleague from California (Mrs.
Napolitano) for her leadership on this issue.
Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object,
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Hastert) and everybody involved. It was a joint effort.
It was not just my doing. So I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman) for his support and really fast-tracking it.
House Concurrent Resolution 83 expresses the sentiment not only of
the United States Congress, but of the American people that we support
our three brave young men being held prisoner in Yugoslavia: U.S. Army
Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone, and
Specialist Steven M. Gonzales.
Their patriotism, their bravery, and their service to our country is
both humbling and inspiring. These courageous men went to Europe
prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for the noble causes of peace
and freedom. Now that their own freedom is at stake, the United States,
its Congress, and the American people stand firmly in solidarity with
them and their families in calling for their release.
I thank all my colleagues for joining me in supporting these brave
soldiers of ours and praying for their speedy return to freedom. And
God bless all our servicemen throughout the world.
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the gentleman from New
York?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

H. Con. Res. 83

Whereas United States Army Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez,
24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25, of
Smiths Creek, Michigan and San Antonio Texas, and Spc. Steven
M. Gonzales, 21, of Huntsville, Texas were abducted from
Macedonian territory by Serb forces on March 31, 1999, while
patrolling the Kumanovo area 3 miles from the southern
Yugoslavia border;
Whereas these 3 honorable United States soldiers, serving
in noncombatant status, are now in the custody of the
Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its
President Slobodan Milosevic;
Whereas the Geneva Convention, the 1949 treaty setting
forth international protocols for the treatment of both
civilians and military personnel during armed conflicts and
declared wars, stipulates that prisoners of war must at all
times be humanely treated, provided any necessary medical
assistance, protected against acts of violence or
intimidation and against insults and public curiosity and
evacuated from any area of danger;
Whereas the Geneva Convention also prohibits putting
prisoners of war on trial for engaging in ordinary acts of
warfare for which the capturing country's own soldiers would
not be charged;
Whereas under the Geneva Convention, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has the right to
nonsupervised visits of prisoners to ensure they are being
treated well;
Whereas the Yugoslav Government has as yet not responded to
the ICRC's requests; and
Whereas sanctions can be applied to signatories of the
Geneva Convention for failing to abide by the convention:
Now, therefore, be it:
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That--
(1) the United States Government should commend the 3
detained United States soldiers for their exemplary service,
bravery, duty to their country, and part in helping to ensure
a peaceful multiethnic democratic Kosovo on the basis of the
Rambouillet Accords;
(2) the United States Government should continue to
forcefully press the Yugoslav Government and its president
Slobodan Milosevic for the unconditional release of the 3
detained United States servicemen and, in the interim, demand
their health and safety, and that the International Committee
of the Red Cross be allowed to visit the servicemen and
verify their condition without supervision;
(3) the United States Government should condemn any move on
the part of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia to put the three detained United States servicemen
on trial--an act expressly forbidden by the Geneva
Convention;
(4) the United States Government should hold the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President
Slobodan Milosevic personally responsible for the welfare of
the 3 detained United States servicemen;
(5) the United States Government should continue to condemn
the atrocities committed by the Yugoslav Army or paramilitary
forces against civilians in Kosovo, particularly crimes
associated with ``ethnic cleansing''; and
(6) the United States Government should support the
prosecution under the Geneva Convention of all commanders of
the Yugoslav Army or paramilitary forces taking part in acts
of ethnic cleaning against civilians.

Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Gilman

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr.
Gilman:
Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the
following:

That--
(1) the United States Government should commend the 3
detained United States soldiers for their patriotism,
bravery, service, and duty to their country;
(2) the United States Government should continue to
forcefully press the Yugoslav Government and its president
Slobodan Milosevic for the unconditional release of the 3
detained United States servicemen and, in the interim, to
guarantee their health and safety, and permit the
International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the
servicemen and verify their condition without supervision,
and that all other provisions of the Geneva Conventions be
fully respected;
(3) the United States Government should condemn any move on
the part of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia to put the three detained United States servicemen
on trial or subject them to public display; and
(4) the United States Government should hold the Government
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President
Slobodan Milosevic directly responsible for the welfare of
the 3 detained United States servicemen.

Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman).
The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
The concurrent resolution was agreed to.

[[Page H2104]]

Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Gilman

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
The Clerk read as follows:

Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Gilman:
Strike the preamble and insert the following:
Whereas United States Army Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez,
24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25, of
Smiths Creek, Michigan and San Antonio Texas, and Spc. Steven
M. Gonzales, 21, of Huntsville, Texas were captured on March
31, 1999, while patrolling the Kumanovo area;
Whereas these 3 honorable United States soldiers are now in
the custody of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic;
Whereas the Geneva Conventions, the 1949 treaties setting
forth international requirements for the treatment of both
civilians and military personnel during armed conflicts,
stipulates that prisoners of war must at all times be
humanely treated, provided any necessary medical assistance,
protected against acts of violence or intimidation and
against insults and public curiosity and evacuated from any
area of danger;
Whereas the Third Geneva Convention also prohibits putting
prisoners of war on trial for engaging in ordinary acts of
warfare for which the capturing country's own soldiers would
not be charged;
Whereas under the Geneva Conventions, the International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has the right to
nonsupervised visits of prisoners to ensure they are being
treated well;
Whereas the Yugoslav Government has as yet not responded to
the ICRC's requests; and
Whereas sanctions can be applied to parties to the Geneva
Conventions for failing to abide by the conventions: Now,
therefore, be it:

Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent
that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the
preamble offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.

Title Amendment Offered by Mr. Gilman

Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
The Clerk read as follows:

Title amendment offered by Mr. Gilman:
Amend the title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution
expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of
the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan
Milosevic release the three detained United States servicemen
and abide by the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment
of both prisoners of war and civilians.''.

The title amendment was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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