[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 29 (Monday, February 24, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2609-S2611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, today I am introducing the Wood 
Preservation Safety Act of 2003 with my Idaho colleague Senator Crapo 
and our friend from Nevada, Mr. Ensign. If enacted, this legislation 
would authorize the Forest Products Laboratory of the US Forest Service 
to study the effectiveness of silver-based biocides as a wood 
preservative treatment. This legislation was also introduced in the 
107th Congress.
  According to silver experts and academics, silver biocides could 
serve as a viable, safe and cost effective alternative wood 
preservative. Given silver's long-standing role as an effective 
biocide, testing should be undertaken to determine silver's suitability 
as a wood preservative. Thus, I feel it is important to study and fully 
explore the potential of silver as a wood preservative.
  Mining has been an important part of Idaho's history since the late 
1800s. It became Idaho's first industry and remains a critical part of 
Idaho and the nation's economy. Mining in Idaho has supplied the nation 
with minerals necessary for today's modern lifestyle which many of us 
take for granted. In 1985, the mines of Idaho's Coeur d'Alene mining 
district produced their one billionth ounce of silver. The Sunshine 
Mine was America's richest silver mine, producing over 300 million 
ounces of silver, more than the entire output of Nevada's famous 
Comstock Lode. Silver contributes to our quality of life in many ways, 
and its use as a biocide in wood products is an important application 
that must be explored.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass legislation that 
would create a comprehensive research program to test the viability of 
silver-based biocides for the treatment of wood products.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 61--AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY THE COMMITTEE IN 
                                FINANCE

  Mr. GRASSLEY submitted the following resolution; from the Committee 
on Finance; which was referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration:

                               S. Res. 61

       Resolved, That, in carrying out its powers, duties, and 
     functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in 
     accordance with its jurisdiction under title XXV of such 
     rules, including holding hearings, reporting such hearings, 
     and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 
     of rules XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Finance is authorized from March 1, 2003, 
     through September 30, 2003; October 1, 2003, through 
     September 30, 2004; and October 1, 2004, through February 28, 
     2005, in its discretion (1) to make expenditures from the 
     contingent fund of the Senate, (2) to employ personnel, and 
     (3) with the prior consent of the Government department or 
     agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable 
     basis the services of personnel of any such department or 
     agency.
       Sec. 2(a). The expenses of the committee for the period 
     March 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003, under this 
     resolution shall not exceed $3,511,241, of which amount (1) 
     not to exceed $17,500 may be expended for the procurement of 
     the services of individual consultants, or organizations 
     thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and (2) not to 
     exceed $5,833 may be expended for the training of the 
     professional staff of such committee (under procedures 
     specified by section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization 
     Act of 1946).
       (b) For the period October 1, 2003, through September 30, 
     2004, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall 
     not exceed $6,179,693, of which amount (1) not to exceed 
     $30,000 may be expended for the procurement of the services 
     of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as 
     authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended), and (2) not to 
     exceed $10,000 may be expended for the training of the 
     professional staff of such committee (under procedures 
     specified by section 202(j) of the Legislative Reorganization 
     Act of 1946).
       (c) For the period October 1, 2004, through February 28, 
     2005, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall 
     not exceed $2,634,121, of which amount (1) not to exceed 
     $12,500 may be expended for the procurement of the services 
     of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as 
     authorized by 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
     1946, as amended), and (2) not to exceed $4,167 may be 
     expended for the training of the professional staff of such 
     committee (under procedures specified by 202(j) of the 
     Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946.)
       Sec. 3. The committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations for legislation as it deems 
     advisable, to the Senate at the earliest practicable date, 
     but not later than February 28, 2005, respectively.
       Sec. 4. Expenses of the committee under this resolution 
     shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon 
     vouchers approved by the Chairman of the Committee, except 
     that vouchers shall not be required (1) for the disbursement 
     of salaries of employees paid at an annual rate, or (2) for 
     the payment of telecommunications provided by the Office of 
     the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or 
     (3) for the payment of stationery supplies purchased through 
     the Keeper of the Stationery, United States Senate, or (4) 
     for payments to the Postmaster, United States Senate, or (5) 
     for the payment of metered charges on copying equipment 
     provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and 
     Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (6) for the payment of 
     Senate Recording and Photographic Services, or (7) for 
     payment of franked and mass mail costs by the Sergeant at 
     Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate.
       Sec. 5. There authorized such sums as may be necessary for 
     agency contributions related to the compensation of the 
     committee from March 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003; 
     October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004; and October 1, 
     2004 through February 28, 2005, to be paid from the 
     Appropriations account for ``Expenses of Inquiries and 
     Investigations.''
                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 62--CALLING UPON THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES 
  (OAS) INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, THE UNITED NATIONS 
   HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, THE EUROPEAN UNION, AND HUMAN 
RIGHTS ACTIVISTS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS IN REGARD 
                 TO THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN CUBA

  Mr. ENSIGN (for himself, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Frist, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Kyl, Mr. Allen, 
Mr. Sessions, Mr. Reid, and Mr. Santorum) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                               S. Res. 62

       Whereas the democracies of the Western Hemisphere have 
     approved an Inter-American Democratic Charter that sets a 
     regional standard regarding respect for human rights and 
     fundamental freedoms;
       Whereas the government of the Republic of Cuba approved and 
     is bound to respect the Charter of the Organization of 
     American States (OAS) and the American Declaration of the 
     Rights and Duties of Man;
       Whereas in 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, and previous years, the 
     government of the Republic of Cuba declined to reply to the 
     OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights when it sought 
     the government's views on human rights violations in the 
     Republic of Cuba;
       Whereas all countries have an obligation to promote and 
     protect human rights and

[[Page S2610]]

     fundamental freedoms as stated in the Charter of the United 
     Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;
       Whereas the United Nations Commission on Human Rights 
     considered and passed a resolution in 2002 regarding the 
     situation of human rights in the Republic of Cuba and called 
     for the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to 
     send a personal representative to the Republic of Cuba;
       Whereas the United States and other countries remain 
     concerned about violations of human rights and fundamental 
     freedoms in the Republic of Cuba, including the freedoms of 
     expression, association, and assembly, and the rights 
     associated with the administration of justice;
       Whereas, according to the Department of State, Cuban 
     authorities use exile as a means of repression and continue 
     to harass, threaten, arbitrarily arrest, detain, imprison, 
     and defame human rights advocates and members of independent 
     professional associations, including journalists, economists, 
     doctors, and lawyers with the goal of coercing them into 
     leaving the country;
       Whereas Cuban citizens are routinely jailed solely because 
     their views do not coincide with those of the government;
       Whereas Amnesty International in its 2002 report noted an 
     increase in human rights violations in the Republic of Cuba, 
     including short-term arbitrary arrests, threats, summonses, 
     evictions, interrogations, losses of employment, restrictions 
     on travel, house arrests, and other forms of harassment 
     directed by the government against political dissidents, 
     independent journalists, and other activists in an effort to 
     limit their ability to exercise fundamental freedoms;
       Whereas Amnesty International also noted with concern the 
     beginning of a trend toward the increased use of violence by 
     Cuban authorities in order to repress dissent;
       Whereas Cuban political prisoners are deliberately exposed 
     to harm and poor conditions as a means of punishment, 
     including beatings, denial of medical treatment, forced labor 
     against medical advice, unsanitary eating conditions, and 
     coexistence with inmates carrying highly infectious diseases;
       Whereas peaceful dissidents in the Republic of Cuba, such 
     as Oscar Elias Biscet, who upon finishing more than 3 years 
     in jail for ``instigation to commit a crime'' is again in 
     police custody and facing a possible year-long sentence, are 
     subjected to ongoing harassment and imprisonment;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as journalist Bernardo Arevalo 
     Padron who is currently in jail serving a 6 year sentence, 
     are routinely jailed under the charge of ``disrespect'' for 
     making negative statements about the government of the 
     Republic of Cuba;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Carlos Oquendo Rodriguez who 
     is serving 2 years in prison, are routinely jailed under the 
     charge of ``public disorder'' for criticizing the Castro 
     regime;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Francisco Chaviano Gonzalez, 
     the longest serving current Amnesty International prisoner of 
     conscience in the Republic of Cuba, are imprisoned on charges 
     of ``revealing state security secrets'' and ``falsifying 
     public documents'' for promoting democratic practices and 
     human rights;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva, a 
     blind lawyer and president of the Cuban Foundation for Human 
     Rights, are imprisoned on charges of ``disobedience'' and 
     tortured while incarcerated for peacefully protesting the 
     Republic of Cuba's brutal treatment of dissidents;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Leonardo Miguel Bruzon Avila, 
     president of the 24th of February Movement (named for both a 
     turning point in the Spanish-American War and the day in 1996 
     when 2 civilian aircraft carrying 4 members of the Cuban 
     American Brothers to the Rescue movement were shot down over 
     international waters by Cuban fighter jets), are charged with 
     ``public disorder'' and held without trial for planning 
     peaceful public ceremonies;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Nestor Rodriguez Lobaina, who 
     is president of the Cuban Youth for Democracy Movement and 
     currently serving a 6 year prison sentence, are charged with 
     ``damages'' for denouncing violations of human rights by the 
     Cuban government and communicating the brutality of the Cuban 
     regime to Cuban citizens and the world;
       Whereas many Cubans, such as Jorge Luis Garcia Perez, who 
     is a founder of the Pedro Luis Boitel Political Prisoners 
     Movement and serving a 15 year prison sentence, are charged 
     with ``enemy propaganda'' and suffer systematic abuse and a 
     lack of medical assistance while in prison, for criticizing 
     communism;
       Whereas Amnesty International reports that participants in 
     Oswaldo Paya's Varela Project collecting the required 10,000 
     signatures on a petition for peaceful change to the legal 
     system of the Republic of Cuba have been harassed, detained, 
     subjected to confiscation of signed petitions, and ``kicked, 
     punched, and threatened'' by Cuban state security officials; 
     and
       Whereas the European Parliament rightfully recognized 
     Oswaldo Paya for his work on the Varela Project with the 2002 
     Sakharov Prize for his human rights work in the Republic of 
     Cuba: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate calls upon--
       (1) the Organization of American States Inter-American 
     Commission on Human Rights to continue its reporting on the 
     human rights situation in the Republic of Cuba and to request 
     a visit to the Republic of Cuba for the purposes of reviewing 
     and reporting to the international community on the human 
     rights situation there;
       (2) the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 
     and his newly appointed personal representative to vigorously 
     pursue the implementation of the 2002 Resolution regarding 
     the situation of human rights in the Republic of Cuba;
       (3) the European Union, to build upon the European 
     Parliament's recognition of Cuban dissidents and, through the 
     appropriate bodies and mechanisms, request to visit the 
     Republic of Cuba for the purpose of reviewing the human 
     rights situation there and issue a report to the 
     international community on its findings; and
       (4) human rights organizations throughout the world to 
     issue statements of solidarity with the Cuban human rights 
     activists, political dissidents, prisoners of conscience, 
     independent journalists, and other Cubans seeking to secure 
     their internationally recognized human rights and fundamental 
     freedoms.
  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution 
expressing the grave concern of the United States Senate over the 
horrific human rights conditions in Cuba under the regime of Fidel 
Castro, and calling on the international community to take concrete 
steps to help the peaceful dissidents in Cuba who are pressing for 
democratic change, and being brutally repressed as a result.
  The American and Cuban peoples share many things in common--a love of 
freedom, a fierce spirit of independence, and a desire that our two 
nations will one day live as friends and neighbors in a hemisphere 
where the scourge of tyranny has been eradicated.
  There is one obstacle to the common aspirations of our two peoples--
Fidel Castro. And because of him, our peoples share one more thing in 
common. Both of our countries have had innocent civilians killed on his 
orders by his brutal security apparatus.
  Seven years ago, on this day, February 24, Cuban MIG fighters 
confronted three planes flying in international airspace by members of 
Brothers to the Rescue, a group whose principal mission was to search 
for rafters in the Florida Straits risking their lives to escape 
Castro's oppression. Three planes left. Only one plane returned. The 
other two--unarmed Cessnas--were shot down on the direct orders of 
Fidel Castro. Three American citizens and one legal resident were 
murdered in cold blood.
  Here is how the Organization of American States Inter-American 
Commission on Human Rights described the incident: ``The Cuban Air 
Force never notified nor warned the civil small aircraft, did not 
attempt to make use of other methods of interception, and never gave 
them the opportunity to land. The first and only response of the MIGs 
was the international destruction of the civil aircraft and of their 
four occupants.''
  This event seven years ago shocked our nation. But for Cubans living 
in Castro's tropical gulag, this sort of brutality is not shocking in 
the least--it is their every day reality.
  And so we introduce this resolution today to express our solidarity 
with the families of the victims who perished that day, to be sure. 
However, we also do it to show our solidarity with all those still 
suffering in Fidel Castro's Cuba--and those brave dissidents who risk 
their lives each day to press for freedom, democracy and rule of law.
  Leonardo Miguel Bruzon Avila, is one such dissident. He is president 
of the 24th of February Movement and is being held without trial by the 
Castro regime. His crime? Planning peaceful public ceremonies to 
commemorate the shoot-down of the Brothers to the Rescue planes.
  It is a travesty that more than a decade after the Cold War has 
ended, a brutal communist dictator is still oppressing people in our 
hemisphere. Castro's Cuba is like a modern day Jurassic Park--a lost 
island, where the political dinosaurs of an earlier era still roam, 
leaving death and destruction in their wake. Our challenge, our 
mission, is to help the Cuban people escape--to join the 21st century 
as a free nation.
  For some reason, there are still those who see Castro as a romantic 
revolutionary. It is an image he works hard to promote. But there is 
nothing romantic about life in Castro's Cuba.
  Thus, it is important to call attention to the reality of the 
conditions he imposes on his people. The UN, the OAS, the EU, and non 
governmental organizations such as Amnesty International and Human 
Rights Watch

[[Page S2611]]

have done this, but exposing the truth is only the first step. This 
resolution calls on these entities to do more, because the situation in 
Cuba is not improving--it is deteriorating.
  Amnesty International's 2002 report notes an increase in human rights 
violations, including short-term arbitrary arrests, threats, summonses, 
evictions, interrogations, losses of employment, restrictions on 
travel, and house arrests directed by the government against political 
dissidents, independent journalists, and other activists in an effort 
to limit their ability to exercise fundamental freedoms.
  No one who disagrees with the Castro brothers' communist dictatorship 
can live peacefully in Cuba. No one who loves liberty is allowed to 
flourish. No one who dares to speak out against the Castro government's 
brutality and repression is permitted to remain free.
  And once imprisoned, Cuban political prisoners are deliberately 
exposed to harm and poor conditions as a means of punishment, including 
beatings, denial of medical treatment, forced labor against medical 
advise, and coexistence with inmates carrying highly infectious 
diseases.
  It is critical that we send a message--to Fidel Castro and the 
world--that we know what is happening under his rule. And we must make 
sure these peaceful freedom fighters know they are not forgotten.
  Natan Sharansky tells the story about his time in the Soviet gulag, 
when word came that President Reagan had called the Soviet Union an 
``Evil Empire.'' The Soviet press had reprinted his remarks, as 
evidence of his anti-Soviet attitudes. But for the prisoners in the 
Soviet gulag, it was the first sign that they had not been forgotten--
that the leader of the world's most powerful democracy had no illusions 
about the true nature of that regime--that he knew of their plight and 
was ready to call the Soviet system what is was--evil.
  He spoke about how Reagan and Senator Scoop Jackson became beacons of 
light to all the political prisoners through the long days and nights 
of their struggle against the Soviet Union. He said Jackson and Reagan 
knew the value of freedom and they understood the nature of 
totalitarian evil. They inspired all of the dissidents with their 
integrity, their values, and their courage.
  With this resolution, we send a signal to all the dissidents and 
political prisoners in Cuba--that we have no illusions about the nature 
of Fidel Castro's regime--that we know of their plight and stand ready 
to help them.
  Specifically, this resolution highlights the plight of eight Cuban 
dissidents who are currently in jail: Oscar Elias Biscet, Bernardo 
Arevalo Padron, Carlos Oquendo Rodriguez, Francisco Chaviano Gonzalez, 
Juan Carlos Gonzales Leiva, Leonardo Miguel Bruzon Avila, Nestor 
Rodriguez Lobaina and Jorge Luis Garica Perez.
  Unfortunately, as the resolution makes, clear, there are many other 
political prisoners, charged with the same offenses, enduring the same 
horrible fate. It is my hope that by engaging the help of the 
international community, we will improve their condition, secure their 
release, and eliminate the harassment of human rights activists in the 
future.
  Castro and his cronies must know that the world is watching; that 
Cuba will remain an international pariah until the human rights 
situation dramatically improves. And those suffering under the jackboot 
of his oppression must know that we are watching--and that we will not 
rest and will not tire and will keep working to support them until they 
are finally free.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 63--AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY THE COMMITTEE ON 
                      ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS

  Mr. INHOFE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Environment and Public Works:

                               S. Res. 63

       Resolved, That, in carrying out its powers, duties, and 
     functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, in 
     accordance with its jurisdiction under rule XXV of such 
     rules, including holding hearings, reporting such hearings, 
     and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 
     of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the 
     Committee on Environment and Public Works is authorized from 
     March 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003; October 1, 2003, 
     through September 30, 2004; and October 1, 2004, through 
     February 28, 2005 in its discretion (1) to make expenditures 
     from the contingent fund of the Senate, (2) to employ 
     personnel, and (3) with the prior consent of the Government 
     department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration, to use on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable 
     basis the services of personnel of any such department or 
     agency.
       Sec. 2. (a) The expenses of the committee for the period 
     March 1, 2003, through September 30, 2003, under this 
     resolution shall not exceed $2,516,590, of which amount (1) 
     not to exceed $4,667 may be expended for the procurement of 
     the services of individual consultants, or organizations 
     thereof (as authorized by section 202(I) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946), and (2) not to exceed $1,167 may 
     be expended for the training of the professional staff of 
     such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) 
     of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).
       (b) For the period October 1, 2003, through September 30, 
     2004, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall 
     not exceed $4,427,783 of which amount (1) not to exceed 
     $8,000 may be expended for the procurement of the services of 
     individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as 
     authorized by section 202(I) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946), and (2) not to exceed $2,000 may 
     be expended for the training of the professional staff of 
     such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) 
     of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).
       (c) For the period October 1, 2004, through February 28, 
     2005, expenses of the committee under this resolution shall 
     not exceed $1,886,876 of which amount (1) not to exceed 
     $3,333 may be expended for the procurement of the services of 
     individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as 
     authorized by section 202(I) of the Legislative 
     Reorganization Act of 1946), and (2) not to exceed $833 may 
     be expended for the training of the professional staff of 
     such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) 
     of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946).
       Sec. 3. The committee shall report its findings, together 
     with such recommendations for legislation as it deems 
     advisable, to the Senate at the earliest practicable date, 
     but not later than February 28, 2005.
       Sec. 4. Expenses of the committee under this resolution 
     shall be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate upon 
     vouchers approved by the chairman of the committee, except 
     that vouchers shall not be required (1) for the disbursement 
     of salaries of employees paid at an annual rate, or (2) for 
     the payment of telecommunications provided by the Office of 
     the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or 
     (3) for the payment of stationery supplies purchased through 
     the Keeper of the Stationery, United States Senate, or (4) 
     for payments to the Postmaster, United States Senate, or (5) 
     for the payment of metered charges on copying equipment 
     provided by the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and 
     Doorkeeper, United States Senate, or (6) for the payment of 
     Senate Recording and Photographic Services, or (7) for 
     payment of franked and mass mail costs by the Sergeant at 
     Arms and Doorkeeper, United States Senate.
       Sec. 5. There are authorized such sums as may be necessary 
     for agency contributions related to the compensation of 
     employees of the committee from March 1, 2003, through 
     September 30, 2003; October 1, 2003 through September 30, 
     2004; and October 1, 2004, through February 28, 2005, to be 
     paid from the Appropriations account for ``Expenses of 
     Inquiries and Investigations.''

                          ____________________