David Thomas: “it is my pleasure to tell my colleagues that the process of accommodation and compromise is alive and well. The…”

“it is my pleasure to tell my colleagues that the process of accommodation and compromise is alive and well. The legislation we have in front of us is supported by the administration, and I have for the Record and, when appropriate, I will place in the Record the letter from the United States Department of State which indicates that the administration supports H.R. 2722. It does so as a means to sever the link, the letter says, between the rough and conflict diamonds, while preserving the trade in legitimate diamonds. The letter goes on to say: ``The Office of Management and Budget advises that from the standpoint of the administration's program, there is no objection to the submission of this letter.'' Mr. Speaker, I will insert the letter for the Record at this time. Department of State, Washington, DC, November 27, 2001. Hon. William M. Thomas, Chairman, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Administration supports H.R. 2722, the Clean Diamond Trade Act, as amended. Funds derived from the sale of rough diamonds are being used to fund rebel conflicts and commit atrocities against unarmed civilians. Passage of H.R. 2722 would further the objectives of the United Nations Security Council Resolutions on these conflict diamonds by giving the President the discretion to prohibit imports of rough diamonds into the United States from any country that does not take effective measures to stop trade in conflict diamonds.”