[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20312]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         CONDEMNING BIGOTRY AND VIOLENCE AGAINST SIKH-AMERICANS

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 183, S. Con. 
Res. 74.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the concurrent 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 74) condemning 
     bigotry and violence against Sikh-Americans in the wake of 
     terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC, on 
     September 11, 2001.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
to the concurrent resolution be agreed to, the concurrent resolution, 
as amended, be agreed to, the amendment to the preamble be agreed to, 
the preamble, as amended, be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the concurrent 
resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendments (Nos. 1907 and 1908) were agreed to, as follows:


                           Amendment No. 1907

       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:
       That Congress--
       (1) declares that, in the quest to identify, locate, and 
     bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of the 
     terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, 
     the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, 
     including Sikh-Americans, should be protected;
       (2) condemns bigotry and any acts of violence or 
     discrimination against any Americans, including Sikh-
     Americans;
       (3) calls upon local and Federal law enforcement 
     authorities to work to prevent crimes against all Americans, 
     including Sikh-Americans; and
       (4) calls upon local and Federal law enforcement 
     authorities to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law all 
     those who commit crimes.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1908

   (Purpose: To clarify Congress' concern over the number of crimes 
against Sikh-Americans and other Americans across the Nation since the 
                  tragic events of September 11, 2001)

       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       ``Whereas all Americans are united in condemning, in the 
     strongest possible terms, the terrorists who planned and 
     carried out the attacks against the United States on 
     September 11, 2001, and in pursuing all those responsible for 
     those attacks and their sponsors until they are brought to 
     justice;
       ``Whereas Sikh-Americans form a vibrant, peaceful, and law-
     abiding part of America's people;
       ``Whereas approximately 500,000 Sikhs reside in the United 
     States and are a vital part of the Nation;
       ``Whereas Sikh-Americans stand resolutely in support of the 
     commitment of our Government to bring the terrorists and 
     those that harbor them to justice;
       ``Whereas the Sikh faith is a distinct religion with a 
     distinct religious and ethnic identity that has its own 
     places of worship and a distinct holy text and religious 
     tenets;
       ``Whereas many Sikh-Americans, who are easily recognizable 
     by their turbans and beards, which are required articles of 
     their faith, have suffered both verbal and physical assaults 
     as a result of misguided anger toward Arab-Americans and 
     Muslim-Americans in the wake of the September 11, 2001 
     terrorist attack;
       ``Whereas Sikh-Americans, as do all Americans, condemn acts 
     of hate and prejudice against any American; and
       ``Whereas Congress is seriously concerned by the number of 
     crimes against Sikh-Americans and other Americans all across 
     the Nation that have been reported in the wake of the tragic 
     events that unfolded on September 11, 2001: Now, therefore, 
     be it''.

  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 74), as amended, was agreed 
to.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.

                          ____________________