[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 8951] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov][[Page 8951]] IN SUPPORT OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS BILL PROVIDING COMPENSATION TO THE FAMILIES OF THE RON BROWN PLANE CRASH IN CROATIA ______ HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON of the district of columbia in the house of representatives Thursday, May 6, 1999 Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, after much soul searching, the families of the victims of the military plane carrying Commerce Secretary Ron Brown that crashed in Croatia on April 3, 1996, have allowed us to introduce this amendment. It would provide up to $2 million in compensation for each of the families of the tragic accident. This amendment is not what the families requested, nor is it what I sought when I first introduced the Ron Brown Tort Equality Act on April 15, 1997. Although this amendment would close the books on the accident, it would not render complete justice to the families; would do nothing to assure that there would not be similar victims of military aircraft in the future; and would have no deterrent effect to ward off serious negligence in the future. Yet surely this amendment is what is minimally required. The Ron Brown Tort Equality Act had nearly fifty cosponsors in the last Congress and we are on our way to that and more now. This is a notably bipartisan bill in no small part because the victims originated in 15 states and the District of Columbia. The Ron Brown Act would allow federal civilian employees or their families to sue the federal government but only for gross negligence by its officers or employees and only for compensatory damages. Because there will be few instances where gross negligence can be shown, this is a small change in our law. There also were non-federal employees on that fated plane for whom no compensation is possible today. Astonishingly, federal law does not allow compensation when private citizens are killed or injured overseas. Yet, private citizens can sue under the Act for the same injuries when they occur in this country. The Ron Brown Act would allow individuals who do not work for the federal government, or their families, to sue the United States for negligent or wrongful acts or omissions that occur in a foreign country. This tragic accident yielded great sorrow and mourning by the nation and members of this body. The mourning period is over, colleagues. It is time now to compensate the families. ____________________