Alfonse D’Amato

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is and shall remain the undivided capital of the State of Israel. The facts are simple: Jerusalem belongs to Israel for the simple reason that for three millennia, it has been the spiritual, historical, cultural, and moral capital of the Jewish people. In recognition of this fact, the relocation of our Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem should take place as called for in the Jerusalem Embassy Relocation Act of 1995. Thirty years after reuniting the city after preempting another attack by her surrounding Arab neighbors, Israel has sought to make the city open to people of all faiths and to make the holy sites available to all who come. The fact remains, that Jerusalem has never been the capital of any nation but that of the Jews. That is the way it should remain. Mr. President, Jerusalem has been central in the thoughts and minds of the Jewish people for 3,000 years. As the holy city, Jerusalem is the spiritual and religious center of Judaism and is an indivisible part of the State of Israel. While I understand that the present Middle East peace negotiations are both complicated and delicate, I do not want anyone to fall under the impression that Jerusalem will belong to anyone other than Israel. If the future of Jerusalem remains unclear in the minds of the Palestinians then they will increase their demands and this will further complicate the already tense negotiations. Let the message be clear: A united Jerusalem is off limits to negotiation.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, I introduce the Housing 2020: Multifamiy Management Reform Act at the request of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD], the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo. I am a cosponsor of separate legislation to reform HUD's multifamily housing inventory, the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (S. 513). While the Senate and the administration bills share the same objectives, some policy differences exist. Specifically, each bill takes a significantly different approach to the following key issues: project-basing versus tenant-basing; tax implications of debt restructuring; and use of third parties to administer the restructuring program. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and Secretary Cuomo to resolve HUD's multifamily housing crisis as expeditiously as possible.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, I introduce the Housing 2020: Multifamiy Management Reform Act at the request of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD], the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo. I am a cosponsor of separate legislation to reform HUD's multifamily housing inventory, the Multifamily Assisted Housing Reform and Affordability Act of 1997 (S. 513). While the Senate and the administration bills share the same objectives, some policy differences exist. Specifically, each bill takes a significantly different approach to the following key issues: project-basing versus tenant-basing; tax implications of debt restructuring; and use of third parties to administer the restructuring program. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate and Secretary Cuomo to resolve HUD's multifamily housing crisis as expeditiously as possible.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senators Connie Mack, Kit Bond, and Arlen Specter to introduce a concurrent resolution condemning the Palestinian Authority for the killing of Palestinians for selling land to Israelis. This legislation is being offered concurrently in the House by my colleagues, Congressmen Jon Fox and Jerry Weller. Mr. President, we are offering this resolution because it is appalling that Yasir Arafat, to whom we provide millions of dollars in aid, is allowing his so-called police officers from the Palestinian Authority to carry out assassinations of Arab land dealers for their sales of land to Jews. Arafat terms these dealers ``isolated traitors'' for their actions and has thereby given his approval to these killings. Thus far, three land dealers have been killed, execution style with a bullet to the back of the head, all by Palestinian Authority police officers. The Israeli police have already arrested one man in the killing of the first land dealer, Farid Bashiti, and earlier in the week they arrested four Palestinian officers attempting to kidnap another land dealer. According to a story in today's Ha'aretz (a newspaper in Israel) the detained Palestinian police officers have given information that links Tawfik Tirawi, the head of security in Ramallah, under Palestinian Authority control. At this time, I would ask unanimous consent that the text of this article be included in the Record. This is an interesting state of affairs that we have here. The United States provides funding to the Palestinian Authority, they violate the agreements they have signed with the Israelis, and we go about our way as if nothing has happened. Arafat's Palestinian Authority mismanages the funds it has and we provide more. This is outrageous and unfortunate. The world must realize that Israel, while keeping its agreements with the Palestinians, is held to a different standard, harassed, criticized, and denigrated for building condominiums at Har Homa, on territory that is its own, perfectly legal according to the Oslo agreement but nevertheless condemned as flagrantly violating the peace. Yet where is the criticism of the terrorism practiced by the Palestinians? Where are the U.N. resolutions condemning these summary executions by the Palestinian police? Yasir Arafat pushed for the U.N. to condemn the building at Har Homa, yet he brands extrajudicial killings as justifiable for traitors. What a despicable contradiction. Mr. President, we offer this resolution to call attention to these horrible killings by Palestinian police sanctioned by the PLO in violation of every standard of international human rights, and to call attention to the fact that Yasir Arafat's PLO has not changed its spots; it has not reformed. Why, we ask, does the United States continue to allow these acts to take place? I urge my colleagues to support this resolution as well as to examine this issue to understand Yasir Arafat's behavior.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the work of someone who is rightly referred to as the dean of the New York press corps, Alan Emory, Washington bureau chief of the Watertown Daily Times. This Saturday Alan marks his 50th year with the Times, the last 46 have been spent here in Washington. But more important than the length of Alan's service is the manner in which he has served his community. He has been a thoughtful, candid, and thoroughly professional reporter who has given the readers of the Watertown Times a clear view of the work of their elected officials in Washington. Alan is tough but fair, and his influence extends far beyond Watertown. Never content to just follow the pack, Alan is constantly on the lookout for stories that may not make the network evening news, but which have a real impact on the lives of his readers. Born in New York City, Alan was raised on Long Island and educated at Phillips Exeter Academy, Harvard University, and the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. A World War II veteran, he arrived in Watertown in July 1947 and was one of three Columbia graduates hired that summer by Harold B. Johnson, the editor and publisher of the Watertown Times. Alan's first beats included the Boy Scouts and the local railroad station, but he was soon assigned to cover the city of Massena where he got his day-to-day newspaper training. It was also during this time that Alan began covering politics and his impressive work led to his editor assigning him to the St. Lawrence County political beat. In October 1948 he was appointed State editor and the following year he was named Albany correspondent. During his time in Albany he met his wife of 47 years, Nancy, and they have two sons, Marc and John, and a daughter, Katharine. In 1951, Alan was asked to go to Washington. For 46 years and the administrations of 10 Presidents, Alan has kept his readers informed about what's going on down here and how it affects them. Alan has always been an example of the best in professional journalism and he has proudly served as president and director of the Society of Professional Journalists and as president of the Gridiron Club. Mr. President, I want to extend congratulations to Alan Emory on 50 years of providing journalistic excellence to the readers of the Watertown Times. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Mr. BINGAMAN addressed the Chair.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. I did not receive a direct reply, but let me tell you what I did get just yesterday. I received a letter from Mr. Meile's attorney, Marcel Bosonnet. In the letter the prosecutor says, basically, that ``we intend,'' and I quote, ``to bring a charge'' against Mr. Meili. They are going to charge Mr. Meili with criminal conduct, not the bank which shredded the records. And they want Mr. Meili to come back to Switzerland for another interview. Mr. Meili's lawyer, Mr. Bosonnet, writing to a lawyer who is representing Mr. Meili because Mr. Meili is here in hiding, has advised him not to come back to Switzerland because he would face not only persecution but prosecution and harassment. Now, Mr. President, it is one thing for the Swiss Government to say, ``Do not blame us for what took place 50 years ago'', and another thing to say, ``Well, what we are doing today is correct.'' I say to the Swiss Government and to the Swiss banks, do not shred the truth. Tell the truth. Mr. Meili should not be facing criminal charges for coming forward. Let me share with you, if I might, what I learned just before we adjourned. And, by the way, I commend my colleagues in the Senate for passing the bill which will give to Mr. Meili relief, a private relief bill which will permit him and his family to reside in this country legally and to be able to be gainfully employed. That legislation is now pending action in the House. But let me say to you that I think all of us were moved when we heard the testimony of Mr. Meili. I said to him, ``Christoph, why did you do this? Why did you take these documents and report and expose what was going on?'' Do you know what he said? He said, ``Two months earlier I saw `Schindler's List,' and I knew that I must be doing something, and I could not just stand by and let this take place.'' So I say to my colleagues in the Senate and in the House, can we do anything less than to ask for speedy passage of that legislation that will give Christoph the right to work and live here in this great country, to tell him that we do appreciate his standing up for truth and justice, and also to let the Swiss Government know in the strongest terms that we are not going to stand by and do business as usual. We are not going to allow them to harass this young man, because this prosecutor is way off base. If anything, he should be investigating the destruction of those historical documents by the Union Bank, documents that existed in some cases for more than 60 years. Suddenly they say they began to destroy them by accident. I do not believe it. It also raises in this Senator's mind the question of how historical documents that have been stored in warehouses belonging to some of the banking institutions mysteriously have caught on fire. I'm talking about four different warehouses in this country, the latest being in New Jersey, concerning documents that belonged to Credit Suisse. I wonder how it is that shredding takes place after 60 years by accident. When a young bank guard comes forward and says, ``Look, this is not right,'' he, then, becomes the victim and becomes the criminal. What we seek is justice and a full accounting. And certainly fair treatment of this heroic young man. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the case of Christoph Meili. He is a heroic young Swiss bank guard, 27 years of age, who stumbled on a situation that was rather remarkable. It was the shredding this past January of historical documents at Union Bank of Switzerland, one of Switzerland's largest, most prestigious banks. He noted that these records dated during the period of the Holocaust, prior to and during World War II, and he knew that the Government of Switzerland had just passed legislation prohibiting destruction of just these types of records. He took a handful of these records and brought them to the Jewish Cultural Society. They then passed them on to the police--never went to the media. The records were never copied. They were never in any way compromised. For his bravery, for standing up and doing the right thing, he has been fired from his job. In his termination letter, Mr. Meile was told that although his conduct was ``classified as ethical and moral in certain circles,'' his actions were unjustifiable from the perspective of labor law. Can you imagine that. He saw the law being violated. He knew that these documents were of import, and he was fired. Here is a noble young man who risked everything, a humble man, a high school education, with a wife and two children. What happened? He is called a traitor to his country. His wife and children are threatened. Hundreds of letters pour in. Let me read one letter, and it is a tough letter. And I have seen many of these: Meile, you bastard. The secret numbered account won't do you any good. You are a son of a bitch, a traitor to your country. It will cost you your life. Your children are in danger. We will kidnap them and make sure that you pay the ransom with your Jewish money. We'll finish you off. We're going to wipe out the entire Meile clan. Traitors like you are not wanted. If you have any courage, you'll kill yourself or emigrate into the promised land to your Jewish friends--to Israel or the U.S. You won't live much longer in Switzerland if you don't kill yourself. That is the kind of thing he has been subjected to. This brave, courageous and righteous young man finds himself terminated from employment, blacklisted. The chairman of the board of Union Bank, Mr. Studer says that he thinks Mr. Meili did this to get money. Now, let me say something. Mr. Meili did not go to the press. This information was released by the Union Bank and the police authorities. I have just recently written to the local prosecutor, and in that letter of May 15 I said, basically, are you still threatening to prosecute Mr. Meili? I ask that the full text of that letter be printed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, first of all, let me thank Senator Hutchinson for being so gracious in permitting me this opportunity because I know he had asked to speak earlier.

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I ask that I might be permitted to proceed for up to 10 minutes as if in morning business.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, I introduce the Public Housing Management Reform Act of 1997 at the request of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, I introduce the Public Housing Management Reform Act of 1997 at the request of the Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. I will not take a long time. Mr. President, let me just simply say this: I support the efforts of my distinguished colleague from Florida. He has been instrumental in helping to lead the way. I remember when we first appropriated money from the defense account for breast cancer research. Were it not for his persuasiveness on the floor, I do not know if we would have ever made that historic breakthrough. That was an amendment offered by Senator Harkin and myself. It was really Senator Mack who made a difference in this presentation with his efforts. Let me say this: We are missing the boat. We are just dreadfully missing the boat. Where is our sense of priority in terms of how we do the business of the people? I have to tell you something. We should take money from any one of a number of sources to see to it that the NIH is properly funded. What we are doing today--making scavengers and beggars of the best in biomedical research--is just simply wrong, whether it is for AIDS, whether it is pediatric work, cancer research, breast cancer, or prostate cancer. Virtually every male in this Chamber is going to get prostate cancer if they live long enough. What are we doing to ourselves and to future generations? I suggest that we are mortgaging it by not coming forward and allocating resources. I don't care if it comes from the gasoline tax, the cigarette tax, or from cutting expenditures in other areas. We couldn't invest money more prudently than in this kind of medical research. We shouldn't be juggling funds and saying take it from diabetic research and put it into some other area. Every one of these areas under NIH needs more money. So, Mr. President, I hope that we not only pass this resolution but then do the business of the people, and that we stand up and say, ``Yes, we are going to allocate the necessary resources.'' There was a 4.3-cent-per-gallon raise in the gas tax to help bring the deficit down. You ask the American people if they wouldn't take one penny of that--which is a lot of money on an annual basis, well over $1 billion--and use that for medical research. You ask them whether or not they would be willing to see to it that expenditures that we are making today should not be diverted to this area. And they would tell you to spend the money for the research so we don't have to go begging and turning down worthy applications because we are talking about the lives of our children and future generations. I yield the floor. I thank my colleagues for their patience.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a sense-of-the- Senate resolution on a subject of profound importance for the youth of our Nation and the future economic well-being of our citizens and our country. It is a subject that every single adult in our country must deal with on a day-to-day basis and whose fortune depends on its successful application. And yet, no matter how vital this subject is, we often don't realize what scant energy and resources are devoted to mastering it. What is this subject that is woven throughout our lives, touching everyone but which is frequently ignored? Simply put, it is financial literacy; the ability to manage money. Modern American life offers us a world of almost limitless financial possibilities. Marshalling all the knowledge and resources of the modern marketplace, people today are provided with a tremendous variety of choices about how to earn a living, invest for the future, and provide security for their families. The benefits of such financial diversity are obviously great, but only if coupled with the knowledge of how to apply basic economic reasoning. For all too many of our fellow citizens, this knowledge was never imparted to them in all their years of schooling. The consequences of such financial ignorance are obvious and extremely costly, not only on a personal level, but also to the country's economy. Extraordinarily high consumer debt, bankruptcy, low savings rates, the inability of many to make sound and reasonable budgets and financial plans--these are the symptoms of a disease that sap our Nation's strength, Mr. President. A disease of financial ignorance and apathy. But fortunately one with a cure, if we just make the effort to teach our children the basic financial management skills we've always assumed that they had. Our schools teach reading, writing, history, languages, mathematics, and science, among other subjects. But do we teach our children how to balance a checkbook? Do we instruct them on the beauty of compounding interest, which allows one to save vast amounts of money over the long term for an education, or retirement, or to buy a home? Do we instruct them in avoiding the credit card trap of easy financing, only to be hit later with high finance charges? Do we train students to understand how to budget their money, and do they realize the relationship of taxes, spending, and investing? Too often, Mr. President, we do not. The resolution I place before the Senate today recognizes the danger to our Nation's continued economic vitality by its support of an innovative public-private partnership, called the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. Jump$tart's primary goal is to improve the financial literacy of our children from kindergarten through twelfth grade by strengthening curriculums across the country in their teaching of basic financial management skills, such as budgeting, saving, investing, and borrowing. Additionally, Jump$tart puts into place mechanisms to survey high school seniors every other year to monitor the understanding of the students toward financial literacy. With the data provided by the surveys, we will be able to track the progress of schools as they improve their teaching of financial literacy. Mr. President, the Jump$tart Coalition will also create a national data base to hold an annotated listing of information in personal finance education. I believe this will be an invaluable clearinghouse of knowledge, giving our teachers and school districts a wide range of teaching materials which they can choose from to suit their particular situation. Recognizing how important financial literacy is to the future success of our country, an impressive roster of participating organizations has lined up in support of the Jump$tart Coalition. From the Federal Reserve, to the American Financial Services Association to the Consumer Bankers Association to institutions of higher learning, including one from my home State, the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oneonta; they know the keys to personal success lie with teaching kids financial smarts. The Wall Street Journal has signed on as well, utilizing their innovative Classroom Edition to reach out directly to students, offering instruction in money management. Mr. President, on Thursday, May 22, the Jump$tart Coalition will announce the results of a national survey conducted to gage the financial literacy of today's high school seniors. Preliminary results highlight the urgent need for work in this area. The Jump$tart Coalition initiatives are voluntary, but through public awareness and access to curriculum information, I am confident we can make great strides in ending the ignorance. The children of today will be the economic decision makers of tomorrow; they need dollars and sense savvy to make the right decisions for themselves and their families, and with a little extra effort, we can teach them. The Jump$tart Coalition is a worthy effort at teaching our youth the money management skill necessary to prosper in the years to come, and should appeal to members from both sides of the aisle. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise in order to urge the Senate to pass and send to the President, H.R. 1650, a bill to award Mother Teresa a Congressional Gold Medal. I would like to take this opportunity to commend our colleague, the honorable Senator from Kansas, Sam Brownback, for his tireless efforts to pass this legislation. Senator Brownback first introduced a Senate version of this legislation, S. 689, earlier this month with overwhelming bipartisan support and cosponsorship. That this legislation has moved quickly and easily through both Houses of Congress is a testament not only to Mother Teresa's humanitarian and charitable activities over a lifetime, but also to Senator Brownback's hard work and commitment to honoring this outstanding human being. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest honor Congress can bestow on someone for acts and dedication to a cause that exceeds even the highest standards. This bill honors Mother Teresa for her lifelong devotion to the sick and the needy in the most impoverished areas of the world. It also recognizes her work to build and sustain the Missionaries of Charities in 25 countries. Under her direction and following her example of selflessness, over 3,000 members of the Missionaries of Charities stand ready to continue her work. Mr. President, Mother Teresa has already been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It is time for Congress itself to honor Mother Teresa and I commend Senator Brownback for initiating this legislation. I offer my personal thanks and congratulations to my colleague.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the topic of North Atlantic Treaty Organization [NATO] enlargement and U.S. security. Now that there is agreement on the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security Between NATO and the Russian Federation, a significant obstacle to NATO enlargement has been removed. I have said before and say again that NATO enlargement is good for the United States, good for our NATO allies, good for the candidate states, and good for Russia. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is scheduled to announce at its July 8 and 9 summit meeting in Madrid, Spain, which candidate states will be invited to engage in negotiations leading to accession of these states to the Washington Treaty by 1999. Each of the states that have expressed interest in consideration for accession are participating states in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe [OSCE]. As Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, I have led the Commission through a series of hearings on NATO enlargement which we will complete with a final hearing next Tuesday. We have invited official representatives of states to present their own positions to the Commission at these hearings to help meet the Commission's responsibility to the Congress and the American people to oversee implementation of the Helsinki Accords and subsequent Helsinki process documents, with a particular emphasis on human rights and humanitarian affairs. Congress and NATO have both recognized the significance of candidate states' compliance with OSCE principles in various official documents. The Commission's approach to this series of hearings is focused on how well these candidate states have implemented OSCE agreements and complied with OSCE principles. Commissioners ask questions relating to other areas of candidate states' policies and conduct that have been identified as critical to acceptance into NATO, but we are not competing with the committees having legislative jurisdiction in these areas, who will examine those issues more thoroughly and with greater expertise. Let me make it very clear that I am a supporter of NATO enlargement. I think that, in principle, every candidate state should be included in NATO when they meet the standards for accession. I do not believe that NATO enlargement should end with the Madrid announcement of the states invited to participate in accession negotiations. I believe that it is very important that the United States, and our NATO allies, make very clear to those states not invited to join in the first round that the door is not closed, that the process has not ended, and that we and our allies encourage them to press ahead to meet the standards so that they can join when they are ready. We must, with our allies, establish a clearly defined process for achieving membership. If we don't, we run the risk of cutting the legs out from under the reform movements just now taking control of some of the Eastern European countries that have failed to reform their political, military, and economic systems fast enough to meet NATO member country standards. These reform governments must be given a clear, strong signal that when they meet the standards, they will be allowed to join. We must not create in Eastern Europe a gray zone between NATO and Russia where the old spheres of influence and balance of power politics could give rise to lasting political instability, poverty, and isolation. While I have not yet seen the text of the new Founding Act, according to news reports it does not create a group of second class NATO members whose security guarantees are diluted and undermined. NATO enlargement does not threaten Russia's security. An Eastern Europe without NATO could become a black hole of unrest, poverty, ethnic conflict, and extremism of the worst kinds. This would likely attract overt and covert Russian intervention in the affairs of the states in this area, pulling Russia into rebuilding its military machine and deploying it westward, and triggering United States and allied reaction. Neither the United States nor Russia want that to happen. An eastern Europe without NATO would threaten Russia's security by preventing Russia from changing its thinking about NATO and about European political and economic relations, preventing constructive changes in Russian policy, and delaying or blocking Russia's full integration into the community of nations. NATO enlargement is good for Russia. Russian agreement to the Founding Act signals that the Russian foreign policy elite recognizes that fact. Now, Russian energies can focus on driving political and economic reform to a successful conclusion instead of battling NATO enlargement. Russia should be pleased that one of its strategic flanks will be secured by a strong, friendly defensive alliance. Russia should take note that the political, economic, military, and foreign policy changes NATO is insisting upon in successful candidate states will build stable, democratic, free market countries that will not themselves engage in aggression against Russia and that will not allow themselves to become participants in some other state's aggressive designs. Russia should want states with these characteristics on its borders. The Russian foreign policy elites should climb up in the Kremlin's towers and look hard at the situations on Russia's other borders. Agreement with the Final Act signals some understanding that it is not in Russia's best long term interests to keep eastern Europe unstable and economically backward. After Russia's experiences in Afghanistan and Chechnya, does Russia really think that any threat, much less the main threat, to its independence and territorial integrity comes from NATO? Russia's leaders have a question to which they need an answer--when Russia gets into trouble, who can Russia call upon for help? Recent reports of closer relations between Russia and China should not lead to the conclusion that Russia has a friend or an ally in China. The only nations Russia can count on for help are the nations with the capacity to help. The only nations with that capacity are the developed nations of the West, the most powerful of whom are NATO members, and Japan. For that help to be available, Russia now needs to press ahead with the same agenda of reforms that the NATO candidate states are implementing. It would be far easier to convince the western republics that Russia deserves help when it needs it if Russia is a democratic, rule-of-law state with a free market economy. Reportedly under the new Founding Act, Russia does not have a veto over NATO enlargement and no state's candidacy is foreclosed. Russia needs leaders who can discard cold war thinking and stop seeing NATO enlargement as a victory for the West and a defeat for Russia. Boris Yeltsin is such a leader. NATO enlargement is good for the United States, good for NATO's current member states, good for the candidate states, and, finally, good for Russia. Wednesday's agreement on the Founding Act on Mutual Relations, Cooperation and Security Between NATO and the Russian Federation between NATO Secretary General Solana and Russian Foreign Minister Primakov proves that Russia's current leaders are not as opposed in fact as they sounded in rhetoric to NATO enlargement. The agreement reportedly was put before the North Atlantic Council, NATO's highest body, earlier today, and was approved. Among other things, it draws Russia into closer collaboration with NATO on matters of mutual concern. The new NATO-Russia Council will give Russia insight into NATO processes and input into NATO consideration of issues without allowing Russia to block measures the alliance agrees must be taken for our mutual security. Perhaps the best part of this enlargement process is not the military security guarantees that go with it to successful candidate states, but the leverage that the enlargement process exerts for basic change in each candidate state that will result in better, safer, and more prosperous lives for each of their citizens. The impact of that leverage has been on view during the course of the Commission's hearing process, as ambassadors of candidate states discuss their progress in meeting the standards for membership. Even better, there may be the beginning of a halo effect on the surrounding countries. As they see their neighbors moving into closer integration with the West, they are becoming concerned about their own futures. They can see NATO membership being followed by European Union membership for these successful neighbors. They can see them pulling ahead in the competition for foreign investment, trade, and market access, growing in prosperity and stability behind NATO's shield. And they understand that there is no alternate path that they can follow that will get them to the same place any time soon. Thus, even those states that are not now candidates for NATO membership are influenced in the direction of political and economic reform by the process of NATO enlargement. This will have a very positive and long-lasting impact on Europe's political stability, prosperity, and freedom, and decrease the chances that the security guarantees we solemnly extend to new NATO members will ever have to be invoked in crisis or in conflict. This, in the end, is a tremendous benefit for the security of the United States. I believe that we must be resolute in pursuing our aim of expanding NATO to encompass all candidate states that meet the standards for membership. We must make it clear that the enlargement is a continuing process that will not end with the first group announced at Madrid, and that NATO membership remains open to states as they improve conditions for their people. In the end, this effort will move European security, prosperity, freedom, and human rights ahead more rapidly than any other course of action. In closing, I want to briefly say something to those Americans who can trace their roots to those countries now being considered for NATO membership. Thanks in part to the hopes and beliefs that you would not let die even when times were very bad, and to your hard work in the American political system, these countries are free and independent again, something the realists of 10 years ago would have said couldn't happen, and would never happen. Keeping the faith, making sure that the United States never recognized the incorporation of the Baltic States into the Soviet Union, making sure that we supported Solidarity, sustaining support for Charter 77, keeping the life lines open to the many struggling Helsinki groups, making your voices heard here in Washington, those were key events that helped pave the way to where we are today. Thank you for your efforts and know that the futures of these countries could have been much worse but for your active support for their sovereign independence, and for freedom and human rights for their citizens.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senators Feinstein, Hatch, Dodd, Abraham, Torricelli, Biden, and Boxer to introduce a bill to provide protection to Christophe and his family so that they may stay in this country and that Christophe may be allowed to work and support his family. Christophe Meili is the Swiss bank guard fired after he reported the destruction of Holocaust era bank records at the Union Bank of Switzerland, Zurich branch, on January 8, 1997. He is here along with his wife Guiseppina, and his two children, Miriam and David. For his bravery in saving historically important documents from the shredder, Christophe was fired and today is under investigation for violating Swiss bank secrecy laws for disclosing the records, first to the Zurich Jewish Community and then to the Swiss police. He has faced persecution and penalties for a deed that ennobles him in the eyes of the world. Moreover, he and his family have faced hundreds of death threats, including kidnaping threats made against his children. He is truly a man without a country. When we held a hearing on his plight in the Banking Committee, he made two remarkable statements. First, when asked why he felt the records he saved were important, he responded, ``A few months before, I had seen the movie `Schindler's List.' And that's how, when I saw these documents, I realized I must take responsibility; I must do something.'' When I asked him at the end of the hearing if he had anything to add, he said, Please protect me in the U.S.A. and in Switzerland. I think I become a great problem in Switzerland. I have a woman, two little children, and no future. I must see what goes on in the next days for me. Please protect me. That is all. Mr. President, we owe Christophe Meili this much. He has asked to be protected and it is our duty to do so. We are in the presence of a very good man, a man who has made a difference and will be remembered for generations to come. Christophe Meili should be viewed as a hero, not a criminal. His actions in preventing the destruction of evidence are courageous and serve the cause of justice for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and their families. It is a stain upon the victims' memory that a young man who saved records to help their cause is now being made a victim. It is unfortunate that the chairman of UBS, Robert Studer, has even made remarks questioning the motivation of Christophe for preventing the destruction of these records. Moreover, while Christophe and his family have been persecuted for his noble deed, it is a disgrace that the bank's archivist who ordered the shredding at UBS, Erwin Haggenmuller, still has his job. I wrote to Peter Cosandey, the district attorney of Zurich who is investigating this case, and I asked him to end his harassment of Christophe. I also asked him why he is not investigating Erwin Hagenmuller for his role in ordering the shredding of the files. Christophe has been unemployed since January and this hardship is taking its toll on this brave young man and his family. Thankfully, Edgar Bronfman has come to the rescue once again by offering Christophe a job. I am sure that this is a comfort to Christophe and his family. Christophe Meili's story is one of a man dedicated to seeing that justice is achieved, yet persecuted because he tried to ensure it. His treatment by the security firm that employed him and the bank that wants him prosecuted, is unjust and unfair. This is a tragedy. Because he did his job, Christophe Meili was fired. Because he showed courage and integrity, Christophe Meili was fired. And now, they are threatening him with prosecution. The people deserve better. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me in granting this hero, this righteous man, the sanctuary that he has requested and that he and his family deserve. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today, along with Senators Feinstein, Hatch, Dodd, Abraham, Torricelli, Biden, and Boxer to introduce a bill to provide protection to Christophe and his family so that they may stay in this country and that Christophe may be allowed to work and support his family. Christophe Meili is the Swiss bank guard fired after he reported the destruction of Holocaust era bank records at the Union Bank of Switzerland, Zurich branch, on January 8, 1997. He is here along with his wife Guiseppina, and his two children, Miriam and David. For his bravery in saving historically important documents from the shredder, Christophe was fired and today is under investigation for violating Swiss bank secrecy laws for disclosing the records, first to the Zurich Jewish Community and then to the Swiss police. He has faced persecution and penalties for a deed that ennobles him in the eyes of the world. Moreover, he and his family have faced hundreds of death threats, including kidnaping threats made against his children. He is truly a man without a country. When we held a hearing on his plight in the Banking Committee, he made two remarkable statements. First, when asked why he felt the records he saved were important, he responded, ``A few months before, I had seen the movie `Schindler's List.' And that's how, when I saw these documents, I realized I must take responsibility; I must do something.'' When I asked him at the end of the hearing if he had anything to add, he said, Please protect me in the U.S.A. and in Switzerland. I think I become a great problem in Switzerland. I have a woman, two little children, and no future. I must see what goes on in the next days for me. Please protect me. That is all. Mr. President, we owe Christophe Meili this much. He has asked to be protected and it is our duty to do so. We are in the presence of a very good man, a man who has made a difference and will be remembered for generations to come. Christophe Meili should be viewed as a hero, not a criminal. His actions in preventing the destruction of evidence are courageous and serve the cause of justice for the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and their families. It is a stain upon the victims' memory that a young man who saved records to help their cause is now being made a victim. It is unfortunate that the chairman of UBS, Robert Studer, has even made remarks questioning the motivation of Christophe for preventing the destruction of these records. Moreover, while Christophe and his family have been persecuted for his noble deed, it is a disgrace that the bank's archivist who ordered the shredding at UBS, Erwin Haggenmuller, still has his job. I wrote to Peter Cosandey, the district attorney of Zurich who is investigating this case, and I asked him to end his harassment of Christophe. I also asked him why he is not investigating Erwin Hagenmuller for his role in ordering the shredding of the files. Christophe has been unemployed since January and this hardship is taking its toll on this brave young man and his family. Thankfully, Edgar Bronfman has come to the rescue once again by offering Christophe a job. I am sure that this is a comfort to Christophe and his family. Christophe Meili's story is one of a man dedicated to seeing that justice is achieved, yet persecuted because he tried to ensure it. His treatment by the security firm that employed him and the bank that wants him prosecuted, is unjust and unfair. This is a tragedy. Because he did his job, Christophe Meili was fired. Because he showed courage and integrity, Christophe Meili was fired. And now, they are threatening him with prosecution. The people deserve better. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to join me in granting this hero, this righteous man, the sanctuary that he has requested and that he and his family deserve. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, in 1995, there were over 350,000 victims of rape or sexual assault. The Uniform Crime Reports indicate that means that there is one forcible rape every 5 minutes. The most startling aspect of sex crimes is that they go unreported. There are estimates that only 37 percent of all rapes are reported to the police. Victims of rape and sexual assault need a place to turn to and RAINN's national toll-free hotline for survivors of sexual assault reaches them. The hotline provides callers access to counseling 24 hours a day, from anywhere in the country. RAINN is an acronym for rape, abuse, and incest national network. When a survivor calls the 800 number, a computer identifies the caller's location by reading the area code and the first three digits of the phone number. The call is routed to the rape crisis center nearest the caller. If the line is busy, the call will be routed to the next closest center. RAINN networks with 628 crisis centers across the Nation, responding to victim's immediate needs. Since its inception in 1994, this organization has helped more than 140,000 victims of sexual assault. I am bringing attention to the tremendous work of RAINN because at noon today, on May 16, radio stations across the United States will interrupt their regular programming to play a song from a rape survivor, Tori Amos. This is a nationwide call to action--a way to raise public awareness to what is happening to those victimized by rapists. I am proud to be an honorary co-chair of RAINN and commend all those involved in working on this national hotline, one of the most valuable resources for the survivor of rape or sexual abuse. RAINN was founded in July 1994 with grants from the Atlantic Group and Warner Music Group. Support is also provided by Westwood One, MCI, the Jacobs Family Foundation, the Ryka Rose Foundation, and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to call for the release of Wei Jingsheng who has been imprisoned for almost 18 years under the harshest of circumstances in China. Mr. Wei was first jailed in 1979 for advocating democratic reform in China. Can you imagine? The free exchange of such ideas which we take for granted every day in the United States cost Mr. Wei his freedom. Mr. Wei was released in 1993 in an act which curiously coincided with an upcoming vote by the International Olympic Committee on China's application to host the Olympic games in the year 2000. China's bid for the Olympic games was unsuccessful and shortly thereafter Mr. Wei was imprisoned again. He is not scheduled for release until 2009. This overtly politically motivated move is unconscionable. Through these years of personal terror Mr. Wei has frequently been held in solitary confinement. He was been the victim of cruelty and mistreatment which had a serious effect on Mr. Wei's health. I am told that Mr. Wei is suffering from heart disease but does not have access to proper medical care. This treatment is simply wrong. The People's Republic of China wants to assume the status of a responsible nation in the world community. And yet they continue to subjugate the people of Tibet. As a case in point, I spoke earlier this year on the floor about Ngawang Choephel, a former Fulbright scholar at Middlebury College and a friend of the United States, who is serving an 18-year prison term for supposed espionage activities. The People's Republic of China wants to assume the status of a responsible nation in the world community. And yet they continue to subjugate their own people as well. Mr. Wei is a case in point. The State Department in its annual human rights record for 1996 hit the nail on the head. It said that China ``continued to commit widespread and well-documented human rights abuses, in violation of internationally accepted norms, stemming from the authorities' intolerance of dissent, fear of unrest, and the absence or inadequacy of laws protecting basic freedoms.'' Mr. President, Mr. Wei has suffered enough. The people of Tibet have suffered enough. The people of China have suffered enough. It is time for a change. We must work for that change in areas we can influence. And let's start by calling for the release of Mr. Wei.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I introduce legislation that will extend the Small Business Administration Defense Loan and Technical Assistance [DELTA] Loan Program. There are many areas in the country still in the process of trying to transition from defense into commercial product lines. The proposed legislation would extend the program to September 30, 1999, and broadens the eligibility to include companies that derived at least 25 percent of its sales from defense- related contracts in any 1 of 7 prior years and increases the loan guarantee to 90 percent. Since the funds have already been appropriated no additional funds are required. Presently under the current DELTA Program, a company must have 25 percent of its sales coming from defense contracts in the prior year and guarantees 75 percent of the loan. The current DELTA Program has a sunset clause which goes into effect at the end of fiscal year 1998. Without this legislation, the DELTA Program expires before companies have been given ample opportunity to make this very difficult transition. We have an obligation to provide extended support for small businesses in areas that have been hard hit by defense downsizing. If the DELTA Program is allowed to expire, all the undedicated monies would revert back to the General Treasury. Of the $30 million appropriated, only slightly more than $3 million has been utilized. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the complete text of the bill be placed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I introduce legislation that will extend the Small Business Administration Defense Loan and Technical Assistance [DELTA] Loan Program. There are many areas in the country still in the process of trying to transition from defense into commercial product lines. The proposed legislation would extend the program to September 30, 1999, and broadens the eligibility to include companies that derived at least 25 percent of its sales from defense- related contracts in any 1 of 7 prior years and increases the loan guarantee to 90 percent. Since the funds have already been appropriated no additional funds are required. Presently under the current DELTA Program, a company must have 25 percent of its sales coming from defense contracts in the prior year and guarantees 75 percent of the loan. The current DELTA Program has a sunset clause which goes into effect at the end of fiscal year 1998. Without this legislation, the DELTA Program expires before companies have been given ample opportunity to make this very difficult transition. We have an obligation to provide extended support for small businesses in areas that have been hard hit by defense downsizing. If the DELTA Program is allowed to expire, all the undedicated monies would revert back to the General Treasury. Of the $30 million appropriated, only slightly more than $3 million has been utilized. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in cosponsoring this important legislation. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the complete text of the bill be placed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, it is indeed a pleasure to be with you today.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, on behalf of the majority leader, there will be a period of morning business to allow a number of Senators to speak. The time between 9:45 and 12:30 will be equally divided for statements regarding the Family Friendly Workplace Act. As previously announced, no rollcall votes will occur during today's session of the Senate. On Monday, the Senate will consider the IDEA legislation and/or the CFE treaty. If an agreement can be reached for the consideration of those measures, the majority leader has stated it may be possible to stack any votes ordered until Tuesday. All Members will be notified accordingly when those agreements are reached and when the Senators can anticipate the next rollcall vote. I thank my colleagues for their attention and I thank the President pro tempore for his recognition.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation to address a scourge that has long afflicted the State of New York and many parts of the Northeast. That scourge is acid rain. Ending the scourge of acid rain will not be easy. In fact, it is likely that additional congressional efforts will be necessary to fully address this issue and I intend to continue to work on such efforts. However, I believe that it is necessary to introduce this legislation at this time to make the Senate aware that serious measures must be taken to solve the acid rain problem that continues to impact New York and the Northeast. I look forward to working with my colleagues to develop the most sensible and cost-effective approach to eliminate the damages of acid rain. Over the past 15 years, Congress and the Federal Government have attempted to address this problem. Unfortunately, efforts to date have not yielded the success in may State that New Yorkers had wished. Lakes, streams, and trees in the Adirondacks are still dying due to sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions that are transported from upwind sources. The health of New Yorkers and New York's environment continue to be affected by fuel burning activities in other regions of our Nation. That must change. This bill will see that significant reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are achieved so that New Yorkers and also others in the Northeast will be able to enjoy a cleaner environment. Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide [SO2] and nitrogen oxides [NOx]--created from the burning of fossil fuels-- react with water vapor in the atmosphere to create dilute amounts of sulfuric and nitric acid. These acids then fall to Earth either through precipitation or as gases and dry particles--dry deposition. Congress first passed legislation to address acid rain in the 1982 Clean Air Act amendments. It soon became clear, though, that the provisions would not effectively curb acid rain. The New York State Legislature in 1984 recognized this problem and enacted programs leading to specific reductions of in-State acid rain sources. The success of those efforts have produced a 40-percent reduction to date of in-State emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. New York's efforts notwithstanding, only a small amount of the acid rain that impacts New York State actually originates in New York State. To truly protect New York's environment, it was necessary for facilities in other parts of our Nation to reduce their emissions. Partly as a result of New York's efforts, Congress included title IV in the 1990 Clean Air Act amendments to require a 50-percent decrease nationwide in sulfur dioxide emissions by the year 2000. Because of the requirements of title IV, significant reductions in sulfur dioxide have occurred already. Nevertheless, these reductions are not enough to fully protect the Adirondacks, nor will they reverse the damage that has been done. To do this, further decreases in sulfur dioxide emissions will be necessary. Even with all the many efforts to date and those that need to be achieved in the future, reductions in sulfur dioxide alone will not be sufficient to protect New York's environment from continued acid deposition. Other pollutants, mainly nitrogen oxides [NOx], have also been shown to play a significant role in the acidification of our waters and forests. Without further controls of nitrogen oxides, the EPA estimates that the number of acidic lakes in the Adirondacks will increase to 43 percent by the year 2040. Such an increase will see approximately 1,300 lakes out of the 3,000 in the Adirondacks become chronically acidic. This is not the kind of legacy that we should pass along to future generations. Even with the controls that the Clean Air Act of 1990 imposed, more must be done if the Adirondacks are to be spared further acidification. This legislation will require the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to promulgate regulations to reduce utility emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides by two-thirds from 1990 levels. This legislation targets those areas of the Nation that are the primary contributors of these pollutants. Such reductions will produce dramatic decreases in acid deposition in New York and throughout the Northeast, as well as decreases in the level of fine particulates, ozone and haze. The bill would also expand the membership of the existing Ozone Transport Commission from the current 12 States to include additional States that have been shown to contribute to the long-range transport of ozone and acid rain. The Ozone Transport Commission is authorized under the Clean Air Act to make recommendations for pollution controls to be enacted by member States. The EPA can either approve or disapprove any recommendations. However, the EPA would have to provide equivalent alternatives in those cases where it disapproves the recommendations. Once enacted, this bill would require those States that contribute to acid rain pollution to implement control measures like those currently in place in New York and the Northeast. These include activities like scrubbers on smokestacks, low NOx burners, and the use of low-sulfur coal, although the bill would not mandate which technology to use. For some time now, New York has played by the rules and has gone the extra mile to reduce the emissions that cause acid rain within her borders. While I recognize that the reductions associated with title IV of the Clean Air Act will move us in the right direction, no amount of effort on the part of New York or other similarly afflicted States in the Northeast can be effective if other parts of our Nation do not do their fair share. Enough is enough. I only ask for equity from our neighbors so that New York may be able to enjoy a cleaner environment and the resulting health benefits. It can be done. I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. D'AMATO

Mr. D'AMATO. Mr. President, pursuant to the order, I rise today to speak to the release of the report, and I will show you this report. The report is entitled, and I think the title is important, ``U.S. and Allied Efforts To Recover and Restore Gold Stolen by Germany During World War II.'' I think that description of the report is totally inadequate. It is a great report. The author and the person who has worked so hard, Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary of Commerce and soon to be Assistant Secretary for Economic Affairs in the State Department, should be proud. We should all commend him for his efforts at getting the truth. What this report might better be called is the report on the greatest robbery that mankind has seen take place under the guise of the law and under the guise of civilized conventions and under and with the approval of allies who did not face the killing machine of the German Nazi armies. This was after the war that the greatest looting continued and this conspiracy continued for 50-plus years. Let me say we owe a great debt of gratitude to Stuart Eizenstat because he comes forward with the truth--not all of it, because not all of the documents and not all of the evidence are available or have been made available, but it is a beginning. His dedication to the truth and the perseverance he has demonstrated, and those who work with him, to bring us to this point should be commended. He has done this despite opposition from many quarters, quarters within our own Government, the State Department. The State Department was not happy; they were not happy campers. He pushed forward and he saw to it that this report was released. It really cracks the conspiracy, the veil of secrecy that has existed for 50-plus years. It begins to unravel the web and the deception that has been continued for 50 years, the so-called neutrality of some nations, and particularly the Swiss. Simply put, this report details the greatest robbery in the history of mankind. It underscores the necessity for a complete review and release of all of the documents and a full accounting of the assets that the Swiss held during the war and continued to hold for the past 50 years. It is outrageous that this crime could continue and that there were nations and citizens and representatives of this country, as well as our allies, as well as the French, as well as the English, who countenanced this. There were no great German armies threatening them at that point in time. The Swiss cannot claim that they were fearful because they were surrounded and they were a tiny little nation. The report demonstrates beyond a shadow of a doubt the guilt and complicity of the Swiss Government as the bankers for the Nazis during World War II. Holocaust victims and their families have to shudder when they read this report. It leaves the unmistakable conclusion that we have to look carefully and ask our allies to look with us at whether or not we should reopen the Washington accords. The Washington accords set the basis for the distribution of billions and billions of dollars worth of gold. Literally, let me say that it would appear that the Swiss Government withheld billions. I will get into some detail and indicate how much. It is very clear that the Swiss Government was not forthcoming, that they were deceptive in terms of how much in the way of assets they were holding, that the Nazi killing machine had deposited with them. They kept these billions of dollars illegally and improperly, notwithstanding the bonafideness they might claim as a result of the accords being agreed to by the Allies. Some of this money, unmistakably, came from the death camps, places like Auschwitz and Treblinka, as well as from the peoples throughout Europe who were slaughtered when the Nazi killing machine swept across the Continent. In the 1946 accords between the Allies and Switzerland, the Swiss Government only agreed to give the Allies $58 million in gold. That would be the equivalent of about $580 million today, despite the fact that even some of our negotiators knew they had at least $398 million, or worth close to $4 billion today. So, while they had $4 billion that never belonged to them, they distributed and agreed to distribute a small portion of that. They basically said, ``We have it, we are not telling you how much, and this is how much we are going to give you.'' The report indicates that the Swiss refused to give the Allies any more than $28 million in what we call German external assets. Those are the assets that are stocks and bonds and insurance policies, real estate, and others. Despite the fact that we knew that they had the equivalent of between $4 and $8 billion, they said, ``We will give the equivalent of less than $300 million.'' There is a movie that has become somewhat famous called ``Jerry Maguire.'' In that, the athlete, I think the movie star Cuba Gooding Jr., has a great line when he says, ``Show me the money.'' Well, Mr. President, it is about time we said to the Swiss, ``Show us the money,'' give to the world a full and proper accounting, reopen those accords. There was a claim by the Swiss Ambassador the other day saying, ``You cannot hold us responsible for what took place 50 years ago.'' To that extent I can say, that is correct. Most of the individuals today in Government or in positions of responsibility were nowhere around then. They did not make those decisions. They did not make the decisions relating to trafficking with the Nazis, being their bankers, or, indeed, keeping the loot thereafter and refusing to meet their legitimate obligations. But we can hold them accountable now. We can and we must. There are going to be great pressures to say, ``Come on, stop rocking the boat.'' There are tremendous international consequences in terms of the international corporations that these banks do business with and/or control and/or work with. These billions of dollars that they have had and have used all these years at their disposal, they are not so anxious to depart with them. Indeed, if one were to say, ``Give us a real accounting, show us all of the money, the money and profits that were made as a result of the billions of dollars that you have kept over the years,'' wouldn't that be interesting. The question as to where did all of that money go becomes important. Who concealed it for all these years? Why did it take a righteous man like Christophe Meili, a young bank guard, to stop the records of these transactions from being shredded? He attempted to. He is a young bank guard who stumbled upon Union Bank of Switzerland shredding records 5 months ago. Should we say anyone who is alive today is responsible for what took place 50 years ago when they were not there? We can certainly say, why would you shred records now, records that related to great companies and corporations and the business activities that they had with the Germans, records that, it would seem, indicated that there were properties of Jews that were forced to leave, forced sales? Why would the bank historian do this, and what was the fate of this particular young man? This week we heard testimony from Mr. Meili, who, as a result of turning over some documents to the Jewish Historical Society, who then turned them over to the Swiss police, has come under tremendous pressure. Instead of being held as a righteous person and a man who did what was correct, he has received hundreds of death threats, in writing--not just by way of the telephone. His children have been the subject of harassment, and they are 2 and 4 years old. He has been threatened and the lives of his children--it has been indicated they would be kidnapped in retaliation for his act of courage. Here is a young man who acted as a righteous person, and instead of beinging treated as a hero for standing up and doing what is right, he has been treated like a criminal. Yes, the Swiss Government and their Ambassador has said, ``Do not judge us on the events that occurred 50 years ago but on what we do today.'' Certainly, if the treatment of Mr. Meili is any indication of their commitment to finding truth, then it makes it rather difficult to hold out hope that they are really dedicated to attempting to deal with the horrors that took place and have been concealed for 50 years. The Swiss bankers owe the world a total and full accounting, as do our allies. It is about time that our allies and this Government put aside the diplomatic niceties and do what they should have done 50 years ago and do the right thing. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to know that there are going to be great pressures to put this aside. I think what is taking place is unconscionable, and it is time to set the record straight. Because of the importance of the report of Mr. Eizenstat, as well as the great work of Mr. Slany, the historian of the State Department, we will be holding Banking Committee hearings on Thursday, May 15. We will hear from Ambassador Eizenstat, and Mr. Slany, the State Department historian. They will discuss the findings of the report, what it covers, what it doesn't cover. We will also hear from Ambassador Borer, of the Swiss Foreign Ministry; he is their special ambassador. Finally, we will hear from Tom Bower, author of the book ``Nazi Gold,'' which traces the history of the Swiss banks during World War II, and Rabbi Marvin Hier, of the Simon Weisenthal Center in Los Angeles. Rabbi Hier has played a major role in tracing the flow of assets of Europe to South America during this period. Mr. President, the world deserves the truth. For 50 years, it has been hidden in the archives while justice has been denied to the victims of the Holocaust and the survivors. This is the greatest tragedy, a tragedy of indifference, a tragedy of the indifference of the Swiss bankers and it is disgraceful. They knew they were accepting laundered gold and that they were financing the Nazi war machine. As Secretary Eizenstat said, the Swiss bankers extended the war. How many people died because of this? We don't know. We may never know the answer. But it is our duty to get the facts and have a full accounting from the bankers. During these ``Days of Remembrance'' of the Holocaust, it is our duty to go forward to try to achieve some measure of justice for those who cannot fight for themselves. In memory of those who died in the Holocaust, and the people who still act courageously, like Christophe Meili, we must continue the inquiry so that the full truth be known. This past Tuesday, Mr. President, Mr. Meili came before the Banking Committee. His testimony was chilling, to say the least. As we reached the end, I asked him several questions. I turn to page 40 of the transcript. Mr. President, let me say that this was not a Q and A in which the questions were known to the person who was being asked, nor did I have any idea or know how Mr. Meili--the 28-year-old bank guard who came from Switzerland this past Friday, and is in this country now--would respond. I said: Let me, if I might, just ask several other questions, and then put some letters . . . into the record. And I turned to him and I said: What made you, Christophe, think that the records you found were important and should be saved from destruction? Through his interpreter, Mr. Meili said this: A few months before, I had seen the movie ``Schindler's List.'' And that's how, when I saw these documents, I realized I must take responsibility; I must do something. He is a 28-year-old bank guard in Switzerland. He did something that was right, that was courageous. He is a non-Jew, but he had seen ``Schindler's List'' and he was moved, he was compelled to respond, to stop the shredding of these documents or the destruction, to report them to someone, and to say should this be done? And then, Mr. President, if that wasn't chilling enough--and, really, it seems to me a call for those of us who have the power and the responsibility of righting these wrongs--I asked him if there were any closing remarks he would like to make, that we would be glad to receive them. I asked that question of the three witnesses who appeared before us. Here is what Mr. Meili said: Please protect me in the United States and in Switzerland. I think I become a great problem in Switzerland. I have a woman, two little children, and no future. I must see what goes on in the next days for me. Please protect me. That is all. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. President, it is not good enough for the Swiss Ambassador to say, ``You can't hold us responsible for what took place 50 years ago,'' when a young man who has attempted to do what is right finds himself ostracized, finds the power of the Swiss Government and the Swiss banks--who indeed run the Swiss Government, as a practical matter--and that remark may draw their ire and their fire and their protest, that a young man who acted courageously now finds himself a victim scorned, the lives of his wife and children threatened. How can we do any less than what one individual, Christophe Meili, attempted to do, and that is to do what is right? So, Mr. President, I hope that this week when we have these hearings, this will be a new beginning and it will energize our Government and our allies to come forward in a united way, to put aside the diplomatic niceties that have shrouded this over the years, to seek a full accounting and to seek justice once and for all. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.