[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 136 (Wednesday, September 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCING A RESOLUTION REGARDING THE USE OF LIBYA'S FROZEN ASSETS

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 14, 2011

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a 
resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Libya's frozen assets 
be used to pay for humanitarian relief and military operations 
associated with the current conflict in that country.
  Since Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi responded to peaceful 
demonstrations by attacking Libya's own citizens, the United States has 
been actively engaged with our international allies in thwarting the 
ability of the Qaddafi regime to visit violence, murder, and 
destruction on the people of Libya. This past February, the United 
States imposed economic sanctions on Libya and froze the assets of its 
leadership, promising to hold Qaddafi, his family, and the government 
of Libya accountable for its human rights abuses. It is estimated that 
the value of these assets exceed $30 billion.
  On March 19, with the authority of the United Nations, the United 
States Armed Forces and our coalition partners launched Operation 
Odyssey Dawn in an effort to enforce the Security Council resolution. 
That mission has since come under NATO command and is now called 
Operation Unified Protector. Our Armed Forces have assisted in combat 
operations including providing intelligence, aerial refueling, 
targeting, and other aspects of NATO's daily bombardment of Libyan 
forces loyal to Qaddafi. We have already spent over one billion 
taxpayer dollars on this effort, with operations costing millions more 
every day.
  When the United States recognized the Transitional National Council 
as the legitimate governing authority of Libya on July 15, it paved the 
way for the Council to access some of the frozen assets to be used for 
humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts. With the Qaddafi regime 
at an end and the dictator himself on the run and in hiding, the United 
States will be moving into a posture that puts less emphasis on 
military operations and more focus on supporting the Transitional 
National Council's efforts to establish a working government.
  The United States should pursue with the Council the viability of 
using some of those assets to reimburse NATO members for the cost of 
their military operations in support of the Libyan people. I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution.

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