[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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