[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 9, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2304-S2305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE OF LEBANON

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 77 which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 77) condemning all acts of terrorism 
     in Lebanon and calling for removal of Syrian troops from 
     Lebanon and supporting the people of Lebanon in their quest 
     for a truly democratic form of government.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 77) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 77

       Whereas since December 29, 1979, Syria has been designated 
     a state sponsor of terrorism by the Secretary of State;
       Whereas on December 12, 2003, the President signed the 
     Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act 
     of

[[Page S2305]]

     2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 note), which declared the sense of 
     Congress that the Government of Syria should halt its support 
     for terrorism and withdraw its armed forces from Lebanon, 
     endorsed efforts to secure meaningful change in Syria, and 
     authorized the use of sanctions against Syria if the 
     President determines that the Government of Syria has not met 
     the performance criteria included in that Act;
       Whereas the President has imposed the sanctions mandated by 
     that Act, which prohibit the export to Syria of items on the 
     United States Munitions List and the Commerce Control List, 
     and has already imposed 2 of the 6 types of sanctions 
     authorized by that Act, by prohibiting the export to Syria of 
     products of the United States (other than food or medicine) 
     and prohibiting aircraft of any air carrier owned or 
     controlled by Syria to take off from or land in the United 
     States;
       Whereas the United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, 
     recently stated that Syria continues to maintain more than 
     14,000 troops in Lebanon;
       Whereas United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559 
     (September 2, 2004) calls for the withdrawal of all foreign 
     forces from Lebanon and for the disbanding and disarmament of 
     all armed groups in Lebanon;
       Whereas on February 14, 2005, the former Prime Minister of 
     Lebanon, Rafik Hariri, and 18 others were assassinated in an 
     act of terrorism in Beirut, Lebanon;
       Whereas the Secretary of State recalled the United States 
     Ambassador to Syria, Margaret Scobey, following the 
     assassination of Rafik Hariri; and
       Whereas, on February 28, 2005, the Prime Minister of 
     Lebanon, Omar Karami, resigned, dissolving Lebanon's pro-
     Syrian Government: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns all acts of terrorism against innocent people 
     in Lebanon and around the world;
       (2) condemns the continued presence of Syrian troops in 
     Lebanon and calls for their immediate removal;
       (3) urges the President to consider imposing additional 
     sanctions on Syria under the Syria Accountability and 
     Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act of 2003 (22 U.S.C. 2151 
     note); and
       (4) supports the people of Lebanon in their quest for a 
     truly democratic form of government.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida is recognized.
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. I thank the Chair.
  (The remarks of Mr. Nelson of Florida pertaining to the introduction 
of S. 57 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced 
Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
  Mr. NELSON of Florida. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we are in morning business on the 
Democratic side, as I understand it, for the next 11 minutes; is that 
correct?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct; 10\1/2\ minutes.

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