[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 15756-15760]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 406--ESTABLISHING A SELECT COMMITTEE ON AEROSPACE IN 
                           THE UNITED STATES

  Mrs. MURRAY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Rules and Administration:

                              S. Res. 406

       Whereas the aerospace sector of the United States economy 
     generates economic activity equal to 15 percent of the 
     Nation's Gross Domestic Product and supports approximately 
     11,000,000 American jobs;
       Whereas the United States aerospace industry directly 
     employs 574,600 people of the United States, the lowest 
     employment level of United States workers since World War II;
       Whereas employment in the United States aerospace industry 
     is down 57 percent, as more than 750,000 jobs have been lost 
     since 1989;
       Whereas the United States share of the global aerospace 
     market fell from 72 percent in 1985 to less than 52 percent 
     today;
       Whereas according to the Commission on the Future of the 
     United States Aerospace Industry, ``Foreign government 
     subsidies directly affect the competitiveness of our 
     companies. Subsidized prime manufacturers as

[[Page 15757]]

     well as suppliers are able to undercut prices offered by 
     their U.S. competitors, and are better able to weather market 
     downturns. Subsidized companies are able to secure cheaper 
     commercial financing since their governments share the risk 
     associated with bringing new products to market. Subsidized 
     production skews the market itself by flooding it with 
     products that are not commercially viable. Governments 
     providing the subsidies also apply political pressure on 
     customers in an effort to facilitate a positive return on the 
     governments' investments. In many cases, these government 
     subsidies stifle competition and often slow the introduction 
     of new technology into the market. European funding has had 
     the most dramatic impact on U.S. competitiveness because 
     European products directly compete with United States 
     products in most sectors....if we maintain the status quo, 
     U.S. industry will be left to compete against companies that 
     don't play by the same rules.'';
       Whereas the aerospace industry is globally competitive with 
     established nations like the United States and the members of 
     the European Union and faces growing competition from 
     numerous nations, including China, Russia, Brazil, Canada, 
     Japan, and others; and
       Whereas numerous public policy issues important to the 
     future of aerospace are now before Congress, including the 
     United States air traffic control system, export controls, 
     the aerospace workforce, homeland security, national 
     security, foreign competition, research and development, 
     mathematics and science education, corporate tax and export 
     promotion, and others: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a temporary Select 
     Committee on Aerospace in the United States (hereinafter 
     referred to as the ``Committee'').
       (b) Composition of the Committee.--
       (1) Voting members.--The Committee shall be composed of 11 
     Senators, 6 to be appointed by the majority leader of the 
     Senate and 5 to be appointed by the minority leader of the 
     Senate.
       (2) Ex officio members.--Ex officio members of the 
     Committee shall include--
       (A) the majority leader of the Senate;
       (B) the minority leader of the Senate; and
       (C) the chairman and ranking member of each of the 
     following committees:
       (i) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
     of the Senate.
       (ii) The Committee on Finance of the Senate.
       (iii) The Committee on Armed Services of the Senate.
       (iv) The Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
       (3) Limitations on ex officio members.--An ex officio 
     member--
       (A) shall not be counted for the purpose of ascertaining 
     the presence of a quorum of the Committee; and
       (B) shall be a nonvoting member of the Committee.
       (c) Organization of Committee.--
       (1) Chairperson.--The majority leader of the Senate shall 
     select the chairperson of the Committee from the members of 
     the Committee.
       (2) Ranking member.--The minority leader of the Senate 
     shall designate a ranking member from the members of the 
     Committee.
       (3) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Committee shall not affect 
     the power of the remaining members to execute the functions 
     of the Committee, and shall be filled in the same manner as 
     the original appointment.
       (d) Commencement of Study.--The Committee shall commence 
     its study of the aerospace industry under section 2 on 
     January 3, 2005, or upon the date of appointment of the 
     members of the Committee under subsection (b)(1).
       (e) Termination.--The Committee shall cease to exist on 
     December 31, 2006.

     SEC. 2. OPERATION OF THE COMMITTEE.

       (a) In General.--The Committee shall--
       (1) make a full and complete study of the United States 
     aerospace industry, including its present and future 
     competitiveness and its importance to the United States and 
     to the global economy; and
       (2) recommend legislative, administrative, and regulatory 
     remedies, as approved by a majority of the committee members.
       (b) Focus of Study.--The study shall include an examination 
     of--
       (1) the role of the Federal Government in the aerospace 
     industry;
       (2) the importance of the aerospace industry to the United 
     States economy;
       (3) global competition and its impact on the aerospace 
     industry of the United States;
       (4) technological challenges before the aerospace industry 
     in commercial aircraft and aviation, national security, and 
     space exploration; and
       (5) workforce development issues in the aerospace industry.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORITY AND EMPLOYMENT AND COMPENSATION OF STAFF.

       (a) Authority of Committee.--The Committee is authorized 
     to--
       (1) sit and act, at any time, during the sessions, 
     recesses, and adjourned periods of Congress;
       (2) require as the Committee considers necessary, by 
     subpoena or otherwise, the attendance of witnesses and the 
     production of books, papers, and documents;
       (3) administer oaths and take testimony; and
       (4) procure necessary printing and binding.
       (b) Appointment and Compensation of Staff.--The Committee--
       (1) shall utilize existing staff to the extent possible;
       (2) may appoint and fix the compensation of such staff as 
     it considers necessary;
       (3) may utilize such voluntary and uncompensated services 
     as it considers necessary; and
       (4) may utilize the services, information, facilities, and 
     personnel of the General Accounting Office, the Congressional 
     Budget Office, the Congressional Research Service of the 
     Library of Congress, and other agencies of the legislative 
     branch.
       (c) Additional Staff.--Upon the request of the chairman or 
     ranking member of the Committee, the head of any Federal 
     agency, or of any office in the legislative branch, is 
     authorized to detail, without reimbursement, any of the 
     personnel of such agency or office to the Committee to assist 
     in carrying out its duties.
       (d) Travel Expenses.--The members and staff of the 
     Committee shall be reimbursed for travel, subsistence, and 
     other necessary expenses incurred by them in the performance 
     of the duties vested in the Committee, other than expenses in 
     connection with meetings of the Committee held in the 
     District of Columbia.

     SEC. 4. COMMITTEE REPORT.

        The Committee--
       (1) may make such interim reports as it considers 
     necessary; and
       (2) prior to ceasing operations in accordance with section 
     1(e), shall submit a final report, to the Senate and to the 
     appropriate Committees of the Senate, which shall contain the 
     results of its study and its recommendations.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 407--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 15, 2004, AS ``NATIONAL 
                           MAMMOGRAPHY DAY''

  Mr. BIDEN (for himself, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Allen, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, 
Mr. Bunning, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. 
Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Craig, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, 
Mr. Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Graham of 
Florida, Mr. Graham of South Carolina, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hatch, Mr. 
Hollings, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Johnson, Mr. 
Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, Ms. 
Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Reid, Mr. Sarbanes, 
Mr. Schumer, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
Talent, Mr. Voinovich, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 407

       Whereas according to the American Cancer Society, in 2004, 
     215,990 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,110 
     women will die from this disease;
       Whereas it is estimated that about 2,000,000 women were 
     diagnosed with breast cancer in the 1990s, and that in nearly 
     500,000 of those cases, the cancer resulted in death;
       Whereas African-American women suffer a 30 percent greater 
     mortality from breast cancer than White women and more than a 
     100 percent greater mortality from breast cancer than women 
     from Hispanic, Asian, and American Indian populations;
       Whereas the risk of breast cancer increases with age, with 
     a woman at age 70 having twice as much of a chance of 
     developing the disease as a woman at age 50;
       Whereas at least 80 percent of the women who get breast 
     cancer have no family history of the disease;
       Whereas mammograms, when operated professionally at a 
     certified facility, can provide safe screening and early 
     detection of breast cancer in many women;
       Whereas mammography is an excellent method for early 
     detection of localized breast cancer, which has a 5-year 
     survival rate of more than 97 percent;
       Whereas the National Cancer Institute and the American 
     Cancer Society continue to recommend periodic mammograms; and
       Whereas the National Breast Cancer Coalition recommends 
     that each woman and her health care provider make an 
     individual decision about mammography: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates October 15, 2004, as ``National Mammography 
     Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling upon the people of the United States to observe the 
     day with appropriate programs and activities.

  Mr. BIDEN. Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution 
designating

[[Page 15758]]

October 15, 2004, as ``National Mammography Day.'' I am pleased that 51 
of my colleagues have endorsed this proposal by agreeing to be original 
cosponsors. I might note that I have submitted a similar resolution 
each year since 1993, and on each occasion the Senate has shown its 
support for the fight against breast cancer by approving the 
resolution.
  Each year, as I prepare to submit this resolution, I review the 
latest information from the American Cancer Society about breast 
cancer. For the year 2004, it is estimated that nearly 216,000 women 
will be diagnosed with breast cancer and slightly more than 40,000 
women will die of this disease.
  In past years, I have often commented on how gloomy these statistics 
were. But as I review how these numbers are changing over time, I have 
come to the realization that it is really more appropriate to be 
optimistic. The number of deaths from breast cancer is actually stable 
or falling from year to year. Early detection of breast cancer 
continues to result in extremely favorable outcomes: 97 percent of 
women with localized breast cancer will survive 5 years or longer. New 
digital techniques make the process of mammography much more rapid and 
precise than before. Government programs will provide free mammograms 
to those who can't afford them, as well as Medicaid eligibility for 
treatment if breast cancer is diagnosed. Information about treatment of 
breast cancer with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy has 
exploded, reflecting enormous research advances in this disease. So I 
am feeling quite positive about our battle against breast cancer. A 
diagnosis of breast cancer is not a death sentence, and I encounter 
long-term survivors of breast cancer nearly daily.
  In recent times, the newspapers have been filled with discussion over 
whether the scientific evidence actually supports the conclusion that 
periodic screening mammography saves lives. It seems that much of this 
controversy relates to new interpretations of old studies, and the 
relatively few recent studies of this matter have not clarified this 
issue. Most sources seem to agree that all of the existing scientific 
studies have some weaknesses, but it is far from clear whether the very 
large and truly unambiguous study needed to settle this matter 
definitively can ever be done.
  So what is a woman to do? I do not claim any expertise in this highly 
technical area, so I rely on the experts. The American Cancer Society, 
the National Cancer Institute, and the U.S. Preventive Services Task 
Force all continue to recommend periodic screening mammography, and I 
endorse the statements of these distinguished bodies.
  On the other hand, I recognize that some women who examine these 
research studies are unconvinced of the need for periodic screening 
mammography. However, even those scientists who do not support periodic 
mammography for all women believe that it is appropriate for some 
groups of women with particular risk factors. In agreement with these 
experts, I encourage all women who have doubts about the usefulness of 
screening mammography in general to discuss with their individual 
physicians whether this test is appropriate in their specific 
situations.
  So my message to women is: have a periodic mammogram, or at the very 
least discuss this option with your own physician.
  I know that some women don't have annual mammograms because of either 
fear or forgetfulness. It is only human nature for some women to avoid 
mammograms because they are afraid of what they will find. To those who 
are fearful, I would say that if you have periodic routine mammograms, 
and the latest one comes out positive, even before you have any 
symptoms or have found a lump on self-examination, you have reason to 
be optimistic, not pessimistic. Such early-detected breast cancers are 
highly treatable.
  Then there is forgetfulness. I certainly understand how difficult it 
is to remember to do something that only comes around once each year. I 
would suggest that this is where ``National Mammography Day'' comes in. 
On that day, let's make sure that each woman we know picks a specific 
date on which to get a mammogram each year, a date that she won't 
forget: a child's birthday, an anniversary, perhaps even the day her 
taxes are due. On National Mammography Day, let's ask our loved ones: 
pick one of these dates, fix it in your mind along with a picture of 
your child, your wedding, or another symbol of that date, and promise 
yourself to get a mammogram on that date every year. Do it for yourself 
and for the others that love you and want you to be part of their lives 
for as long as possible.
  And to those women who are reluctant to have a mammogram, I say let 
National Mammography Day serve as a reminder to discuss this question 
each year with your physician. New scientific studies that are 
published and new mammography techniques that are developed may affect 
your decision on this matter from one year to the next. I encourage you 
to keep an open mind and not to feel that a decision at one point in 
time commits you irrevocably to a particular course of action for the 
indefinite future.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in the ongoing fight against breast 
cancer by cosponsoring and voting for this resolution to designate 
October 15, 2004, as ``National Mammography Day.''
                                 ______
                                 

 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 125--RECOGNIZING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                THE WARSAW UPRISING DURING WORLD WAR II

  Mr. SMITH (for himself and Ms. Mikulski) submitted the following 
concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 125

       Whereas August 1, 2004, marks the 60th anniversary of the 
     Warsaw Uprising, when against seemingly insurmountable odds 
     and extreme hardships, Polish citizens revolted against the 
     Nazi occupiers in Warsaw, Poland, in one of the most heroic 
     battles during World War II;
       Whereas the Warsaw Uprising was a part of a nationwide 
     resistance against the Nazi occupation, was started by the 
     underground Home Army, and lasted 63 days;
       Whereas the Polish resistance, many of them teenagers, 
     while heavily outnumbered and armed with mostly homemade 
     weapons, fought bravely against the German soldiers and lost 
     approximately 250,000 civilians and troops;
       Whereas, to punish Poland for the uprising, the Nazis 
     systematically razed 70 percent of Warsaw, including 
     monuments, cultural treasures, and historical buildings;
       Whereas the heroism and spirit of the Polish resistance are 
     an inspiration to all peoples in their pursuit of liberty and 
     democracy and are evident today in Polish contributions to 
     the global war against terrorism and the more than 2,300 
     Polish troops currently deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom; 
     and
       Whereas the heroic undertaking of the Polish underground 
     represents one of the most important contributions to the 
     Allied war effort during World War II and remains venerated 
     in the Polish consciousness, even for the generations born 
     after it ended: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes the 60th anniversary of 
     the Warsaw Uprising during World War II which will forever 
     serve as a symbol of heroism in the face of great adversity 
     and the pursuit of freedom.

  Mr. SMITH. Mr. President, today I am submitting a resolution to 
commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising. For those who 
are not familiar with the details of this remarkable event, this 
anniversary provides an opportunity to recognize the bravery and 
heroism of those Polish citizens who revolted against their brutal Nazi 
occupiers.
  The Warsaw uprising began on August 1, 1944, when the Polish Home 
Army launched an attack on the German forces occupying Poland. At the 
time, the German army was retreating from the Soviets after its defeat 
on the eastern front, and the Poles recognized that the presence of the 
Soviet army on the outskirts of Warsaw represented a grave threat to 
the country's future. If they could liberate the city from the Germans 
and establish an independent government before the Red Army's entry, 
they felt their freedom might be preserved.
  Although the Home Army took control of most of the city within a few

[[Page 15759]]

days, the Germans were determined to defend Warsaw and sent in massive 
reinforcements to crush the uprising. The fighting raged for 63 days, 
despite the fact that the Polish contingent had limited weapons and 
were facing German tanks, planes, and artillery.
  Additionally, the Soviet Union refused to allow American or British 
planes access to the airfields it controlled. Thus, ammunition and 
relief supplies could not be flown to the Polish resistance. In 
Stalin's view, allowing the Germans to suppress the uprising would 
result in the destruction of the anti-Soviet leadership of Poland, 
therefore paving the way for eventual Soviet control.
  Germany's superior firepower eventually prevailed, as we all know. 
The Germans crushed the Polish forces and leveled the city as an 
example to the rest of Europe. Eighty-five percent of the city was 
razed, the Polish Home Army was annihilated and approximately 250,000 
people, including tens of thousands of civilians, were summarily 
executed.
  Had events turned the other way, Warsaw would have been the first 
European capital liberated from the Nazi regime. Instead, Poland 
suffered under nearly fifty years of communist domination.
  Senator Mikulski joins me in submitting this resolution today in an 
effort to honor those brave Polish citizens who fought so valiantly for 
their freedom. Considering the conflict between the United States and 
the Soviets over assisting the Polish resistance, the Warsaw Uprising 
can fairly be considered as one of the first battles of the Cold War.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I am proud to join with Senator Smith in 
submitting this resolution to commemorate the 1944 Warsaw Uprising 
against the Nazi German occupation.
  The Polish and American people have stood up against oppression and 
fought for liberty through the centuries. During our Revolutionary War, 
Polish patriots fought alongside American patriots to help secure our 
independence. During the Second World War, Polish mathematicians helped 
us break the enigma codes and American troops and the Polish Army in 
exile fought side by side to liberate Europe.
  Within Poland, the Polish people fought for their own freedom against 
the occupying armies of Nazi Germany. Two of the most dramatic battles 
took place in Poland's capital: the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising by Jews in 
1943, and the Warsaw Uprising in 1944.
  In the summer of 1944, the German army was in retreat and the Red 
Army of the Soviet Union was approaching Warsaw. The Poles knew from 
the Katyn Forest Massacre what brutal treatment they could expect under 
Soviet occupation. So they took charge of their own liberation, hoping 
to allow the Polish government in exile to return to Warsaw.
  On August 1, 1944, the Polish home army rose up against the Nazi 
Germany occupation. They took control of most of Warsaw within days. 
But the Germany army was determined to crush the resistance, and the 
Soviet Union hampered U.S. and British efforts to support the Warsaw 
Uprising from the air. The Poles fought bravely to liberate and protect 
their capitol and their nation. But after 63 days of bitter fighting, 
Germany tanks, planes and artillery overcame the valiant but poorly-
armed Polish resistance.
  Nazi Germany was not satisfied with mere victory. Heinrich Himmler 
ordered the people of Warsaw killed and the city razed to the ground as 
an example for all of Europe. Eighty-five percent of Warsaw was leveled 
by German forces and hundreds of thousands of Poles were killed.
  The Poles were right to fight for their freedom in 1944, because 
Soviet domination lasted for nearly half a Century. The Solidarity 
Movement later took up the banner of Polish freedom, and we are now 
proud to have Poland as a friend and NATO ally.
  This year, as we mark the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw Uprising, we 
should remember and honor the Poles who fought so bravely, against such 
heavy odds, for freedom. This is what the resolution Senator Smith and 
I are offering today, and a companion resolution introduced in the 
House by Representatives Emanuel and Hyde, will do. I urge my 
colleagues to join us in commemorating the Warsaw Uprising.
                                 ______
                                 

  SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 126--CONDEMNING THE ATTACK ON THE AMIA 
 JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER IN BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, IN JULY 1994, AND 
 EXPRESSING THE CONCERN OF THE UNITED STATES REGARDING THE CONTINUING, 
            DECADE-LONG DELAY IN THE RESOLUTION OF THIS CASE

  Mr. COLEMAN (for himself, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Dodd) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation:

                            S. Con. Res. 126

       Whereas on July 18, 1994, 85 innocent people were killed 
     and 300 were wounded when the Argentine Jewish Mutual 
     Association (referred to in this resolution as the ``AMIA'') 
     was bombed in Buenos Aires, Argentina;
       Whereas that attack showed the same cowardice and utter 
     disregard for human life as the attacks on the United States 
     on September 11, 2001;
       Whereas the United States welcomes Argentine President 
     Nestor Kirchner's political will to pursue the investigation 
     of the AMIA bombing, as demonstrated by his Executive order 
     opening the archives of Argentina's Secretariat for State 
     Intelligence (referred to in this resolution as ``SIDE'') and 
     by his decisions to raise the AMIA cause to national status, 
     and to emphasize that there is no statute of limitations for 
     those responsible for this attack;
       Whereas it is reported that considerable evidence links the 
     attack to the terrorist group Hizballah, which is based in 
     Lebanon, supported by the Government of the Syrian Arab 
     Republic, and sponsored by the Government of the Islamic 
     Republic of Iran;
       Whereas the decade since the bombing has been marked by 
     efforts to minimize the international connection to this 
     terrorist attack;
       Whereas in March 2003, an Argentine judge issued arrest 
     warrants for 4 officials of the Government of the Islamic 
     Republic of Iran who are believed to have been involved in 
     planning or carrying out the attack against AMIA and 
     requested that the International Criminal Police Organization 
     apprehend them;
       Whereas the 4 indicted Iranians are Ali Fallahian, a former 
     minister of security and intelligence; Mohsen Rabbani, a 
     former cultural attache at the Iranian Embassy in Buenos 
     Aires; Ali Balesh-Abadi, an Iranian diplomat; and Ali Akbar 
     Parvaresh, a former minister of education;
       Whereas Hadi Soleimanpour, Iran's Ambassador to Argentina 
     in the 1990s, also has an international arrest warrant 
     pending against him by Argentine authorities for his 
     suspected primary role in the AMIA bombing;
       Whereas it is reported that suicide bomber Ibrahim Hussein 
     Berro, a Lebanese citizen, carried out the attack on AMIA;
       Whereas it has been reported that contact was made by the 
     Iranian embassy in Buenos Aires to Ibrahim Hussein Berro, who 
     lived in a mosque in Canuelas, Argentina, in the days before 
     the AMIA bombing;
       Whereas Argentine officials have acknowledged that there 
     was negligence in the initial phases of the investigation 
     into the 1994 bombing, including the destruction or 
     disappearance of material evidence;
       Whereas the first major criminal trial regarding the 
     bombing did not begin until September 2001, and those who are 
     currently on trial are former policemen and civilians who are 
     accused of playing roles only in the procurement and delivery 
     of the vehicle that was used in the bombing;
       Whereas the judge who had presided since 2001 over the 
     investigation and trial related to the AMIA bombing was 
     removed in December 2003 due to charges that he bribed a key 
     witness in the AMIA case;
       Whereas the new trial judge, Rodolfo Canicoba Corral, deals 
     with many other important cases and has few supporting staff;
       Whereas on March 17, 1992, terrorists bombed the Embassy of 
     Israel in Buenos Aires, Argentina, killing 29 people and 
     injuring more than 200, and the perpetrators of the attack 
     also remain at large;
       Whereas an inability to extradite suspected Islamic 
     militants and Iranian officials has debilitated the efforts 
     of the Government of Argentina to prosecute masterminds and 
     planners of the 1994 AMIA bombing;
       Whereas evidence indicates that the tri-border area where 
     the borders of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil meet is 
     suspected of harboring organizations that support terrorism 
     and engage in drug and arms smuggling and an assorted array 
     of other illicit, revenue-raising activities;
       Whereas the Government of Argentina supports the 1996 
     Declaration of Lima to Prevent, Combat and Eliminate 
     Terrorism, which refers to terrorism as a ``serious form

[[Page 15760]]

     of organized and systematic violence that is intended to 
     generate chaos and fear among the population, results in 
     death and destruction, and is a reprehensible criminal 
     activity'';
       Whereas the Government of Argentina supports the 1998 
     Commitment of Mar del Plata, which calls terrorist acts 
     ``serious common crimes that erode peaceful and civilized 
     coexistence, affect the rule of law and the exercise of 
     democracy, and endanger the stability of democratically 
     elected constitutional governments and their socioeconomic 
     development of our countries'';
       Whereas the Government of Argentina actively supports the 
     development of the Three Plus One Counterterrorism Dialogue 
     with Brazil, Paraguay, and the United States;
       Whereas the Government of Argentina was successful in 
     enacting a law on cooperation from defendants in terrorist 
     matters, a law that will be helpful in pursuing full 
     prosecution in the 1994 AMIA bombing and other terrorist 
     cases; and
       Whereas the Second Specialized Conference on Terrorism held 
     in Mar del Plata, Argentina on November 23 and November 24, 
     1998, concluded with the adoption of the Commitment of Mar 
     del Plata, calling for the establishment within the 
     Organization of American States (referred to in this 
     resolution as ``OAS'') of an Inter-American Committee Against 
     Terrorism (referred to in this resolution as ``CICTE''): Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) reiterates its strongest condemnation of the 1994 
     attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, 
     Argentina, and honors the victims of this heinous act;
       (2) expresses its sympathy to the relatives of the victims, 
     who have waited 10 years without justice for the loss of 
     their loved ones, and may have to wait even longer for 
     justice to be served;
       (3) underscores the concern of the United States regarding 
     the continuing, decade-long delay in the proper resolution of 
     this case;
       (4) strongly urges the Government of Argentina to continue 
     to dedicate and provide the resources necessary for its 
     judicial system and intelligence agencies to investigate all 
     areas of the AMIA case, including by implementing Argentine 
     President Nestor Kirchner's Executive order mandating the 
     opening of the archives of the SIDE of Argentina, and to 
     prosecute with due haste those who are responsible for the 
     bombing;
       (5) calls upon the international community to cooperate 
     fully with the investigation, including by making 
     information, witnesses, and suspects available for review and 
     questioning by the appropriate Argentine authorities;
       (6) encourages the President to direct United States law 
     enforcement agencies to provide support and cooperation, if 
     requested, to the Government of Argentina, for the purposes 
     of deepening and expanding the investigation into this 
     bombing and suspected activities in support of terrorism in 
     the tri-border area where the borders of Argentina, Paraguay, 
     and Brazil meet;
       (7) encourages the President to direct the United States 
     Representative to the OAS to--
       (A) seek support from OAS member countries for the creation 
     of a special task force of the CICTE to assist, as requested 
     by the Government of Argentina, in the investigation of all 
     aspects of the 1994 AMIA terrorist attack; and
       (B) urge OAS member countries to designate Hizballah as a 
     terrorist organization if they have not already done so;
       (8) stresses the need for international pressure on the 
     Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Government 
     of the Syrian Arab Republic to extradite for trial 
     individuals and government officials who are accused of 
     planning or perpetrating the AMIA attack, and to immediately, 
     unconditionally, and permanently cease any and all assistance 
     to terrorists; and
       (9) desires a lasting, warm relationship between the United 
     States and Argentina that is built, in part, on mutual 
     abhorrence of terrorism and commitments to peace, stability, 
     and democracy in the Western Hemisphere.

                          ____________________