[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[House]
[Pages 12721-12722]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS OF TORTURE

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 168) expressing the sense of 
Congress in support of victims of torture.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 168

       Whereas the people of the United States abhor the use of 
     torture by any government or person;
       Whereas the existence of torture creates a climate of fear 
     and international insecurity that affects all people;
       Whereas torture results in mental and physical damage to an 
     individual that destroys the individual's personality and 
     terrorizes society and the effects of torture can last a 
     lifetime for the individual and can also affect future 
     generations;
       Whereas repressive governments often use torture as a 
     weapon against democracy by eliminating the leadership of 
     their opposition and frightening the general public;
       Whereas more than 500,000 survivors of torture live in the 
     United States;
       Whereas torture has devastating effects on the victim which 
     often require extensive medical and psychological treatment;
       Whereas both the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 (Public 
     Law 105-320) and the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization 
     Act of 1999 (Public Law 106-87) authorize funding for 
     rehabilitation services for victims of torture so that these 
     individuals may become productive and contributing members of 
     their communities;
       Whereas the United States played a leading role in the 
     adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has 
     ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture and 
     Other Forms of Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment; 
     and
       Whereas June 26th of each year is the United Nations 
     International Day in Support of Victims of Torture: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That, on the occasion of the United Nations 
     International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Congress 
     pays tribute to all victims of torture in the United States 
     and around the world who are struggling to overcome the 
     physical scars and psychological effects of torture.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen).


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on the concurrent 
resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  The Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading 
Treatment or Punishment underscores that freedom, justice, and peace 
rests on the recognition of the inalienable rights of all members of 
the human family.
  It further states that these basic rights derive from the inherent 
dignity of the human person. Thus, when one individual suffers, all of 
humanity suffers. When one individual is tortured, the scars inflicted 
by such horrific treatment are not only found in the victim but in the 
global system, as the use of torture undermines, debilitates, and 
erodes the very essence of that system.
  Torture not only terrorizes individuals but entire societies, the 
impact of which is felt in future generations as well. It is used as a 
weapon against democracy by eliminating the leadership of the 
opposition and by frightening the general population into submission.
  As a Member of Congress who represents men, women, and children who 
have fled repressive regimes, I have witnessed firsthand the mental and 
physical damage that torture inflicts on the individual and on society 
as a whole. I have constituents who are Cuban refugees, for example, 
who have been subjected to electroshock treatment by Castro's 
authorities because of their pro-democracy activities.
  I represent one of the largest Holocaust survivor communities in 
North America. My district includes victims of right-wing authoritative 
regimes as well as oppressive leftist totalitarian dictators. I have 
seen the anguish in their eyes as well as the strength of their spirit, 
their courage, and their determination.
  There are more than 500,000 survivors of torture in the United 
States; and this resolution, Mr. Speaker, seeks to honor them.
  House Concurrent Resolution 168 uses the occasion of the United 
Nations Day in Support of Victims of Torture as an opportunity to 
remember and pay homage to the victims of torture and to underscore the 
commitment that the United States Congress has outlined in the last few 
years through passage of the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 and the 
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act of 1999.
  It is a message to the survivors in the U.S., and indeed throughout 
the world, that the U.S. has not forgotten their suffering nor its 
obligation as a global leader to help prevent such violations of the 
inherent dignity of human beings. I ask my colleagues to support this 
bipartisan resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; 
and I rise in strong support of H. Res. 168. I want to commend my dear 
friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), 
for introducing this important resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have the dubious distinction of being the only Member 
of Congress ever to have lived under and fought against both a Nazi and 
a communist dictatorship. So torture is something with which I am 
personally and intimately familiar with.
  The resolution before this House today pays tribute to the millions 
of courageous men and women who have suffered truly terrible mental and 
physical damage perpetrated by other human beings. It is an unfortunate 
reality, Mr. Speaker, that around the globe on every continent men, 
women, and even children are abused by those who are in positions of 
authority and who abuse their power by inflicting harm on others.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. Speaker, every year our Department of State in its country 
reports on human rights practices, catalogs for us the numerous 
countries involved in this heinous practice. Torture and other cruel, 
inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment is a violation of 
international law, Mr. Speaker, as reflected in the Convention Against 
Torture to which I am proud to say the United States is a party. But 
more than that, it is an attack on the decency of every human being who 
lives in a world where such heinous practices exist.
  Mr. Speaker, this House has been at the forefront of trying to ease 
the suffering of the many who have survived

[[Page 12722]]

these awful practices. We have initiated and passed legislation 
creating U.S. programs that address the psychological and physical 
needs of those who have survived brutal torture. These programs have 
helped thousands of such victims. It is only fitting that the House pay 
tribute to all of the victims of torture around the globe who are 
struggling to overcome the effects of torture.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support H. Res. 168.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, although the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum) 
has been with us only a short time, she has made an excellent name for 
herself in her commitment to the finest causes that we deal with.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman 
from Minnesota (Ms. McCollum).
  Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California for 
his kind words.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be part of a special organization located 
in Minnesota. It is The Center for Victims of Torture. The Center was 
established in 1985 to healed the emotional and physical scars of 
government-inflicted torture on individuals, their families, and our 
communities. Torture victims face debilitating and unimaginable social, 
physical, emotional and spiritual scarring.
  Many survivors are challenged with daily constant anxiety, 
depression, and suffer from fear. Torture is a crime against humanity. 
It is a crime against all of us.
  Today I stand here with my colleagues to ensure that the United 
States works in collaboration with all nations to end government-
sponsored torture, to end policies and practices that violate human 
rights. Although the memories cannot be erased, the wounds can be 
healed.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Watson).
  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. 
Res. 168, the resolution that expresses the sense of Congress in 
support of victims of torture. But first I wish to commend the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) for introducing this 
important legislation. I also wish to express my gratitude to the 
honorable gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of 
the Committee on International Relations, for allowing me the 
opportunity to speak on this very important international issue. As 
both a former Ambassador and member of the Committee on International 
Relations, I stand before this esteemed body to speak on the necessity 
of highlighting the plight of the many victims of torture around the 
world.
  Today, there are over 500,000 survivors of torture who live in the 
United States as a result of fleeing from those repressive governments 
that use various tactics to torture to combat democracy.
  This bill is very significant, for it pays tribute to all the victims 
in the United States and the world who are struggling to overcome the 
physical and mental scars of torture on the occasion of the United 
Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
  Torture is a violation of international law as reflected in the 
convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading 
treatment or punishment to which the United States is a party. 
Furthermore, such actions are an attack on the decency of every human 
being who lives in a world where such horrible practices exist.
  In light of these atrocities, I urge all of my colleagues to support 
this legislation.
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 168, to 
express support for victims of torture, and I thank Congresswoman Ros-
Lehtinen for bringing this issue to the floor.
  Although torture and other cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment is 
prohibited under international human rights law, state-officials in 
countries all over the world are responsible for the ill-treatment of 
individuals. Today, hundreds of thousands of victims of torture live in 
the United States. They are typically well-educated, well-trained 
people who were subjected to politically motivated torture by 
repressive regimes. They were tortured because of what they believe, 
what they said or did, or for what they represented.
  Many torture survivors suffer in silence, enduring incessant physical 
and emotional anguish. These courageous individuals, who often suffered 
for speaking out for freedom and justice, deserve, our full and 
uncompromising support.
  When Congress passed the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998, we 
agreed that victims should have access to rehabilitation services, 
enabling them to become productive members of our communities. I also 
encourage my colleagues to support the Torture Victim's Relief Re-
authorization Act--H.R. 1405, to fund domestic torture treatment 
centers and the Human Rights Information Act--H.R. 1152, to facilitate 
the prosecution of torturers.
  As a member of the Congressional Caucus on Human Rights, I join 
Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen and Congressman Smith in this recognition of 
all victims of torture in the United States and around the world who 
are struggling to overcome their physical and psychological scars. I 
urge support of H. Con. Res. 168.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, at this time I want to thank the Chairwoman 
of the Subcommittee on International Operation and Human Rights, the 
gentlelady from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), for reminding us of the 
role that the United States must take in combating the use of torture 
and other forms of degrading treatment or punishment throughout the 
world.
  However, it is not enough to merely denounce torture without 
assisting the victims in their recovery from the physical and 
psychological effects that they suffer. People suffering from the 
effects of torture suffer from severe impediments, often requiring 
lengthy medical and psychological treatments. Torture victims are often 
ashamed or too traumatized to speak out against the practice, both in 
their countries of origin and abroad.
  Because torture victims sometimes cannot speak for or help 
themselves, Americans want their government to speak for those victims, 
to provide assistance to stop human rights abuses, to investigate 
allegations of torture, and also to provide rehabilitation services for 
the victims of torture through the Torture Victims Protection Act. They 
also want us to press for universal protection against torture through 
the enforcement of the rights set out in the Universal Declaration of 
Human Rights, the Convention Against Torture, and the UN Charter. These 
are the themes of the worthy resolution now before us, and we should 
start with expressing our solidarity with the victims of torture in the 
United States and throughout the world.
  Accordingly, I am pleased to join my colleagues in supporting H. Con. 
Res. 168.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 168.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________