[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 85 (Thursday, June 29, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H5440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SHIRAZ 13 VERDICT TO COME ANY DAY

  (Mr. WEINER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WEINER. Mr. Speaker, on this Independence Day, Americans should 
keep the Shiraz 13 in our thoughts and prayers. Since March of 1999, 
the government of Iran has held these people simply because of their 
religion.
  The trial is over, and it looked more like a kangaroo court. The 
investigator, the prosecutor, and the judge were the same person, 
someone who is affectionately known in Iran as the butcher.
  The verdict will come any day now, and we are all watching. Will this 
new so-called moderate government of Iran free the Shiraz 13?
  Until we know, we should not loosen our import restrictions on Iran 
on rugs, nuts and caviar which have been authorized to be imported here 
as of the end of 1999.
  This 4th of July, we should send a strong message about where the 
U.S. Congress stands. Today in the Agriculture Appropriations bill, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) and I will be offering an 
amendment to cut the funding from the Agriculture import budget that it 
takes to implement these loosening of these export quotas. Let us send 
a message this 4th of July.

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