[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ILSA EXTENSION ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. STEVEN R. ROTHMAN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 24, 2001

  Mr. ROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, as a proud cosponsor of this well crafted 
legislation, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1954, the Iran 
Libya Extensions Act of 2001.
  When this law was first enacted by the United States Congress in 1996 
it imposed a number of economic sanctions against foreign companies 
that invest in the energy sectors of either Iran or Libya. Given those 
two nation's support for violence and terrorism, the bill passed 
overwhelmingly.
  Unfortunately, nothing in those nations' behavior has changed since 
that bill passed unanimously by a vote of 415-0. Therefore, we must 
pass this bill to extend the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) for an 
additional five years.
  As recently as March 13, 2001, President George W. Bush issued a 
statement declaring that Iran's government is, ``a threat to the 
national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States''--
due to--``its support for international terrorism, efforts to undermine 
the Middle East peace process, and acquisition of weapons of mass 
destruction and the means to deliver them.''
  And to add to this concern, in early March of this year, the Islamic 
Republic of Iran reportedly signed a cooperation agreement with Russia 
that will give it access to sophisticated arms technology.
  As for Libya, the Iran Libya Sanctions Act of 2001 extends sanctions 
against Libya designed to end only if our President determines that 
Libya has fulfilled the requirements of all U.N. resolutions relating 
to the horrific downing of Pan Am 103 in December of 1998.
  Given that Libya has not yet accepted responsibility nor compensated 
the families of the victims of Pan Am 103, I think it is only just that 
ILSA's sanctions remain against Libya.
  Mr. Speaker, for the reasons I have outlined, I believe it is 
important to continue these restrictions on trade with companies who do 
business with Iran and Libya.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 1954, brought to the floor by 
my good friend and the Chairman of the House International Relations 
Committee's Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, 
Representative Ben Gilman and the distinguished Ranking Member of the 
House International Relations Committee, Representative Tom Lantos.

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