8. Soviet Destruction of Korean Airliner, Condemnation

Public Law 98-98 [H.J. Res. 353], 97 Stat. 715, approved September 28, 1983

JOINT RESOLUTION Condemning the Soviet criminal destruction of the Korean civilian airliner.

Whereas the United States joins with the world community in expressing its outrage over the actions of the Soviet Government on August 31, 1983, which caused the destruction of Korean Air Lines flight 7 with the loss of two hundred and sixty-nine innocent lives;

Whereas on August 31, 1983, Korean Air Lines flight 7 inadvertently entered Soviet airspace;

Whereas Soviet authorities tracked Korean Air Lines flight 7 for more than two hours, but did not adhere to all the internationally recognized procedures necessary to warn the aircraft that it was off course and to protect its passengers;

Whereas a Soviet Air Force fighter fired air-to-air missiles at Korean Air Lines flight 7 and destroyed the unarmed, clearly marked civilian airliner with two hundred and sixty-nine innocent men, women, and children from fourteen nations aboard, including sixty-one of our fellow citizens;

Whereas among the victims was a distinguished Member of Congress, the Honorable Larry P. McDonald;

Whereas the highest levels of the Soviet Government have lied in an attempt to justify this unconscionable act and have continued to deny access to the area where the airplane went down; Whereas the Soviet Government has publicly proclaimed its intention to repeat its murderous act if another airliner wanders inadvertently into Soviet airspace; and

Whereas this cold-blooded barbarous attack on a commercial airliner straying off course is one of the most infamous and reprehensible acts in history: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the United States hereby—

(1) condemns the Soviet crime of destroying Korean Air Lines flight 7 and murdering the two hundred and sixty-nine innocent people onboard;

(2) calls for a full and frank explanation from the Soviet Union for this brutal massacre;

(3) extends its deepest sympathies to the families who lost loved ones, and supports their rights to obtain reparations from the Soviet Union;

(4) calls on the Soviet Union to assist international efforts to recover the remains of the victims;

(5) calls for an international investigation by the International Civil Aviation Organization into this heinous incident;

(6) declares its intention to work with the international community in demanding that the Soviet Union modify its air defense procedures and practices to assure the safe passage of commercial airliners:

(7) finds that this tragic incident, and the Soviet Government's refusal to acknowledge responsibility for its wanton conduct, will make it more difficult for the United States and other nations to accept the Soviet Union as a responsible member of the international community; and

(8) urges our allies and other nations to cooperate with the United States in continuing to demand that the Soviet Government unequivocally apologize for its actions, fully compensate the families of the innocent victims, and agree to abide by internationally recognized and established procedures which are purposefully designed to prevent the occurrence of such tragedies.

9. United States Armed Forces in Grenada

Partial text of Public Law 98-181 [Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1984; H.R. 3959], 97 Stat. 1153 at 1298, approved November 30, 1983

AN ACT Making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, to provide supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1984, and for other purposes, namely:

Sec. 2004. It is the sense of the Senate that the United States Armed Forces engaged in military operations at Grenada are to be commended for their rescue of United States citizens on that island, and for their valor, success, and exemplary conduct in battle, which has been in the highest traditions of the military service.

(1382)

10. Commission on the Ukraine Famine Act

NOTE. Sec. 136 of Public Law 98-473 (Continuing Appropriations Act, 1985) appropriated $400,000 to carry out the provisions of S. 2456, a bill to establish a commission to study the 1932-1933 Ukraine famine. S. 2456 passed the Senate on Sept. 24, 1984 but was not enacted. Subsequently Public Law 99-180 (The Department of State and related agencies appropriations act, 1986, Title V), modified the Commission as established by S. 2456 and appropriated funds as set forth below.

Partial text of Public Law 99-180 [H.R. 2965], 99 Stat. 1336, approved December 13, 1986

COMMISSION ON THE UKRAINE FAMINE

For necessary expenses of the Commission on the Ukraine Famine to carry out the provisions of S. 2456 (98th Congress) as passed the Senate on September 21, 1984, $400,000, to remain available until expended, and the Commission on the Ukraine Famine as contained in S. 2456, is hereby established, with modifications as follows:

ESTABLISHMENT

SECTION 1. There is established a commission to be known as the "Commission on the Ukraine Famine" (in this Act referred to as the "Commission").

PURPOSE OF THE COMMISSION

SEC. 2. The purpose of the Commission is to conduct a study of the 1932-1933 Ukraine famine in order to

(1) expand the world's knowledge of the famine; and

(2) provide the American public with a better understanding of the Soviet system by revealing the Soviet role in the Ukraine famine.

DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION

SEC. 3. The duties of the Commission are to

(1) conduct a study of the 1932-1933 Ukraine famine (in this Act referred to as the "famine study"), in accordance with section 6 of this Act, in which the Commission shall