[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 14 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1021]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Helms, Mr. Brownback, Mr. 
        Leahy, Mr. Reid, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
        Dodd, Mr. Baucus, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Byrd, and Mr. Carper):
  S. 244. A bill to provide for United States policy toward Libya; to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, yesterday a Scottish court, meeting in 
the Netherlands, convicted Abdel Basset Ali Megrahi for the 1988 
bombing of Pan American flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland. That court 
sentenced him to life in prison. Two-hundred seven people, including 
189 Americans, lost their lives in this barbaric act.
  In addition, the court conclusively tied the planning and execution 
of the bombing to Libya and Libya intelligence.
  While no verdict could have fully comforted the families of the 
victims, eased their anguish, or removed the haunting images from their 
minds, they can take some solace in the fact that guilt has now been 
established. I would like to personally thank the families of the 
victims for their hard work, for their dedication, and for the 
unyielding determination to ensure that their loved ones did not die in 
vain. The international community truly owes them a debt of gratitude.
  Nevertheless, the quest for justice is not over. Now some have 
suggested the verdict brings the matter to a close, and at the 
sanctions in place since 1992 should now be lifted. We, however, 
believe that would be a serious mistake and an insult to the victims 
and their families. U.N. Resolutions have required Libya to pay 
compensation to the families of the victims of Pan Am 103 if a guilty 
verdict is rendered, and, second, to officially end support for 
international terrorism before the multilateral sanctions can 
permanently be lifted.
  A formal lifting of the sanctions now would send Libya the wrong 
signal. It would indicate that the international community has absolved 
Libya of its role in the bombing, a role, to repeat, clearly 
established by the Scottish court. It would say that Libya should be 
accepted back into the community of responsible nations. It would 
bestow upon Colonel Qadhafi's regime a respect and credibility it seeks 
but has not earned.
  The United States must press Libya to publicly accept its role in the 
bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, issue an apology, and compensate the 
victims' families.
  Consequently, today we are introducing the Justice for the Victims of 
Pan Am 103 Act of 2001. This legislation is cosponsored by Senators 
Helms, Brownback, Leahy, Reid of Nevada, Nelson of Nebraska, Clinton, 
Dodd, Baucus, Boxer, Byrd, and Carper.
  The legislation states that it shall be the policy of the United 
States to oppose lifting U.N. and U.S. sanctions against Libya until 
all cases of American victims of Libyan terrorism have been resolved; 
the Government of Libya has accepted responsibility, has issued an 
apology, has paid compensation to the victims' families of Pan Am 103; 
and has taken real and concrete steps to end support of international 
terrorism; and the legislation would prohibit assistance to the 
Government of Libya until the President determines and certifies that 
Libya has fulfilled the above requirements.
  In addition, the legislation expresses the sense of the Senate that 
the Government of Libya should be condemned for its support of 
international terrorism and the bombing of Pan Am 103.
  Second, the Government of Libya should accept responsibility for the 
bombing, issue a public apology, and provide due compensation.
  Finally, the President, the Secretary of State, and other U.S. 
officials should encourage other countries and the United Nations to 
maintain sanctions against Libya until it fulfills the above 
requirements. Until Libya accepts responsibility for its actions, 
apologizes, and ends its support for international terrorism, the 
United States should leave and will leave no stone unturned in the 
quest for justice.
  We owe the victims of Pan Am 103 no less.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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