September 18, 1985 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 24181 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS THE KGB AND THEIR MAGICAL country which authorizes the use of poten­ their way to the Soviet Union to begin test· DUSTING POWDER tially dangerous chemicals on foreign dip­ ing, he said. lomats and bombards embassies with WASH WITH SOAP AND WATER HON. WM. S. BROOMFIELD microwaves. Although I believe that our He advised the American residents to OF MICHIGAN two countries can have a relationship, I wash with soap and water and then with an IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES urge the President to be cautious in his alcohol-based compound. dealings with Gorbachev and Company. Mr. Combs said no diplomats were known Wednesday, September 18, 1985 Our President would also be well advised to to have suffered from the chemical. Mr. BROOMFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I am lightly dust off his chair before setting "Our hope is now to get some sense of how concerned we should be," he said. shocked at this recent incident involving down. Both he and Dr. Brodine said they had the use by the KGB of a chemical powder With these concerns in mind, I commend learned of the hazard over the weekend, but to track U.S. diplomats and others in the following Washington Post article to they declined to say what specifically had Moscow. What is most disturbing is the fact my colleagues in the Congress. prompted their concern. In the past, Mr. that so little is known about the potentially [From the New York Times, Aug. 22, 19851 Combs said, Soviet use of tracking agents harmful powder. Once again, the Soviets AMERICANS GIVEN MOSCOW BRIEFING had been "sufficiently erratic and infre­ have chosen to ignore the health of inno­ quent" not to be considered a danger. 500 RESIDENTS ARE SUMMONED BY STAFF OF U.S. There is now evidence, he added, that cent human beings in their vigorous pur­ EMBASSY, BUT QUESTIONS REMAIN suit of those who might be doing something usage was "more widespread than we <By Serge Schmemann> thought" and had increased "significantly" they disapprove of. Moscow, Aug. 21.-American residents over the past spring and summer. As my colleagues well know, the Depart­ here were informed of assertions about the Mr. Combs seemed to be speaking under ment of State recently announced that Em­ use of a potentially harmful chemical by tight security constraints. He declined to bassy Moscow vehicles had been dusted the K.G.B. in an extraordinary series of say how the Russians used the chemical, with a powder that is used to aid the KGB briefings today. how the embassy had determined an in­ in conducting surveillance of foreigners. In three separate one-hour sessions, about crease in use, where it was most frequently Very little is known about the yellowish 500 diplomats, technicians, journalists, busi­ employed, or how many people had been powder, NPPD, nitro-phenyl-pentadiene-al­ nessmen, teachers and other residents gath­ targets. dehyde. ered in the ballroom of Spaso House, the Though the medical danger was the first Ambassador's residence, for information concern for the Americans here, the revela­ U.S. officials have said that NPPD, a syn­ that few found assuring and none found suf­ tion of the existence of tracking agents ap­ thetic chemical, had been discovered last ficient. peared to offer yet another glimpse into the year to be a mutagen or cancer-causing The thrust of the information was that Soviet practices of surveillance in a system substance. Some Embassy employees have the K.G.B., the Soviet internal security of institutionalized distrust in which for­ allegedly developed skin rashes, the possi­ agency, had intensified its use of the chemi­ eigners are often considered potential spies. ble result of contact with a heavier-than­ cal as an aid in conducting surveillance of "I was a bit scared to learn about that usual concentration of the chemical. foreigners. powder, but I was not surprised," a journal­ The State Department is to be commend­ In the absence of Ambassador Arthur A. ist's wife said. Most foreign residents here Hartman, the briefings were held by the assume that their activities and conversa­ ed for its stern protest to the Soviets and charge d'affaires, Richard E. Combs Jr., tions are being constantly monitored. the Embassy's rapid briefing of Embassy who said available information gave no MICROWAVE INCIDENT IS RECALLED employees and others about the possible cause for alarm. harmful effects of that substance. A State The evidence over the years has been sub­ But the information presented by Mr. stantial. In 1976, the United States Embassy Department team was also dispatched to Combs and by Dr. Charles E. Brodine, a disclosed that the Russians were beaming Moscow to collect samples from doorknobs, State Department medical officer who flew microwaves at the embassy building, touch­ steering wheels, and other surfaces that here for the briefings, was too scanty to ing off concern of medical consequences. might have been sprinkled with the chemi­ allay concern. United States Government tests eventually cal dust. The samples are now being tested QUESTIONS BEING ASKED found no adverse effects, but in November in the United States. A young mother asked whether her child 1983, the United States again protested the I am not surprised that the Soviets have could be tested for exposure to the sub­ use of microwave radiation. stance. A journalist asked what specific In other publicized instances, embassy em­ resorted to this technique and are appar­ places or things should be avoided. A ployees in 1952 discovered a microphone in ently oblivious to the fact that the chemi­ woman recently arrived wondered whether the beak of a wooden American eagle pre­ cal, which the KGB concocted, could seri­ the chemical could be included in prepara­ sented by the Russians as a gift in 1945. ously damage a person's health. On many tions used by Soviet exterminators against Other mircophones were found in embassy occasions, our Government has told the So­ cockroaches. walls during repairs in 1964, and last March viets to stop beaming microwaves into the Others asked why the alarm was being it was disclosed that electric typewriters in top floors of the American Embassy build­ raised now, if the use of the tracking agents the embassy had been bugged from 1982 to ing in downtown Moscow. While the bom­ had been known for years, and tests were 1984. conducted in 1984. Mr. Combs and Dr. Bro­ Most foreigners believe that the few re­ bardment of the chancery had been re­ dine said that a yellowish powder called ni­ ported incidents are only a small portion of duced over the years, microwaves are still trophenylpentadienal was being used in­ the enormous effort the Soviet Union puts being directed against the building. As of creasingly by the Russians to keep track of into keeping track of foreign residents. this date, there is real concern in the foreigners' movements. The revelation today that the Russians United States about the long-term health Laboratory analyses in Washington, they used tracking powders implied that internal damage which might be caused by exposure said, determined that the chemical was a security agents could determine not only to large doses of microwave energy. In substance known to cause genetic change. where a foreigner was going, but where he spite of our official complaints, the beams They said the substance was being used in had been, with whom he had met and what minute quantities and its use was therefore items he had handed over or touched. are still being directed at the Embassy. probably not a cause for alarm. But for those at the briefings in Spaso While I sincerely hope that the upcoming Dr. Brodine said little was known about House, there could be little titillation at the summit between President Reagan and the the properties of the compound and exten­ discovery of another James Bond technique Soviet leader, Mr. Gorbachev, is productive, sive tests were required to determine its or concern over possible breaches of securi­ I am concerned about the intentions of a actual effects. A team of scientists are on ty. e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member of the Senate on the floor. Boldface type indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 24182 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS September 18, 1985 "I have an infant child," a young mother dent; Don Noccari, vice president; and Pete SOUTH AFRICA: THE REALITY said. "What should I do?" Montello, second vice president. In addi­ OF ITS LAW tion, the 20-year members who are receiv­ WOODHAVEN-RICHMOND HILL ing awards at the anniversary celebration, HON. ROBERT GARCIA and whose many years of involvement and VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE OF NEW YORK CORPS OF NEW YORK CELE­ concern have nurtured this organization, BRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSA­ are: Thomas Meehan, Robert Labas, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RY Vera Levine. Wednesday, September 18, 1985 Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask all of Mr. GARCIA. Mr. Speaker, yesterday's HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN my colleagues in the U.S. House of Repre­ Washington Post had an article by Judge OF NEW YORK sentatives to join me now in congratulating Nathaniel R. Jones on South Africa and the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and commending the Woodhaven-Rich­ legal underpinnings of apartheid. Judge Wednesday, September 18, 1985 mond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps on Jones captures the essence of the debate its 20th anniversary. Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise against apartheid when he states: today to commend the Woodhaven-Rich­ Those in this country who, for practical reasons, argue against the application of ex­ mond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps of FARM AID RESOLUTION ternal pressures against South Africa need Queens County, NY, for its 20 years of out­ to consider the reality of apartheid.