To provide for the adjudication of certain claims against the Government of Iraq.
Iraq Claims Act of 1994 - Authorizes the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission to receive and determine the validity and amounts of any claims: (1) with respect to which the United States has received lump-sum payments from the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC); and (2) of U.S. nationals against Iraq that are determined to be outside the UNCC's jurisdiction.
(Sec. 2) Requires the Commission, in deciding such claims, to apply, in the following order: (1) relevant decisions of the United Nations Security Council and the UNCC; (2) applicable substantive law; and (3) principles of justice and equity. Directs the Commission to decide all pending non-commercial claims of members of the armed forces and other individuals arising out of Iraq's invasion and occupation of Kuwait or out of the 1987 attack on the USS Stark before deciding any other claim.
Applies titles I and VII of the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949 to claims under this Act.
(Sec. 3) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to establish in the Treasury: (1) UN Commission Claims Funds composed of amounts transferred by the Secretary of State pursuant to this Act; and (2) the Iraq Claims Fund composed of amounts allocated by the President from liquidated assets of the Iraqi Government. Authorizes the President to vest and liquidate as much of the assets of the Iraqi Government in the United States that have been blocked pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act as necessary to satisfy claims of U.S. nationals or the U.S. Government that are outside the UNCC's jurisdiction.
(Sec. 6) Sets forth payment and recordkeeping requirements.
(Sec. 8) Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to publish a notice of the statute of limitations on unpaid certified claims nine years after the last date on which the Secretary covers funds into the UN Commission Claims Funds or the Iraq Claims Fund.
Bars demands for payments on such claims one year after the publication of such notice.
(Sec. 10) Expresses the sense of the Congress that individuals who served in the armed forces of Iraq during the Persian Gulf conflict should not be admitted to the United States as refugees under the Immigration and Nationality Act, except in exceptional circumstances, until all certified claims by U.S. nationals outside the UNCC's jurisdiction have been paid in full.
(Sec. 11) Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) the United States should immediately provide humanitarian assistance to alleviate the disaster in Iraq; and (2) such assistance should be reimbursed from any available Iraqi resources so long as such reimbursement does not delay or reduce amounts paid on priority claims of members of the armed forces and others.
(Sec. 12) Urges the President to request the United Nations to establish a tribunal to charge Saddam Hussein and other Iraqi Government officials for war crimes, acts of aggression, and crimes against humanity.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Speaker designated the Honorable Anna G. Eshoo to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3221.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. Manzullo moved to recommit with instructions to Foreign Affairs.
The instructions contained in the motion to recommit direct that the bill be reported back to the House with an amendment to strike the existing section 10(a) and to insert a new section which provides that individuals who have served in the armed forces of Iraq during the Persian Gulf conflict may not be admitted to the United States as refugees under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Point of order sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions. (consideration: CR H2869)
Mr. Hamilton raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion to recommit seek to change existing law regarding immigration and as such, the motion is not germane to the bill. Sustained by the Chair.
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Mr. Manzullo moved to recommit with instructions to Foreign Affairs.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the second Manzullo motion to recommit with instructions.
The previous question was ordered without objection.
On motion to recommit with instructions Agreed to by voice vote. (consideration: CR H2869)
Pursuant to the instructions contained in the Manzullo motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. Hamilton reported the bill back to the House with an amendment.
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 398 - 5 (Roll no. 146).
Roll Call #146 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 398 - 5 (Roll no. 146).
Roll Call #146 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 3221.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Subcommittee on International Economic Policy. Hearings held.