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“HARKIN-ALLEN AMENDMENT ON TERRORISM VICTIM'S ACCESS TO COMPENSATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S5568-S5569 on June 14, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
HARKIN-ALLEN AMENDMENT ON TERRORISM VICTIM'S ACCESS TO COMPENSATION
Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, first, I thank the Senator from Virginia, Senator Allen, for bringing this matter to the floor. I was unavoidably detained yesterday. I had a lot of constituents from the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce, about 140 Iowans, with whom I was meeting as we concluded a very busy day to cap off their annual work trip to Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, I was unable to be here in the Chamber to assist and help my good friend from Virginia in offering this amendment.
I personally thank the Senator from Virginia for filling in the gap yesterday and getting this amendment up on this bill. This is an issue that needs to be addressed and I could not ask for a more dedicated and steadfast ally than Senator Allen in helping pursue justice for all of the innocent American victims of state-sponsored terrorism. This is an issue that must be addressed by this Congress.
That is why the bipartisan legislation Senator Allen and I introduced in April--the Terrorism Victim's Access to Compensation Act (S. 2134) and the amendment that Senator Allen joins me in offering here take two very important steps. First, this amendment would require that compensation be paid first and foremost from the blocked and frozen assets of the state sponsors of terrorism and their agents, not U.S. taxpayers, in cases where American victims of terrorism secure a final judgment in our federal courts and are awarded compensation accordingly.
Second, this amendment provides a level playing field for all American victims of state-sponsored terrorism who are pursuing redress in our federal courts and compensation from the blocked assets of state sponsors of terrorism, including their agencies and instrumentalities.
Madam President, we are united as Americans to meet the threat of international terrorism. This fight is being waged on many fronts, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the borders and streets of America.
Even as we track down the terrorists and defend America, we must never forget that terrorist acts are ultimately stories of human tragedy. We must never forget the victims.
I am talking about American victims like the dedicated, professional woman from Waverly, IA, Kathryn Koob, who sought to build cross-
cultural ties between the Iranian people and the American people only to be taken hostage in the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held captive for 444 nightmarish days in Iran.
I am talking about American victims like Taleb Subh from LeClaire, IA, who, as a teenager, was visiting relatives in Kuwait and terrorized by Saddam Hussein and his troops at the outbreak of the Persian Gulf War.
These are two examples, but Americans in all 50 states have suffered. That is why Senator Allen and I have joined together with 17 co-
sponsors on both sides of the aisle to advance this legislation to ensure that American victims of state-sponsored terrorism are justly compensated for their pain, suffering, and losses.
Current law allows American citizens to sue terrorists for compensation for their losses. Many Americans have won verdicts and judgments in our federal courts, yet have been unable to collect even though the U.S. Treasury lawfully controls at least $3.7 billion in blocked or frozen assets of the seven foreign governments known to sponsor terrorism. Our own government has worked to prevent these families from collecting. In fact, our own State Department and Justice Department have gone into federal court to single out and block the 52 Americans held hostage in Iran and their families from even being able to pursue justice in our federal courts, let alone collect compensation.
To be clear, current law only applies to terrorist states. At present, seven foreign governments are officially designated by the U.S. State Department as state sponsors of terrorism. They are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba. It is those state sponsors of international terrorism, not the American taxpayer, who must be compelled to pay these costs first and foremost.
The Harkin-Allen Amendment sends a clear message to foreign governments that sponsor international terrorism: If you sponsor terrorism, if you attack innocent Americans, we will pursue you, we will bring you to justice, and America will literally make you pay.
American victims of state-sponsored terrorism deserve to be compensated for their pain, suffering, and losses by those terrorists who sponsor and commit these terrible acts. The Congress should clear the way for those with court-ordered judgments to be paid from blocked terrorist assets and, in so doing, deter future acts of state-sponsored terrorism against innocent Americans.
Again, I appreciate the Senator from Virginia taking the initiative on this and getting this amendment up when I was unavoidably detained yesterday. I hope we have a resounding vote in favor of its passage.
Mr. ALLEN. Will the Senator yield?
Mr. HARKIN. I yield.
Mr. ALLEN. I say to my good friend from Iowa, Senator Harkin, this is referred to as the Harkin-Allen amendment. I thank you for your great leadership. All of us have a lot of busy times around here, but we are teamed together for the victims who ought to get just compensation from these terrorists.
Mr. HARKIN. I thank the Senator from Virginia for his kindness and generosity and for propounding that unanimous consent request. He is a gentleman.
Several Senators addressed the Chair.
Mr. HARKIN. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Vermont.
Mr. LEAHY. I ask for the yeas and nays on both amendments--I withdraw that.
Madam President, I ask unanimous consent I be allowed to proceed for no more than 3 minutes on the Leahy-Hatch amendment.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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