[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 20558-20564]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       FOREIGN OPERATIONS EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                  APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2002--Continued


                           Amendment No. 1922

  Mr. WELLSTONE. I send an amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone], for himself and 
     Mrs. Boxer, proposes an amendment numbered 1922.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent reading of the 
amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert the following:
       (1) Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to 
     allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international 
     community must be prepared to contribute to the economic 
     costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians;
       (2) as the United States engages in military action in 
     Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly 
     through overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access 
     to affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian 
     agencies in quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale 
     humanitarian catastrophe; and
       (3) the United States should contribute to efforts by the 
     international community to provide long-term, sustainable 
     reconstruction and development assistance for the people of 
     Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human 
     rights of women and children.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I thank both my colleagues. I think 
there may be support for this amendment. I think there should be. I 
will not take a lot of time. Let me explain why I think it is so 
important the Senate go on record.
  I will not spend a lot of time on statistics. There are 7.5 million 
people inside Afghanistan who are threatened by famine or severe hunger 
as cold weather approaches. President Bush has made it crystal clear 
that our military action is not against ordinary Afghans; it is against 
terrorists and their supporters. Ordinary Afghans are among the poorest 
and most beleaguered people on the planet. They were our allies during 
the cold war.
  By the way, this amendment I send to the desk with Senator Boxer, as 
well.
  Yet right now, on present course, time is not neutral and time is not 
on our side, and, more importantly, time is not on the side of ordinary 
Afghans.

[[Page 20559]]

There will be at least another 100,000 children who will starve to 
death. The winter months are approaching.
  Even before the world focused on it as a sanctuary for Osama bin 
Laden and other terrorists, Afghanistan was on the brink of a 
humanitarian catastrophe, the site of the greatest crisis in hunger and 
refugee displacement in the world. Now the worsening situation on the 
ground is almost unimaginable. After four years of relentless drought, 
the worst in three decades, and the total failure of the Taliban 
government in administering the country, four million people have 
abandoned their homes in search of food in Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan 
and elsewhere, while those left behind eat meals of locusts and animal 
fodder.
  Mr. President, 7.5 million people inside the country are threatened 
by famine or severe hunger as cold weather approaches, according to the 
United Nations.
  As President Bush made clear, we are waging a campaign against 
terrorists, not ordinary Afghans, who are some of the poorest and most 
beleaguered people on the planet and were our allies during the cold 
war.
  Yet, the current military air strikes and the disintegration of 
security is worsening the humanitarian situation on the ground.
  Aid organizations are increasingly concerned about their ability to 
deliver aid to Afghanistan while the United States continues its 
bombing campaign. Several aid organizations have been accidentally 
bombed by the U.S. in the last week. In addition to these accidental 
bombings, law and order are breaking down inside Afghanistan. Reports 
indicate that thieves have broken into several aid organization 
offices, beat up the Afghan staff and stolen vehicles, spare parts, and 
other equipment.
  Warehouses of the International Red Cross in Kabul were bombed 
yesterday. The ICRC says that the warehouses were clearly marked white 
with a large red cross visible from the air. One worker was wounded and 
is now in stable condition. One warehouse suffered a direct hit, which 
destroyed tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, and blankets, while another 
containing food caught on fire and was partially destroyed. The 
Pentagon claimed responsibility for the bombing later in the day, 
adding that they ``regret any innocent casualties,'' and that the ICRC 
warehouses were part of a series of warehouses that the United States 
believed were used to store military equipment. ``There are huge needs 
for the civilian population, and definitely it will hamper our 
operations,'' Robert Monin, head of the International Red Cross' 
Afghanistan delegation, said in Islamabad, Pakistan.
  Another missile struck near a World Food Program warehouse in 
Afsotar, wounding one laborer. The missile struck as trucks were being 
loaded for an Oxfam convoy to the Hazarajat region, where winter will 
begin closing off the passes in the next two weeks. Loading was 
suspended and the warehouse remains closed today.
  Last week, four U.N. workers for a demining operation were 
accidentally killed when a bomb struck their office in Kabul.
  In response to the dangers threatening humanitarian operations, the 
Oxfam America president said, ``It is now evident that we cannot, in 
reasonable safety, get food to hungry Afghan people. We've reached the 
point where it is simply unrealistic for us to do our job in 
Afghanistan. We've run out of food, the borders are closed, we can't 
reach our staff, and time's running out.''
  The World Food Program was feeding 3.8 million people a day in 
Afghanistan even before the bombing campaign began. These included 
900,000 internally displaced people at camps. Although the U.S. 
military has dropped thousands of ready to eat meals, everyone agrees 
that only truck convoys can move sufficient food into Afghanistan 
before winter. As of last Friday, there were only two convoys confirmed 
to have gotten through. WFP announced that two more convoys since the 
bombing campaign started were nearing Kabul.
  Complications and delays in delivering emergency food supplies to 
Afghanistan could cause rising death rates from starvation and illness 
as winter sets in. Many of the high mountain passes will be closed by 
mid-November due to 20-30 foot snows.
  Aid agencies are falling behind in their efforts to deliver enough 
emergency relief to Afghans to avoid a large loss of life this winter. 
UNICEF estimates that, in addition to the total of 300,000 Afghan 
children who die of ``preventable causes'' each year, 100,000 more 
children might die this winter from hunger and disease.
  The main reasons for this shortfall in aid are related to security 
concerns. Aid agencies have withdrawn their international staff, and 
local staff have attempted to continue the aid programs but have been 
subjected to intimidation, theft, and harassment. As the United States 
continues to pound Taliban targets, law and order in some cities is 
reportedly also breaking down. Truck drivers are unwilling to deliver 
supplies to some areas for fear of being bombed by the United States, 
or being attacked by one faction or another. Taliban supporters have 
obstructed aid deliveries on some occasions.
  Despite these nightmares, shipment of food and non-food emergency 
items arrive in Afghanistan daily--but the total shipped is only about 
one-half of what is needed. The situation is particularly urgent as 
some of the poorest and most needy areas will be cut-off from overland 
routes by mid-November. An estimated 600,000 people in the central 
highlands are dependent upon international food aid, and little is on 
hand for them now.
  The food shortfall in Afghanistan may result in an increased flow of 
refugees to the borders. A flood of refugees to the border would 
present a different but also challenging set of problems. Clearly, as 
everyone has said, it is better for them to remain at home than flee to 
neighboring countries out of hunger.
  There is no easy solution to this humanitarian crisis. It is complex 
and requires the international community to take urgent and imaginative 
action to boost the flow of food inside. The United States should take 
the lead in helping to devise aggressive and imaginative ways to expand 
the delivery of food. These could include the creation of humanitarian 
corridors, the use of existing commercial trading companies and air 
deliveries to airports that have not yet been bombed.
  The establishment of humanitarian ground and air corridors should be 
considered for the secure transportation and distribution of emergency 
aid. The Administration should push to have some roads or air routes in 
areas of limited conflict be designated as protected humanitarian 
routes. Such possible ground and air corridors include Northern 
Alliance held territory along the border of Tajikstan, and Northern 
Alliance airfields which have not been bombed. These airfields could be 
used for a Berlin style airlift to get massive amounts of aid into the 
country quickly.
  The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that 1.5 
million additional Afghans could seek to flee the country in coming 
months due to the ongoing military conflict.
  All six countries neighboring Afghanistan have closed their borders 
to refugees both on security grounds and citing an inability to 
economically provide for more refugees. Thousands have been trapped at 
borders with no food, shelter, water or medical care.
  I am introducing a resolution today which addresses this crisis. The 
text of the resolution states the following:
  Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to allow for the 
safe passage of refugees, and the international community must be 
prepared to contribute to the economic costs incurred by the flight of 
desperate Afghan civilians;
  As the United States engages in military action in Afghanistan, it 
must work to deliver assistance, particularly through overland truck 
convoys, and safe humanitarian access to affected populations, in 
partnership with humanitarian agencies in quantities sufficient to 
alleviate a large scale humanitarian catastrophe;

[[Page 20560]]

  The United States should contribute to efforts by the international 
community to provide long-term, sustainable reconstruction and 
development assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including efforts 
to protect the basic human rights of women and children.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  There has been a lot of focus on airdrops. The truth of the matter 
is, airdrops from 50,000 feet--and I know the Presiding Officer was 
present during the committee hearing we had--are not all that 
effective. Basically, all of the United Nations, the nongovernment 
organization, people on the ground have all said that not even 1 
percent of the people are helped this way. Secretary Powell and the 
administration know this. At the same time, the reality is we have to 
do a couple of different things. If we don't, there will be a lot of 
innocent people who will starve to death. That is a reality. That is 
not consistent with our values; that is not who we are.
  Frankly, if I were to make a political national interest argument--
which I am not comfortable making because I think values enough should 
dictate what we do--I would say absolutely the worst thing imaginable 
would be, in the next several weeks or months to come, for there to be 
a situation where the Bin Ladens of this world were able to use the 
pictures of starving children in Afghanistan against our country. We 
don't want that.
  Colleagues, on present course, that is what will happen. Therefore, 
there are a number of things we can do. I will go to the wording of the 
amendment. One is, we need the highest level United States engagement 
to open the borders, especially the Pakistani border. The 
administration has spoken about this. It is extremely important. Right 
now there are lots of refugees amassed at the border who cannot get 
over. It is a humanitarian crisis.
  By the way, probably more serious than the 1.5 million refugees we 
will have, given the dangerous situation for themselves and their loved 
ones, is the people left behind in Afghanistan. The people who do not 
try to cross the borders are the poorest of the Afghans. They are the 
elderly, the most infirm.
  The second thing I mention today is we have to do a better job. Our 
Government has to do a better job of efficiently making sure the money 
we have committed--we have made a generous commitment--actually flows 
to the United Nations organizations and nongovernmental organizations 
that are delivering the food. It wasn't until last weekend that the 
first installment was made. That was $10 million to the United Nations; 
yesterday, $20 million to the NGO. Some of this was held up by Osama 
bin Laden. We have to be much more efficient at making sure the money 
flows to the people who are on the ground to deliver the food.
  The third point is we are just going to need a more imaginative 
response, more imaginative action.
  There are a number of different proposals that have been made, and 
the resolution is broad and just says we need to make that commitment, 
for example, opening up humanitarian response corridors. The most 
effective way to get food to people is going to be over land, by truck 
convoy. We may need to do a better job of coordination vis-a-vis our 
military action to open up those corridors and make sure the trucks can 
move and the food can flow.
  Another thing is we are probably going to need to take a very serious 
look at these different airstrips. Airstrips that are in low conflict 
areas, we have to make sure they are going to be maintained because we 
may need to do a Berlin-style airdrop and planes actually land and we 
then get the food to people, which can be very effective.
  What I am saying today is that we need to put every bit as much 
effort into the humanitarian relief right now as to the military 
effort. Both are extremely important.
  I will just read the wording of the amendment which basically calls 
on Afghanistan's neighbors to open their borders for safe passage and 
makes it clear we are going to help with the economic costs and the 
plight of desperate Afghan civilians.
  Second, it makes the point that in partnership with humanitarian 
agencies we have to do everything we can to deliver the food assistance 
in the most imaginative and effective ways possible. And then third, it 
talks about the obvious contribution we will make with the 
international community in terms of long-term sustainable 
reconstruction development and assistance for the people of 
Afghanistan.
  I have decided not to take a lot of time because I believe there will 
be support. The aid agencies are falling behind in their effort to 
provide the emergency relief. UNISEF estimates that in addition to the 
300,000 Afghan children who die of preventable causes each year, 
100,000 more children are going to die this winter as a result of 
hunger and disease. That is unacceptable. That is unconscionable.
  So what this first amendment that I have introduced does is it puts 
the Senate on record with a strong statement that we understand the 
urgency of getting the humanitarian assistance to the innocent people 
of Afghanistan. Again, I think this is a powerful and important message 
for us to deliver. We cannot be silent about this. We cannot put the 
fact that many, many people could and will starve to death in 
parentheses. We can't do that.
  Moreover, I think we can and should and must, as responsible 
lawmakers, make it crystal clear that there are some things we know 
need to be done: opening the borders to people, making sure the money 
flows more efficiently from the United States to these relief 
organizations, and again find creative new ways of getting them the 
food. Airdrops alone from 50,000 feet are not going to do the job.
  I think the administration knows this. I hope there will be yet an 
even stronger commitment. I believe this statement from the Senate is 
extremely important. That is why I introduced this first amendment.
  Mr. President, I think what I am going to do in order to move things 
forward is I am going to move to the second amendment which deals with 
Uzbekistan. Basically, it is a reporting requirement that not later 
than 3 months after the date of enactment of this act and then 6 months 
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
congressional committees the following. This basically we want to get 
an accounting of how our money is used by the military there. This is a 
human rights amendment. I will explain it in a moment, after I send the 
amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is the Senator asking unanimous consent to lay 
aside the pending amendment?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Until both managers are on the floor, I will lay aside 
the first amendment and then we can deal with both of them. I think 
both amendments will be accepted.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                           Amendment No. 1923

  Mr. WELLSTONE. I send the amendment to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Minnesota [Mr. Wellstone] proposes an 
     amendment numbered 1923.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask unanimous consent the reading of the amendment 
be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       At the appropriate place, insert:

     SEC.  .  UZBEKISTAN.

       Reports.--Not later than three months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and then six months thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate 
     Congressional committees on the following:
       (1) The defense articles, defense services, and financial 
     assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan during 
     the six-month period ending on the date of such report.
       (2) The use during such period of defense articles and 
     defense services provided by the United States by units of 
     the Uzbek armed forces, border guards, Ministry of National 
     Security, or Ministry of Internal Affairs.
       (3) The extent to which any units referred to in paragraph 
     (2) engaged in human rights violations, or violations of 
     international law, during such period.

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, I did not 
understand the request. May I inquire of the Senator how long he will 
be speaking?

[[Page 20561]]


  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I say to my colleague from West 
Virginia, I am actually trying to help the managers move along. I think 
I will probably be able to do this in less than 15 minutes.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, would the Senator include my request that I 
follow his remarks with a statement of my own?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following 
my remarks regarding this amendment, the Senator from West Virginia 
have the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BYRD. I thank the Senator and I remove my reservation.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. The reason I offer this amendment requiring a report 
to Congress with respect to our efforts in Uzbekistan is that prior to 
the tragedies of September 11, few of us knew anything about this 
central Asian country. Yet today Uzbekistan has become one of our most 
important allies in this battle against terrorism. In fact, it is one 
of only two states bordering Afghanistan which is willing to host overt 
U.S. military operations to find Osama bin Laden.
  Although we should welcome the cooperation of Uzbekistan in our 
efforts, we cannot overlook what is happening in Uzbekistan itself. 
Since 1997, this Government has used the threat of terrorism to justify 
a total crackdown on independent, peaceful Muslims who pray at home, 
study the Koran in small groups, belong to peaceful Islamic 
organizations not registered with the state, or disseminate literature 
not approved by the state.
  Colleagues, I am pointing to a real dilemma for us. On the one hand, 
we understand the need for support. On the other hand, it is terribly 
important that we not uncritically align ourselves with governments 
which torture citizens.
  This amendment is an important one, and I want to be clear about what 
it does. First and foremost, it in no way limits our ability to 
cooperate with Uzbekistan. We need Uzbekistan in the fight against 
terrorism, and we must be able to fully cooperate with their Government 
in that fight. But given the reports of grave abuses against civilians 
in the name of fighting terrorism, we need to monitor the cooperation. 
That is what this amendment is about.
  The amendment requires that not later than 3 months after its 
enactment the Secretary of State report to appropriate congressional 
committees on, No. 1, the defense articles, services, and financial 
assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan; No. 2, the use 
of such articles, services, and assistance by the Armed Forces there, 
border guards, Ministry of National Security, and the Ministry of 
Internal Affairs, and, No. 3, the extent to which any units of these 
groups engage in a pattern of human rights violations or violations of 
international law during that period.
  In his national address on September 20th, President Bush linked the 
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, IMU, to Osama bin Laden, suggesting the 
IMU may be a target of U.S. counterterrorism attacks. Last year, the 
United States included the IMU on its list of terrorist organizations. 
The Government of Uzbekistan has also targeted the IMU as part of its 
own counterterrorism efforts. But according to the most recent 
Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, the 
Government of Uzbekistan has responded to the threat of terrorism by 
arresting ``hundreds of Islamic leaders and believers on questionable 
grounds.'' In short, it has used the issue of terrorism to justify a 
far broader crackdown on peaceful Muslims. It has branded 
``independent'' Muslims as ``extremists,'' and sentenced thousands of 
them to long prison terms without connecting them to the IMU or to any 
acts recognized as crimes under international law.
  The Uzbek government has particularly targeted a group known as the 
Party of Liberation. This is an Islamic group that supports the re-
establishment of an Islamic state by peaceful means. Membership in this 
group or even possession of one of its pamphlets is deemed grounds for 
arrest and is punishable by up to twenty years in prison. Even prayer 
draws suspicion and has been cited in court as evidence of subversive 
intent. According to Human Rights Watch, in one verdict condemning an 
alleged Party of Liberation member to 18 years in prison, the Judge 
declared: ``He confessed that in 1996 he started to pray.'' 
Increasingly, police arrest relatives of those accused of belonging to 
an unregistered Islamic group. In April 1999, the President of 
Uzbekistan declared that fathers would be punished for the supposed 
wrongs of their sons, and brothers and often arrested together and even 
tortured in each other's presence.
  According to the Human Rights Watch World Report for 2001, those 
arrested in Uzbekistan endure the worst torture. The Reports states: 
``In addition to hundreds of reports of beatings and numerous accounts 
of the use of electric shock, temporary suffocation, hanging by the 
ankles or wrists, removal of fingernails, and punctures with sharp 
objects, Human Rights Watch received credible reports in 2000 that 
police sodomized male detainees with bottles, raped them, and beat and 
burned them in the groin area. Male and female detainees were regularly 
threatened with rape. Police made such threats in particular against 
female detainees in the presence of male relatives to force the men to 
sign self-incriminating statements. Police also regularly threatened to 
murder detainees or their family members and to place minor children in 
orphanages.'' Human Rights Watch reports that police torture in 
Uzbekistan has resulted in at least fifteen deaths in custody in the 
past two years alone.
  According to our own Department of State Country Reports on Human 
Rights Practices for 2000, the government of Uzbekistan's ``poor human 
rights record worsened, and the Government continued to commit numerous 
serious abuses.'' ``There were credible reports that security force 
mistreatment resulted in the deaths of several citizens in custody. 
Police and the National Security Service tortured, beat, and harassed 
persons. The security forces arbitrarily arrested or detained pious 
Muslims and other citizens on false charges, frequently planting 
narcotics, weapons, or forbidden literature on them.'' ``The Government 
continues to voice rhetorical support for human rights, but does not 
ensure these rights in practice.''
  Just listen to some of these accounts:
  Thirty-year-old Komlidin Sattarov was arrested in February 2000 for 
alleged possession of Party of Liberation leaflets, following his elder 
brother's conviction for membership in the group. His defender 
summarized some of the young man's court testimony of his torture by 
police:

       He stuck it out for the first one or two days, but then 
     they used electric shock. . . . They put him in a chair and 
     strapped electrodes to his hands, feet, and neck and gave him 
     electric shock. He lost consciousness and then they did it 
     again. He confessed to some of the charges. Then they began 
     to beat him with truncheons, and he agreed to sign 
     everything.

  Prior to a July and August 2000 trial of seventeen men on charges of 
Wahabism, a form of Islam, the defendants were held by police and 
tortured over several months. Gafurjon Tohirov testified in court that 
he was tortured for more than 2 months, that officers had beaten him on 
the bottoms of his feet and that the white clothes he had been 
wearing--he had just returned from a pilgrimage to Mecca--were covered 
with blood. While beating another defendant, police allegedly 
concentrated their blows on the young man's already injured kidneys, 
due to which, according to one source, the defendant agreed to sign a 
confession. Another accused was allegedly burned with cigarettes and 
subsequently raped in custody; investigators also allegedly threatened 
to rape his wife if he refused to give a self-incriminating statement. 
Once transferred from custody of the National Security Service, SNB, to 
Tashkent police headquarters in January 2000, this defendant continued 
to be tortured. A state appointed lawyer allegedly requested medicine 
for him from his family on January 10, as well as dark trousers to 
replace his

[[Page 20562]]

bloodied white ones. The man was kept incommunicado in the basement of 
police headquarters in Tashkent for sixty-eight days. Dismissing his 
and other defendants' detailed allegations of torture, a judge of the 
Tashkent City Court declared on the day of the verdict, ``No one 
tortured them. There was no written complaint that they were tortured. 
When they were asked, they couldn't name their torturers . . . [W]e 
consider their testimony [on torture] as having no grounds.''
  When brothers Oibek and Uigun Ruzmetov were arrested on charges of 
attempting to overthrow the government, on January 1, 1999, their 
parents were also arrested. Their father on the same day, their mother 
on January 5. Their mother recounted that she was held for one night in 
solitary confinement in the district police station, handcuffed naked 
and given no water. Then they showed her to her son Uigun:

       They . . . stripped me naked . . . Twice they walked him by 
     me. He looked so bad, he had been completely beaten up. I 
     could only cry, I could not talk to him. They told him. 
     ``Your parents and your wife are also in prison. Your 
     children are in an orphanage. If you don't sign these 
     documents, we'll do something very bad to your wife.'' My son 
     at his trial said that he was told they would rape his wife 
     before his eyes if he did not confess.

  Mr. President, these stories are incredible. We can not ignore them. 
To do so implies that in the war against terrorism, anything goes. That 
kind of attitude will only weaken our war on terrorism, not strengthen 
it. Eighty percent of the population of Uzbekistan is Muslim. To ignore 
Uzbek abuses could add fuel to the fire that this is not truly a war on 
terrorism, but is a war on Islam. We must ensure that anti-terrorism 
efforts are conducted in a manner that protects religious freedom and 
other human rights, and we must carefully monitor our cooperation with 
Uzbekistan to ensure that protection. The amendment I offer here today 
requiring a report to Congress on the extent to which any Uzbek units 
receiving US assistance engaged in human rights violations, or 
violations of international law, will remind the Uzbek government that 
although we welcome their cooperation, we are also watching them.
  All I am saying is when you have a group of people in a country who, 
because of the practice of their faith, are being crushed in this way, 
and you have examples of torture and rape, to the extent that we are 
involved with such a country, we ought at least have a monitoring of 
how the money is spent.
  I think I will send the statement to Senators because, frankly, it is 
so graphic, it is difficult to go over in great detail.
  You are talking about a government that has been involved in 
widespread abuse of human rights. You are talking about a government 
that has systematically tortured its citizens. I think at a very 
minimum in our work with this government, we have to make sure there is 
a very rigorous reporting of how our money is spent in relation to the 
military.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that my amendment be set aside 
to be accepted as modified.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, what is the Senator's request?
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, after both amendments are accepted, I 
will yield the floor.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we have looked at both amendments. They 
are certainly acceptable on this side of the aisle.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. I ask whether we might have a voice vote on the 
amendments, as modified.
  Mr. President, I ask for a voice vote on both amendments, as 
modified.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there further debate on the amendments, as 
modified?
  Without objection, the amendments are agreed to.
  The amendments (No. 1923 and No. 1922) were agreed to.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to reconsider the votes.
  Mr. SANTORUM. I move to lay that motion on the table.
  The motion to lay on the table was agreed to.
  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I want to remind colleagues, 
independent of the amendments, that I later on today will have a 
colloquy with Senator Brownback dealing with the whole question of 
women and girls being forced into prostitution. We want to talk about 
appropriations for that. I will probably be joined by my colleague, 
Senator Feingold, in some discussion about Plan Colombia. I want to 
talk about the number of trips I have taken to Colombia and what I have 
seen focusing on human rights and having a chance to speak on the human 
rights position; in particular, the work I have been able to do with a 
very powerful Jesuit priest, Francisco De Roux, and something I think 
we can learn from his wisdom.
  I want to move those amendments along.
  I want to say two other things very quickly.
  Last week, we passed a resolution which I have been trying to make 
long enough so that it can be in the Capitol Hill Police Office 
thanking the Capitol Police for their work.
  This may be gratuitous--my guess is that Senators are doing this all 
the time anyway--for which I apologize. I suggest to Senators when they 
are passing by the Capitol Police to be sure to thank them. I met, for 
example, a young officer today. He told Sheila and me that he has 
little children. He sees them 1 hour a day. He is working six 12-hour 
days. He says that is better than 17-hour days.
  They are working under a lot of pressure. I want on the floor of the 
Senate to again thank them for their work. I appeal to Senators to go 
out of their way to thank them.
  If you look at the Capitol Hill Police men and women, you can see a 
lot of exhaustion in their faces. I think we owe a real debt of 
gratitude to them.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the previous order, the Senator from 
West Virginia is recognized.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I have spoken to the Senator from West 
Virginia. We have some amendments that are cleared.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I yield to the distinguished whip for the 
purpose that he is now requesting. I ask unanimous consent that upon 
the completion of his remarks and the action on amendments I be 
recognized.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I express my appreciation to the Senator 
from West Virginia.
  Senator McConnell and Senator Leahy have every intention of moving 
this bill as quickly as possible. If Members have amendments, they had 
better bring them because the managers aren't going to wait around all 
day long for Members to bring amendments to the floor. After reasonable 
time goes by and Members haven't gone to amendments, we are going to 
move to third reading of this bill.


               Amendments Nos. 1924 through 1939, En Bloc

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that it be in order 
for the Senate to consider, en bloc, 15 amendments; that the amendments 
be considered and agreed to en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be 
laid upon the table en bloc; that the consideration of these amendments 
appear separately in the Record; and that any statements or colloquies 
be printed in the Record.
  These amendments have been reviewed very closely by the managers of 
the bill and their staff.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Nevada [Mr. Reid], for Mr. McConnell and 
     others, proposes amendments numbered 1924 through 1939.

  The amendments (Nos. 1924 through 1939) were agreed to, as follows:


                           amendment no. 1924

 (Purpose: To make avaialble funds to assess the cause of the flooding 
 along the Volta River in Accra, Ghana, and to make recommendations on 
                       how to solve the problem)

       On page 125 line 16, before the period at the end of the 
     line insert the following: ``: Provided further, That, of the 
     funds appropriated

[[Page 20563]]

     under this heading, up to $100,000 should be made available 
     for an assessment of the causes of the flooding along the 
     Volta River in Accra, Ghana, and to make recommendations for 
     solving the problem''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1925

       On page 133, line 17, after ``States'' insert the 
     following: ``, of which not to exceed $28,000,000 shall be 
     available for the cost, as defined in section 502 of the 
     Congressional Budget Act of 1974, of modifying direct loans 
     and guarantees for the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1926

       On page 229, line 12, after ``steps'' insert the following: 
     ``, additional to those undertaken in fiscal year 2001,''.
       On page 229, line 16, strike everything after ``(3)'' 
     through ``law'' on line 17, and insert in lieu thereof: 
     ``taking steps, additional to those undertaken in fiscal year 
     2001, to implement policies which reflect a respect for 
     minority rights and the rule of law, including the release of 
     all political prisoners from Serbian jails and prisons''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1927

       On page 176, line 15, strike ``$14,500,000'' and insert in 
     lieu thereof ``$15,500,000''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1928

       At the appropriate place, insert:


                           disability access

       Sec.   . Housing that is constructed with funds 
     appropriated by this Act to carry out the provisions of 
     chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part II of the Foreign 
     Assistance Act of 1961, and to carry out the provisions of 
     the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act of 1989, 
     shall to the maximum extent feasible, be wheelchair 
     accessible.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1929

       On page 142, line 18, after ``That'', insert the following: 
     ``of the amount appropriated under this heading, not less 
     than $101,000,000 shall be made available for Bolivia, and 
     not less than $35,000,000 shall be made available for 
     Ecuador: Provided further, That''.
       On page 142, line 25, strike everything after ``with'' 
     through ``General'' on page 143, line 1, and insert in lieu 
     thereof: ``the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
     and Prevention''.
       On page 143, line 6, strike ``according to the'' and insert 
     in lieu thereof: ``in accordance with Colombian laws and 
     regulations, and''.
       On page 143, line 10, strike ``in place'' and insert in 
     lieu thereof: ``being utilized''.
       On page 143, line 12, after ``and'' insert: ``to''.
       On page 216, line 14, strike ``concerning'' and insert in 
     lieu thereof: ``, including the identity of the person 
     suspended and''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1930

       On page 127, line 12, strike everything after 
     ``rehabilitation'' through ``Maluka'' on line 13, and insert 
     in lieu thereof: ``and reconstruction, political 
     reconciliation, and related activities in Aceh, Papua, West 
     Timor, and the Malukus''.
       On page 220, line 23, after ``Indonesia'' insert the 
     following: ``, including imposing just punishment for those 
     involved in the murders of American citizen Carlos Caceres 
     and two other United Nations humanitarian workers in West 
     Timor on September 6, 2000''.
       On page 221, lines 17 and 18, strike ``having in place a 
     functioning system for''.
       On page 221, lines 19 and 20, strike ``that fund 
     activities''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1931

       On page 128, line 9, insert the following:


                                  laos

       Of the funds appropriated under the headings ``Child 
     Survival and Health Programs Fund'' and ``Development 
     Assistance'', $5,000,000 should be made available for Laos: 
     Provided, That funds made available in the previous proviso 
     should be made available only through nongovernmental 
     organizations.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1932

       On page 127, line 19, strike ``should'' and insert in lieu 
     thereof ``shall''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1933

   (Purpose: To prohibit humanitarian assistance inside Burma unless 
                      certain conditions are met)

       On page 127, line 26, after ``law:'' insert the following: 
     ``Provided further, that none of the funds appropriated by 
     this Act may be used to provide humanitarian assistance 
     inside Burma by any individual, group, or association unless 
     the Secretary of State certifies and reports to the 
     Committees on Appropriations that the provision of such 
     assistance includes the direct involvement of the 
     democratically elected National League for Democracy:''.


                           amendment no. 1934

       At the appropriate place in the bill, insert the following:


                   community-based police assistance

       Sec.  . (a) Authority.--Funds made available to carry out 
     the provisions of chapter 1 of part I and chapter 4 of part 
     II of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, may be used, 
     notwithstanding section 660 of that Act, to enhance the 
     effectiveness and accountability of civilian police authority 
     in Jamaica through training and technical assistance in 
     internationally recognized human rights, the rule of law, 
     strategic planning, and through the promotion of civilian 
     police roles that support democratic governance including 
     programs to prevent conflict and foster improved police 
     relations with the communities they serve.
       (b) Report.--Twelve months after the initial obligation of 
     funds for Jamaica for activities authorized under subsection 
     (a), the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development shall submit a report to the 
     appropriate congressional committees describing the progress 
     the program is making toward improving police relations with 
     the communities they serve and institutionalizing an 
     effective community-based police program.
       (c) Notification.--Assistance provided under subsection (a) 
     shall be subject to the regular notification procedures of 
     the Committee on Appropriations.
                                  ____

         


                           amendment no. 1935

       On page 179, line 7, after ``democracy'' insert ``, human 
     rights''.
       On page 179, line 8 after ``which'' insert: ``not less than 
     $5,000,000 should be made available for the Human Rights and 
     Democracy Fund of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
     Labor, Department of State, for such activities, and of 
     which''.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1936

       At the appropriate place, insert:

     SEC.  . SEPTEMBER 11 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS PROGRAMS.

       Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading 
     ``Economic Support Fund'', not less than $15,000,000 shall be 
     made available for programs and activities to foster 
     democracy, human rights, press freedoms, and the rule of law 
     in countries with a significant Muslim population, and where 
     such programs and activities would be important to United 
     States efforts to respond to, deter, or prevent acts of 
     international terrorism: Provided, That funds appropriated 
     under this section should support new initiatives or bolster 
     ongoing programs and activities in those countries: Provided 
     further, That not less than $2,000,000 of such funds shall be 
     made available for programs and activities that train 
     emerging Afghan women leaders in civil society development 
     and democracy building: Provided further, That not less than 
     $10,000,000 of such funds shall be made available for the 
     Human Rights and Democracy Fund of the Bureau of Democracy 
     Human Rights and Labor, Department of State, for such 
     activities: Provided further, That funds made available 
     pursuant to the authority of this section shall be subject to 
     the regular notification procedures of the Committees on 
     Appropriations.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1937

       At the appropriate place in the bill insert:

     SEC.   .  UZBEKISTAN.

       Reports.--Not later than three months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, and six months thereafter, the 
     Secretary of State shall submit a report to the appropriate 
     congressional committees describing the following:
       (1) The defense articles, defense services, and financial 
     assistance provided by the United States to Uzbekistan during 
     the six-month period ending on the date of such report.
       (2) The use during such period of defense articles and 
     defense services provided by the United States by units of 
     the Uzbek armed forces, border guards, Ministry of National 
     Security, or Ministry of Internal Affairs.
       (3) The extent to which any units referred to in paragraph 
     (2) engaged in human rights violations, or violations of 
     international law, during such period.
                                  ____



                           amendment no. 1938

       At the appropriate place, insert:

     SEC.   . HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR AFGHANISTAN.

       It is the sense of the Senate that:
       (1) Afghanistan's neighbors should reopen their borders to 
     allow for the safe passage of refugees, and the international 
     community must be prepared to contribute to the economic 
     costs incurred by the flight of desperate Afghan civilians;
       (2) as the United States engages in military action in 
     Afghanistan, it must work to deliver assistance, particularly 
     through overland truck convoys, and safe humanitarian access 
     to affected populations, in partnership with humanitarian 
     agencies in quantities sufficient to alleviate a large scale 
     humanitarian catastrophe; and
       (3) the United States should contribute to efforts by the 
     international community to provide long-term, sustainable 
     reconstruction and development assistance for the people of 
     Afghanistan, including efforts to protect the basic human 
     rights of women and children.

[[Page 20564]]

     
                                  ____
                           amendment no. 1939

       On page 153 line 7, after the colon insert the following: 
     ``Provided further, That of the funds appropriated by this 
     paragraph, not less than $2,300,000 shall be made available 
     for assistance for Thailand:''


                           amendment no. 1926

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I offer this amendment along with 
Senators Helms and Leahy out of concern with the continued detention of 
political prisoners in Serb jails. Our amendment is simple and 
straightforward: It makes absolutely clear that among the certification 
requirements contained in section 575 of this bill is the release of 
these prisoners. I urge the democrats and reformers in Belgrade to take 
notice of our actions, and to release the political prisoners 
immediately. I yield the floor to my friend from North Carolina.
  Mr. HELMS. I find it incomprehensible for a government that claims to 
be democratic and just to sustain this cruel vestige of the Milosevic 
era.
  Last August, I asked my staff to travel to Serbia and visit these 
Albanian political prisoners. My intent was the following: I wanted to 
check on the physical conditions of these prisoners. I wanted to ensure 
that they and their families know the United States has not forgotten 
about their suffering. I wanted to underscore to authorities in 
Belgrade that they must release these political prisoners who were 
arrested, too often brutally tortured, sentenced and jailed by 
Milosevic and his system of kangaroo justice. And, I wanted to remind 
Belgrade that failure to do so will have consequences for their 
relationship with the United States.
  Serbian Justice Minister Batic cooperatively arranged meetings for my 
staff. These took place in two Serbian jails with four Kosovar Albanian 
prisoners: Kurti Aljbin, Isljam Taci, Berisa Petrit, and Sulejman 
Bitici. These four individuals, I might add, were chosen at the 
recommendation of an extremely courageous woman, Natasa Kandic of the 
Humanitarian Law Center in Yugoslavia. Ms. Kandic is Serb, who at great 
risk to her personal safety, has provided these and other Albanian 
political prisoners legal and humanitarian assistance.
  The stories of these four political prisoners speak volumes to the 
atrocities and injustice of the Milosevic regime. Imagine being 
arrested because you are an Albanian student, thrown in jail only to 
learn later that there were no formal charges brought against you, and 
even if there were you couldn't appeal them because your file had 
``disappeared'' or it was burned. Imagine being thrown out of a fourth 
story window so that your legs would break, or being subjected to 
repeated beatings, shock torture, and mock executions. That is exactly 
what happened during the Milosevic era.
  The good news is that these tortures have ended. However, ending the 
torture is not enough. Each day Belgrade keeps people like Kurti 
Aljbin, Isljam Taci, Berisa Petrit, and Sulejman Bitici locked behind 
bars is another day that Belgrade has continued the horrors and 
injustice of the Milosevic regime. And this is totally unacceptable.
  One prisoner asked the poignant question: ``If Milosevic is in jail, 
why are we still here?'' The fact is there is no justifiable answer to 
this question. I yield the floor to the Senator from Vermont.
  Mr. LEAHY. It has been almost a year since the fall of Milosevic, and 
more than five months have passed since his arrest. While some Albanian 
prisoners were released earlier this year, there are still more than 
100 Albanian political prisoners languishing in Serb jails. There is no 
justification under any circumstances, to imprison innocent people. 
Serb officials know this. These people should never have been arrested, 
and they should have been released long ago.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Would the Senator yield for an additional comment? I 
continue to be keenly interested in the investigation into the murder 
of the three American brothers of Albanian descent from New York who 
were recently found in a mass grave in Serbia. Justice must be served 
for their murders, which occurred at the end of the war in Kosova.
  Mr. LEAHY. I urge adoption of this amendment.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from West Virginia is recognized 
under the previous order.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Chair.
  I also congratulate and thank Senator Kennedy who spoke earlier for 
the proposals and suggestions, and the good counsel that he offered to 
the Senate at this critical time.

                          ____________________