[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H2741-H2742]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           LIMITS ACT OF 2008

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Broun) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROUN of Georgia. Madam Speaker, is America giving visas and 
diplomatic immunity to terrorist sponsors who wish to destroy our 
country?
  The United States has designated North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Syria, and 
Sudan as state sponsors of terrorism. These terrorist-sponsoring states 
are actively engaged in espionage against America.

[[Page H2742]]

  Two months ago reports surfaced that Cuba is placing top intelligence 
operatives known as ``ambassador spies'' in key embassies worldwide to 
gather information and provide intelligence to America's enemies. In 
July of last year, Germany expelled an Iranian diplomatic for 
attempting to acquire nuclear components for the Islamic Republic's 
nuclear program. In December of 2006, South Korea indicted five people 
on charges of spying for North Korea for allegedly passing on 
``national secrets'' such as U.S. troop movements, among other things.
  Let me give you another example. Three years in a row, in 2002, 2003 
and 2004, personnel from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations were 
actually caught, they were actually caught, photographing and 
videotaping the New York subway and other popular landmarks in New York 
City. Who knows what other things they were involved in that we do not 
know about?
  These are not our friends, and yet we allow them to use the United 
Nations as a cover for their activities. Over 6,600 visas have been 
issued to diplomats, representatives, and other individuals from state 
sponsors of terrorism for the past 5 years. Some of these individuals 
with diplomatic immunity have already been expelled for spying, or in 
diplomatic terms, ``engaging in activities inconsistent with their 
duties.'' Most of these individuals would not be otherwise allowed into 
our country.
  U.S. Public Law 357, enacted in 1947, clarified the United Nations 
Headquarters Agreement of November 21, 1947. In section 6, this law 
states that ``nothing in the agreement shall be construed as in any way 
diminishing, abridging or weakening the right of the United States to 
safeguard its own security,'' and in particular, ``completely to 
control the entrance of aliens into any territory of the United States 
other than the U.N. headquarters district and its immediate vicinity.''
  The bill I am introducing with my colleagues today, the LIMITS Act, 
Limiting the Intrusive Miles of International Terrorist Sponsors Act of 
2008, would limit the vicinity for state sponsors of terrorism to a 
half-mile radius of the U.N. complex. Half of a mile is more than 
enough space for personnel to obtain lodging, food and other 
necessities, even medical care, and it will be easier and more cost 
effective for the U.S. intelligence community and law enforcement to 
monitor suspected individuals when necessary.
  Current mileage restrictions are far too lax to be effective. Some 
individuals from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism 
are permitted to travel within a 25-mile radius of Columbus Circle in 
New York City. That is 50 miles from end to end which is a horrendously 
large area to effectively monitor hundreds of terrorist sponsors. And 
yet some countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism have no 
mileage restrictions at all.
  This is a vulnerability that we have ignored for way too long. 
Foreign espionage against the United States has increased in recent 
years. In the case of the United Nations, there is no trade-off or 
reciprocity. All of the risk is borne by the United States. Why are we 
continuing to ignore this problem?
  It is time to level the playing field by providing a consistent, 
strict standard for personnel from state sponsors of terrorism, while 
simultaneously easing the burden on the U.S. intelligence community and 
the law enforcement community responsible for ensuring our safety.
  I urge all of my colleagues that have not done so already to 
cosponsor this bill, the LIMITS Act of 2008. I encourage the leadership 
of the House of Representatives to bring this bill to the floor for a 
vote as soon as possible. Our security depends upon it.

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