[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6614-6616]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT GOVERNMENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF 
YUGOSLAVIA AND PRESIDENT MILOSEVIC RELEASE UNITED STATES SERVICEMEN AND 
                       ABIDE BY GENEVA CONVENTION

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on International Relations and the Committee on Armed Services be 
discharged from further consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. 
Con. Res. 83) expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government 
of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its

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President Slobodan Milosevic release the three illegally detained 
United States servicemen and abide by the Geneva Convention protocols 
regarding the treatment of both prisoners of war and innocent 
civilians, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I 
will not object, I yield to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) 
for an explanation of the concurrent resolution.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that 
the Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President, 
Slobodan Milosevic, should release the three U.S. servicemen now in his 
custody. This certainly is an issue of the highest national concern, 
and our thoughts and prayers are with these brave individuals and their 
families.
  I want to commend the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Napolitano) 
for bringing this measure forward at this time. This resolution duly 
states that the Yugoslav authorities are responsible under the Geneva 
Convention for the treatment of Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone of 
Smith's Creek, Michigan; Staff Sergeant Andrew A. Ramirez of Los 
Angeles, California; and Specialist Steven M. Gonzales of Huntsville, 
Texas.
  Frankly, it is outrageous that Milosevic and his henchmen are toying 
with these soldiers, exploiting them for their own purposes and at the 
same time refusing to honor their commitment under the Geneva 
Convention to permit access of the International Committee of the Red 
Cross to verify that these men are not being mistreated.
  The only photos that we have seen of these men since their abduction 
indicate that we indeed have cause to be highly concerned with regard 
to their well-being. The fact that our servicemen were engaged in a 
peaceful activity, ensuring the stability of the region and helping to 
prevent the spread of the conflict, only heightens our outrage over the 
exploitation of their captivity by the Yugoslav authorities.
  I hope that we will, through this resolution, signal our strong 
support for our military personnel, for their families, and also send 
the message to the Yugoslav Government and its leaders that we are 
going to hold them strictly accountable for their swift and safe 
return.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to unanimously support H. Con. Res. 
83.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation of objection, I 
yield to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior).
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  I just wanted to take the floor, Mr. Speaker, to express my 
appreciation to the Speaker, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hastert), 
for bringing this resolution to the floor in a timely fashion and for 
being cooperative on this. I think he does the House proud in the way 
he has acted on this piece of legislation, and I wanted him to know 
that we thank him on this side of the aisle for his courtesies and for 
the expeditious manner in which he has handled this.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt), as 
well as my colleague from California (Mrs. Napolitano) who has offered 
this resolution and for her leadership, the gentleman from Connecticut 
(Mr. Gejdenson), my friend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman), 
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton), the gentleman from South 
Carolina (Mr. Spence) and all of the others who made this possible.
  With this resolution, the House reaffirms its deep commitment and 
concern for our soldiers in captivity: Christopher Stone, Steven 
Gonzales, and Andrew Ramirez.
  And as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) so correctly stated 
just a second ago, we insist that Slobodan Milosevic and the Yugoslavs 
follow the Geneva Convention with respect to these three soldiers and 
that they be allowed to be visited by the Red Cross and they be treated 
humanely while they are captive. These brave men are in our thoughts, 
and we join Americans everywhere in praying for their swift and safe 
return.
  Again, I want to congratulate my colleague from California (Mrs. 
Napolitano) for her leadership on this issue.
  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, 
I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hastert) and everybody involved. It was a joint effort. 
It was not just my doing. So I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) for his support and really fast-tracking it.
  House Concurrent Resolution 83 expresses the sentiment not only of 
the United States Congress, but of the American people that we support 
our three brave young men being held prisoner in Yugoslavia: U.S. Army 
Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone, and 
Specialist Steven M. Gonzales.
  Their patriotism, their bravery, and their service to our country is 
both humbling and inspiring. These courageous men went to Europe 
prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for the noble causes of peace 
and freedom. Now that their own freedom is at stake, the United States, 
its Congress, and the American people stand firmly in solidarity with 
them and their families in calling for their release.
  I thank all my colleagues for joining me in supporting these brave 
soldiers of ours and praying for their speedy return to freedom. And 
God bless all our servicemen throughout the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the gentleman from New 
York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the concurrent resolution, as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 83

       Whereas United States Army Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez, 
     24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25, of 
     Smiths Creek, Michigan and San Antonio Texas, and Spc. Steven 
     M. Gonzales, 21, of Huntsville, Texas were abducted from 
     Macedonian territory by Serb forces on March 31, 1999, while 
     patrolling the Kumanovo area 3 miles from the southern 
     Yugoslavia border;
       Whereas these 3 honorable United States soldiers, serving 
     in noncombatant status, are now in the custody of the 
     Government of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its 
     President Slobodan Milosevic;
       Whereas the Geneva Convention, the 1949 treaty setting 
     forth international protocols for the treatment of both 
     civilians and military personnel during armed conflicts and 
     declared wars, stipulates that prisoners of war must at all 
     times be humanely treated, provided any necessary medical 
     assistance, protected against acts of violence or 
     intimidation and against insults and public curiosity and 
     evacuated from any area of danger;
       Whereas the Geneva Convention also prohibits putting 
     prisoners of war on trial for engaging in ordinary acts of 
     warfare for which the capturing country's own soldiers would 
     not be charged;
       Whereas under the Geneva Convention, the International 
     Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has the right to 
     nonsupervised visits of prisoners to ensure they are being 
     treated well;
       Whereas the Yugoslav Government has as yet not responded to 
     the ICRC's requests; and
       Whereas sanctions can be applied to signatories of the 
     Geneva Convention for failing to abide by the convention: 
     Now, therefore, be it:
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the United States Government should commend the 3 
     detained United States soldiers for their exemplary service, 
     bravery, duty to their country, and part in helping to ensure 
     a peaceful multiethnic democratic Kosovo on the basis of the 
     Rambouillet Accords;
       (2) the United States Government should continue to 
     forcefully press the Yugoslav Government and its president 
     Slobodan Milosevic for the unconditional release of the 3 
     detained United States servicemen and, in the interim, demand 
     their health and safety, and that the International Committee 
     of the Red Cross be allowed to visit the servicemen and 
     verify their condition without supervision;
       (3) the United States Government should condemn any move on 
     the part of the Government of the Federal Republic of 
     Yugoslavia to put the three detained United States servicemen 
     on trial--an act expressly forbidden by the Geneva 
     Convention;

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       (4) the United States Government should hold the Government 
     of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President 
     Slobodan Milosevic personally responsible for the welfare of 
     the 3 detained United States servicemen;
       (5) the United States Government should continue to condemn 
     the atrocities committed by the Yugoslav Army or paramilitary 
     forces against civilians in Kosovo, particularly crimes 
     associated with ``ethnic cleansing''; and
       (6) the United States Government should support the 
     prosecution under the Geneva Convention of all commanders of 
     the Yugoslav Army or paramilitary forces taking part in acts 
     of ethnic cleaning against civilians.


     Amendment in the Nature of a Substitute Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
     Gilman:
       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:

     That--
       (1) the United States Government should commend the 3 
     detained United States soldiers for their patriotism, 
     bravery, service, and duty to their country;
       (2) the United States Government should continue to 
     forcefully press the Yugoslav Government and its president 
     Slobodan Milosevic for the unconditional release of the 3 
     detained United States servicemen and, in the interim, to 
     guarantee their health and safety, and permit the 
     International Committee of the Red Cross to visit the 
     servicemen and verify their condition without supervision, 
     and that all other provisions of the Geneva Conventions be 
     fully respected;
       (3) the United States Government should condemn any move on 
     the part of the Government of the Federal Republic of 
     Yugoslavia to put the three detained United States servicemen 
     on trial or subject them to public display; and
       (4) the United States Government should hold the Government 
     of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President 
     Slobodan Milosevic directly responsible for the welfare of 
     the 3 detained United States servicemen.

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman).
  The amendment in the nature of a substitute was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution was agreed to.


            Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the preamble.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Gilman:
       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas United States Army Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Ramirez, 
     24, of Los Angeles; Staff Sgt. Christopher J. Stone, 25, of 
     Smiths Creek, Michigan and San Antonio Texas, and Spc. Steven 
     M. Gonzales, 21, of Huntsville, Texas were captured on March 
     31, 1999, while patrolling the Kumanovo area;
       Whereas these 3 honorable United States soldiers are now in 
     the custody of the Government of the Federal Republic of 
     Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan Milosevic;
       Whereas the Geneva Conventions, the 1949 treaties setting 
     forth international requirements for the treatment of both 
     civilians and military personnel during armed conflicts, 
     stipulates that prisoners of war must at all times be 
     humanely treated, provided any necessary medical assistance, 
     protected against acts of violence or intimidation and 
     against insults and public curiosity and evacuated from any 
     area of danger;
       Whereas the Third Geneva Convention also prohibits putting 
     prisoners of war on trial for engaging in ordinary acts of 
     warfare for which the capturing country's own soldiers would 
     not be charged;
       Whereas under the Geneva Conventions, the International 
     Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has the right to 
     nonsupervised visits of prisoners to ensure they are being 
     treated well;
       Whereas the Yugoslav Government has as yet not responded to 
     the ICRC's requests; and
       Whereas sanctions can be applied to parties to the Geneva 
     Conventions for failing to abide by the conventions: Now, 
     therefore, be it:

  Mr. GILMAN (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the amendment be considered as read and printed in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the amendment to the 
preamble offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.


                 Title Amendment Offered by Mr. Gilman

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment to the title.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Title amendment offered by Mr. Gilman:
       Amend the title so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
     expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of 
     the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its President Slobodan 
     Milosevic release the three detained United States servicemen 
     and abide by the Geneva Conventions regarding the treatment 
     of both prisoners of war and civilians.''.

  The title amendment was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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