Political Quotes

“This legislation originated in our Subcommittee on Economic Policy, Trade and Environment and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the rule and for the bill. As has been said here a number of times, there are about $5 billion in American claims which have been pending for years against Iraq. And we are holding about $1.2 billion in Iraqi assets, which we seized at the time of the gulf war. This legislation will allow these frozen assets to be distributed as partial settlement to these longstanding American claims. And the important part of this legislation is since these claims are far more than the seized assets, this bill sets up a Government Commission to make partial settlements. The Commission would determine the most equitable basis for allocating favorable and available assets. The bill sets a priority for resolving the claims of American service people at the head of the line. This is why I think this legislation is so important. Those injured in the U.S.S. Stark attack and those injured in the gulf war would be first in line. Other claimants, including the U.S. businesses and U.S. Government, would also receive settlements. In my view, it is long past time when we can help the American soldiers, American businesses, and American taxpayer recover as much from Iraq as possible. Unless we pass this legislation, these claimants face a free-for-all in court.”