[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 18, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15081-S15082]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page S15081]]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 267--DESIGNATING 2004 AS ``THE YEAR OF POLIO
AWARENESS''
Mr. SPECTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary.
S. Res. 267
Whereas 2004 is the 50th anniversary of the successful
nationwide trial of the injectable killed polio vaccine that
included ``polio pioneer'' children;
Whereas the injectable polio vaccines eliminated naturally
occurring polio cases in the United States but have not yet
eliminated polio in other parts of the world;
Whereas as few as 57 percent of American children receive
all doses of necessary vaccines during childhood, including
the polio vaccine;
Whereas the success of the polio vaccines has caused people
to forget the 1,630,000 Americans born before the development
of the vaccines who had polio during the epidemics in the
middle of the 20th century;
Whereas at least 70 percent of paralytic polio survivors,
and 40 percent of nonparalytic polio survivors, are
developing post-polio sequelae, which are unexpected and
often disabling symptoms that occur up to 35 years after the
poliovirus attack, including overwhelming fatigue, muscle
weakness, muscle and joint pain, sleep disorders, heightened
sensitivity to anesthesia, cold pain, and difficulty
swallowing and breathing;
Whereas 2004 is the 130th anniversary of the diagnosis of
the first case of post-polio sequelae and the 20th
anniversary of the creation of the International Post-Polio
Task Force;
Whereas research and clinical work by members of the
International Post-Polio Task Force have discovered that
post-polio sequelae can be treated, and even prevented, if
polio survivors are taught to conserve energy and use
assistive devices to stop damaging and killing the reduced
number of overworked, polio virus-damaged neurons in the
spinal cord and brain that survived the polio attack;
Whereas many medical professionals, and polio survivors, do
not know of the existence of post-polio sequelae, or of the
available treatments; and
Whereas the mission of the International Post-Polio Task
Force includes educating medical professionals and the
20,000,000 polio survivors in the world about post-polio
sequelae through the international post-polio letter
campaign, television public service announcements provided by
the Columbia Broadcasting System and the National
Broadcasting System Company, and a continuing plot about
polio and post-polio sequelae on the National Broadcasting
Company television series ``American Dreams'': Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the need for every American child to be
vaccinated against polio;
(2) recognizes the 1,630,000 Americans who survived polio,
their new battle with post-polio sequelae, and the need for
education and appropriate medical care;
(3) requests that every State proclaim 2004 as ``The Year
of Polio Awareness'' to promote vaccination and post-polio
sequelae education and treatment; and
(4) requests that the President convene a White House Polio
Awareness Summit, with members of the International Post-
Polio Task Force and all appropriate departments and
agencies, to take immediate action to educate--
(A) the people of the United States about the need for
polio vaccination; and
(B) the polio survivors and the medical professionals in
the United States about the cause and treatment of post-polio
sequelae.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I now turn to another subject; that is, a
resolution to designate the year 2004 as the Year of Polio Awareness.
During the 1940s and the early 1950s, between 30,000 and 50,000 cases
of polio were recorded annually in the United States, causing
widespread fear and panic.
I recall as a youngster a public swimming pool in Wichita, KS, in
which there was a total scare, wondering if going to the swimming pool
would cause polio.
The polio virus damages nerves that control muscles which results in
muscle weakness. In severe illness, the person could lose the ability
to move both arms and legs, may be unable to breathe without help and
they may die.
Of course, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the personal
symbol for the incapacitation of someone with polio, although it was
only physical. He was a magnificent President and a great leader of the
United States during the Depression and World War II. A great physical
toll was taken on President Roosevelt.
The year 2004 will mark the 50th anniversary of the successful
nationwide trial to administer the injectable polio vaccine to
children. The invention of injectable polio vaccines eliminated
naturally occurring polio cases in the United States.
However, as few as 57 percent of American children currently receive
the full dose of vaccines, including the polio vaccination. The need
for continued diligence to protect this country's youth from polio is
critical. Unfortunately, those who were stricken with polio before
vaccines were developed have not received the proper help they need.
The year 2004 will also mark the 130th anniversary of the first
diagnosed case of post-polio sequelae. Post-polio sequelae is a
condition that may develop several decades after a person has had
polio. It affects the muscles and nerves, causing weakness, fatigue,
pain, and other symptoms.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to offer
legislation to halt Saudi Arabia's support for institutions that fund,
train, incite, encourage, or in any other way aid and abet terrorism,
and to secure full Saudi cooperation in the investigation of terrorist
incidents. I offer this bill on behalf of Senator Collins, Senator
Schumer, Senator Graham of South Carolina, Senator Wyden, Senator
Graham of Florida, and Senator Bayh.
The activities of al-Qaida have shaken the world. They certainly
shook the United States on September 11, 2001. Evidence has come to
light that there has been enormous financing of al-Qaida, Hamas, and
other organizations by the Saudis.
Hearings have been held by a number of committees, including the
Governmental Affairs Committee presided over by the distinguished
Senator who is presiding this evening, Ms. Collins. We made a detailed
examination, in a hearing in which I participated along with Chairman
Collins, to inquire into what the Saudis had done and to find details
of Saudi backing of so-called charitable organizations, recognizing
that those charitable organizations were, in large part, a front; that
perhaps there was some charitable activity but a tremendous amount of
funding went to terrorist activities.
The Saudis are a very wealthy nation. They are reported to have
contributed as much as $4 billion to Hamas over the course of the
latest intifada.
We have worked through the Governmental Affairs Committee, and also
the Judiciary Committee on which I serve, to establish a basic point
that anybody who contributes to an organization knowing it to be a
terrorist organization is really an accessory before the fact to
murder, and that when people contribute to Hamas knowing Hamas engages
in suicide bombing, they are accessories to murder.
The Terrorist Prosecution Act, which I wrote back in 1986, authorizes
prosecutions in Federal court of anyone who assaults, maims, or murders
an American citizen anywhere in the world.
Many United States citizens have been murdered while visiting in
Israel, and I have talked to Attorney General Rubenstein of Israel and
Attorney General Ashcroft of the United States, trying to work out
arrangements to bring those terrorists to the United States for trial
where we have the potential to impose the death penalty.
We have been very lenient with the Saudis, in my judgment, over the
years, really out of deference to the importance of Saudi oil. It is
really an open scandal that we have not taken action to secure some
independence from our reliance on Saudi oil.
In 1996, Khobar Towers was the scene of an attack by terrorists. I
chaired the Intelligence Committee that year, during the 104th
Congress. I made a trip to Khobar Towers and inspected what went on. A
car bomb came very close, there was an enormous blast, and 19 airmen
were killed and about 400 injured.
In that situation, the Saudis would not allow Federal investigators
to talk to the suspects. I personally met with Crown Prince Abdullah of
Saudi Arabia and asked him to allow our investigators--the FBI--to talk
to those suspects. Crown Prince Abdullah said the United States should
not meddle in Saudi internal affairs.
It was hardly a Saudi internal affair when 400 airmen were wounded
and 19 airmen were killed.
Notwithstanding the efforts of FBI Director Louis Freeh, who made
several personal trips there, and my efforts in talking to Crown Prince
[[Page S15082]]
Abdullah, they refused to allow the United States to have its
representatives talk to those suspects.
Later indictments were issued. Iran was a named co-conspirator in the
Federal indictment.
While there has not been proof, the background circumstances lend
some consideration to the thought that those who were involved in
Khobar Towers may well have been involved in September 11.
We recently passed the Syria Accountability Act. I believe in the
overall scheme of operations in the Mideast that the Saudis are a much
greater threat to U.S. interests, and there ought to be a very firm
approach as to how we deal with the Saudis.
The bill which I am introducing today has detailed recitation of the
findings by organizations which have studied the record of the Saudis.
The United Nations Security Council resolution mandates that all states
refrain from providing any foreign support, active or passive, to
people involved in terrorist acts.
The Council on Foreign Relations concluded in an October 2002 report
on terrorist finances:
For years, individuals and charities based in Saudi Arabia
have been the most important source of funds for al-Qaida,
and, for years, Saudi officials have turned a blind eye.
The Middle East Media Institute concluded in their July 3, 2003,
report again characterizing the Saudis' activities as supporting
terrorists.
The New York Times cited sources reported on April 17, 2003, that at
least 50 percent of the current operating budget of Hamas comes from
the people of Saudi Arabia.
This resolution would call on the Government of the United States to
prohibit the export to Saudi Arabia of any defense articles or services
listed in the Arms Exports Control Act and prohibit import to Saudi
Arabia of any items within the Commerce Control List and to restrict
travel of Saudi diplomats appropriately.
The President's certification would be present to relieve these
sanctions under specified circumstances.
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