[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 10, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H3818-H3819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 168) expressing the sense of
Congress in support of victims of torture.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 168
Whereas the people of the United States abhor the use of
torture by any government or person;
Whereas the existence of torture creates a climate of fear
and international insecurity that affects all people;
Whereas torture results in mental and physical damage to an
individual that destroys the individual's personality and
terrorizes society and the effects of torture can last a
lifetime for the individual and can also affect future
generations;
Whereas repressive governments often use torture as a
weapon against democracy by eliminating the leadership of
their opposition and frightening the general public;
Whereas more than 500,000 survivors of torture live in the
United States;
Whereas torture has devastating effects on the victim which
often require extensive medical and psychological treatment;
Whereas both the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 (Public
Law 105-320) and the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization
Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-87) authorize funding for
rehabilitation services for victims of torture so that these
individuals may become productive and contributing members of
their communities;
Whereas the United States played a leading role in the
adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has
ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture and
Other Forms of Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment;
and
Whereas June 26th of each year is the United Nations
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That, on the occasion of the United Nations
International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Congress
pays tribute to all victims of torture in the United States
and around the world who are struggling to overcome the
physical scars and psychological effects of torture.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr.
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent
resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment underscores that freedom, justice, and peace
rests on the recognition of the inalienable rights of all members of
the human family.
It further states that these basic rights derive from the inherent
dignity of the human person. Thus, when one individual suffers, all of
humanity suffers. When one individual is tortured, the scars inflicted
by such horrific treatment are not only found in the victim but in the
global system, as the use of torture undermines, debilitates, and
erodes the very essence of that system.
Torture not only terrorizes individuals but entire societies, the
impact of which is felt in future generations as well. It is used as a
weapon against democracy by eliminating the leadership of the
opposition and by frightening the general population into submission.
As a Member of Congress who represents men, women, and children who
have fled repressive regimes, I have witnessed firsthand the mental and
physical damage that torture inflicts on the individual and on society
as a whole. I have constituents who are Cuban refugees, for example,
who have been subjected to electroshock treatment by Castro's
authorities because of their pro-democracy activities.
I represent one of the largest Holocaust survivor communities in
North America. My district includes victims of right-wing authoritative
regimes as well as oppressive leftist totalitarian dictators. I have
seen the anguish in their eyes as well as the strength of their spirit,
their courage, and their determination.
There are more than 500,000 survivors of torture in the United
States; and this resolution, Mr. Speaker, seeks to honor them.
House Concurrent Resolution 168 uses the occasion of the United
Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture as an opportunity to
remember and pay homage to the victims of torture and to underscore the
commitment that the United States Congress has outlined in the last few
years through passage of the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 and the
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 1999.
It is a message to the survivors in the U.S., and indeed throughout
the world, that the U.S. has not forgotten their suffering nor its
obligation as a global leader to help prevent such violations of the
inherent dignity of human beings. I ask my colleagues to support this
bipartisan resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume;
and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 168. I want to commend my dear
friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen),
for introducing this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I have the dubious distinction of being the only Member
of Congress ever to have lived under and fought against both a Nazi and
a communist dictatorship. So torture is something with which I am
personally and intimately familiar with.
The resolution before this House today pays tribute to the millions
of courageous men and women who have suffered truly terrible mental and
physical damage perpetrated by other human beings. It is an unfortunate
reality, Mr. Speaker, that around the globe on every continent men,
women, and even children are abused by those who are in positions of
authority and who abuse their power by inflicting harm on others.
{time} 1500
Mr. Speaker, every year our Department of State in its country
reports on human rights practices, catalogs for us the numerous
countries involved in this heinous practice. Torture and other cruel,
inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is a violation of
international law, Mr. Speaker, as reflected in the Convention Against
Torture to which I am proud to say the United States is a party. But
more than that, it is an attack on the decency of every human being who
lives in a world where such heinous practices exist.
Mr. Speaker, this House has been at the forefront of trying to ease
the suffering of the many who have survived these awful practices. We
have initiated and passed legislation creating U.S. programs that
address the psychological and physical needs of those who have survived
brutal torture. These programs have helped thousands of such victims.
It is only fitting that the House pay tribute to all of the victims of
torture around the globe who are struggling to overcome the effects of
torture.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 168.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, although the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum)
has been with us only a short time, she has made an excellent name for
herself in her commitment to the finest causes that we deal with.
Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for
his kind words.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of a special organization located
in Minnesota. It is The Center for Victims of Torture. The Center was
established in 1985 to healed the emotional and physical scars of
government-inflicted torture on individuals, their families, and
[[Page H3819]]
our communities. Torture victims face debilitating and unimaginable
social, physical, emotional and spiritual scarring.
Many survivors are challenged with daily constant anxiety,
depression, and suffer from fear. Torture is a crime against humanity.
It is a crime against all of us.
Today I stand here with my colleagues to ensure that the United
States works in collaboration with all nations to end government-
sponsored torture, to end policies and practices that violate human
rights. Although the memories cannot be erased, the wounds can be
healed.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
(Ms. WATSON of California asked and was given permission to revise
and extend her remarks.)
Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con.
Res. 168, the resolution that expresses the sense of Congress in
support of victims of torture. But first I wish to commend the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for introducing this
important legislation. I also wish to express my gratitude to the
honorable gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of
the Committee on International Relations, for allowing me the
opportunity to speak on this very important international issue. As
both a former Ambassador and member of the Committee on International
Relations, I stand before this esteemed body to speak on the necessity
of highlighting the plight of the many victims of torture around the
world.
Today, there are over 500,000 survivors of torture who live in the
United States as a result of fleeing from those repressive governments
that use various tactics to torture to combat democracy.
This bill is very significant, for it pays tribute to all the victims
in the United States and the world who are struggling to overcome the
physical and mental scars of torture on the occasion of the United
Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
Torture is a violation of international law as reflected in the
convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment to which the United States is a party.
Furthermore, such actions are an attack on the decency of every human
being who lives in a world where such horrible practices exist.
In light of these atrocities, I urge all of my colleagues to support
this legislation.
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 168, to
express support for victims of torture, and I thank Congresswoman Ros-
Lehtinen for bringing this issue to the floor.
Although torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment is
prohibited under international human rights law, state-officials in
countries all over the world are responsible for the ill-treatment of
individuals. Today, hundreds of thousands of victims of torture live in
the United States. They are typically well-educated, well-trained
people who were subjected to politically motivated torture by
repressive regimes. They were tortured because of what they believe,
what they said or did, or for what they represented.
Many torture survivors suffer in silence, enduring incessant physical
and emotional anguish. These courageous individuals, who often suffered
for speaking out for freedom and justice, deserve, our full and
uncompromising support.
When Congress passed the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998, we
agreed that victims should have access to rehabilitation services,
enabling them to become productive members of our communities. I also
encourage my colleagues to support the Torture Victim's Relief Re-
authorization Act--H.R. 1405, to fund domestic torture treatment
centers and the Human Rights Information Act--H.R. 1152, to facilitate
the prosecution of torturers.
As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Human Rights, I join
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Smith in this recognition of
all victims of torture in the United States and around the world who
are struggling to overcome their physical and psychological scars. I
urge support of H. Con. Res. 168.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I want to thank the Chairwoman
of the Subcommittee on International Operation and Human Rights, the
gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), for reminding us of the
role that the United States must take in combating the use of torture
and other forms of degrading treatment or punishment throughout the
world.
However, it is not enough to merely denounce torture without
assisting the victims in their recovery from the physical and
psychological effects that they suffer. People suffering from the
effects of torture suffer from severe impediments, often requiring
lengthy medical and psychological treatments. Torture victims are often
ashamed or too traumatized to speak out against the practice, both in
their countries of origin and abroad.
Because torture victims sometimes cannot speak for or help
themselves, Americans want their government to speak for those victims,
to provide assistance to stop human rights abuses, to investigate
allegations of torture, and also to provide rehabilitation services for
the victims of torture through the Torture Victims Protection Act. They
also want us to press for universal protection against torture through
the enforcement of the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the UN Charter. These
are the themes of the worthy resolution now before us, and we should
start with expressing our solidarity with the victims of torture in the
United States and throughout the world.
Accordingly, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H. Con.
Res. 168.
Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con.
Res. 168.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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