I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 1595
To provide for the relocation of the United States Embassy in Israel to
Jerusalem, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 9, 1995
Mr. GINGRICH (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. HORN, Mr. LAZIO, Mr. ZIMMER,
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mr. WELLER, Mr. DELAY, Mr. PAXON, Mr.
SOLOMON, Mr. MCINTOSH, Ms. MOLINARI, Mr. HASTERT, Mr. ARCHER,
Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. NUSSLE, Mrs. VUCANOVICH, Mr. BARR, Mr.
TORKILDSEN, and Mr. BURTON of Indiana) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
A BILL
To provide for the relocation of the United States Embassy
in Israel to Jerusalem, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Jerusalem Embassy
Relocation Implementation Act of 1995’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Each sovereign nation, under international
law and custom, may designate its own capital.
(2) Since 1950, the city of Jerusalem has been
the capital of the State of Israel.
(3) The city of Jerusalem is the seat of Israel’s
President, Parliament, and Supreme Court, and the
site of numerous government ministries and social
and cultural institutions.
(4) The city of Jerusalem is the spiritual center
of Judaism, and is also considered a holy city by the
members of other religious faiths.
(5) From 1948–1967, Jerusalem was a divided
city and Israeli citizens of all faiths as well as Jew-
ish citizens of all states were denied access to holy
sites in the area controlled by Jordan.
(6) In 1967, the city of Jerusalem was reunited
during the conflict known as the Six Day War.
(7) Since 1967, Jerusalem has been a united
city administered by Israel, and persons of all reli-
gious faiths have been guaranteed full access to holy
sites within the city.
(8) This year marks the 28th consecutive year
that Jerusalem has been administered as a unified
city in which the rights of all faiths have been re-
spected and protected.
(9) In 1992, the United States Senate and
House of Representatives unanimously adopted Sen-
ate Concurrent Resolution 113 of the One Hundred
Second Congress to commemorate the 25th anniver-
sary of the reunification of Jerusalem, and
reaffirming congressional sentiment that Jerusalem
must remain an undivided city.
(10) The September 13, 1993, Declaration of
Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrange-
ments lays out a timetable for the resolution of
‘‘final status’’ issues, including Jerusalem.
(11) The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the
Jericho Area was signed May 4, 1994, beginning the
five-year transitional period laid out in the Declara-
tion of Principles.
(12) In March of 1995, 93 members of the
United States Senate signed a letter to Secretary of
State Warren Christopher encouraging ‘‘planning to
begin now’’ for relocation of the United States Em-
bassy to the city of Jerusalem.
(13) The United States maintains its embassy
in the functioning capital of every country except in
the case of our democratic friend and strategic ally,
the State of Israel.
(14) The United States conducts official meet-
ings and other business in the city of Jerusalem in
de facto recognition of its status as the capital of
Israel.
(15) In 1996, the State of Israel will celebrate
the 3,000th anniversary of the Jewish presence in
Jerusalem since King David’s entry.
SEC. 3. TIMETABLE.
(a) STATEMENT OF POLICY.—It is the policy of the
United States that—
(1) Jerusalem should be recognized as the cap-
ital of the State of Israel;
(2) groundbreaking for construction of the
United States Embassy in Jerusalem should begin
no later than December 31, 1996; and
(3) the United States Embassy should be offi-
cially open in Jerusalem no later than May 31,
1999.
(b) CONSTRUCTION
DETERMINATION.—Not more
than 50 percent of the funds appropriated to the Depart-
ment of State for fiscal year 1997 for ‘‘Acquisition and
Maintenance of Buildings Abroad’’ may be obligated until
the Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress
that construction has begun on the site of the United
States Embassy in Jerusalem.
(c) OPENING DETERMINATION.—Not more than 50
percent of the funds appropriated to the Department of
State for fiscal year 1999 for ‘‘Acquisition and Mainte-
nance of Buildings Abroad’’ may be obligated until the
Secretary of State determines and reports to Congress
that the United States Embassy in Jerusalem has offi-
cially opened.
SEC. 4. FISCAL YEAR 1995 FUNDING.
Of the funds appropriated for fiscal year 1995 for
the Department of State and related agencies, not less
than $5,000,000 shall be made available until expended
for costs associated with relocating the United States Em-
bassy in Israel to Jerusalem, including but not limited to
site identification, surveys, and land acquisition. Such
funds shall be made available in accordance with the pro-
cedures contained in section 34 of the State Department
Basic Authorities Act (22 U.S.C. 2706).
SEC. 5. FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997 FUNDING.
(a) FISCAL YEAR 1996.—Of the funds authorized to
be appropriated for ‘‘Acquisition and Maintenance of
Buildings Abroad’’ for the Department of State in fiscal
year 1996, not less than $25,000,000 shall be made avail-
able until expended only for construction and other costs
associated with the relocation of the United States Em-
bassy in Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.
(b) FISCAL YEAR 1997.—Of the funds authorized to
be appropriated for ‘‘Acquisition and Maintenance of
Buildings Abroad’’ for the Department of State in fiscal
year 1997, not less than $75,000,000 shall be made avail-
able until expended only for construction and other costs
associated with the relocation of the United States Em-
bassy in Israel to the capital of Jerusalem.
SEC. 6. REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit a report
to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate detailing
the Department of State’s plan to implement this Act.
Such report shall include—
(1) estimated dates of completion for each
phase of the relocation of the United States Em-
bassy, including site identification, land acquisition,
architectural, engineering and construction surveys,
site preparation, and construction; and
(2) an estimate of the funding necessary to im-
plement this Act, including all costs associated with
relocating the United States Embassy to Jerusalem.
SEC. 7. SEMIANNUAL REPORTS.
Beginning January 1, 1996, and every six months
thereafter, the Secretary of State shall report to the
Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Commit-
tee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the progress
made toward opening the United States Embassy in Jeru-
salem.
SEC. 8. DEFINITION.
As used in this Act, the term ‘‘United States Em-
bassy’’ means the offices of the United States diplomatic
mission and the residence of the United States chief of
mission.
Æ