[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 50 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   HAITI: THE POLICY MUST BE CHANGED

                                 ______


                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 2, 1994

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, last weekend, the world learned that Haitian 
soldiers massacred more than 20 fishermen and merchants in a town on 
the west coast of Haiti. Occurring in an area loyal to deposed Haitian 
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, this brutal attack represented, in 
the words of one Aristide supporter, another effort to ``decapitate the 
democratic movement in Haiti.''
  More than 2 years have passed since the Haitian military ousted 
President Jean-Bertrand Aristide from power, yet the despotic 
government of Gen. Raoul Cedras, which took his place, remains in 
power, free to commit one atrocity after another. Although the United 
States has placed some sanctions on the Haitian military regime, 
violations of the economic embargo are common. Indeed, the government 
has built up a large supply of oil and other goods.
  The thousands of Haitians who attempted to escape Haiti immediately 
after the coup are evidence of the repression which has overrun that 
country since the ouster of President Aristide. Unfortunately, under a 
policy established by President Bush and continued by the current 
administration, Haitian's escaping their country's violence are 
intercepted by Coast Guard cutters patrolling the waters off the 
Haitian coast, denied the opportunity to claim asylum in the United 
States, and sailed back to Haiti. This immoral policy represents a 
breach of our country's legal obligations under domestic and 
international law.
  In order to reverse this policy and to press the Haitian regime to 
permit the return of President Aristide, I have cosponsored H.R. 4114, 
the Governors Island Reinforcement Act of 1994. This bill, introduced 
by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, represents the best hope 
to correct the course of America's foundering foreign policy toward 
Haiti. If passed, the bill would halt the interdiction and summary 
repatriation of Haitian refugees and would end the use of United States 
Naval and Coast Guard vessels to lock Haitians in General Cedras' cage 
of human rights abuses.
  The Governors Island Reinforcement Act would also tighten economic 
sanctions on Haiti and supporters of the coup. It would impose a 
complete trade and commercial embargo on Haiti, with exceptions for 
food and medicine, sever air links to Haiti, deny visas to members of 
the Haitian military and coup supporters, freeze assets of Haitian 
military officers, and impose sanctions on any country that violates 
these sanctions. Finally, to ensure that the economic sanctions are not 
violated through shipments across the Dominican Republic, the bill 
urges the President to create a multinational border patrol to halt 
proscribed commerce.
  I am proud to note that my constituents are leading the charge 
against the brutal Haitian regime. The United Tenants of Mount Vernon, 
NY, are participating in a hunger-strike to urge our Government to 
change its policies. I offer my full support to their efforts and urge 
President Clinton to hear their voices of protest.
  Mr. Speaker, in 1939, the Roosevelt administration returned to 
Germany a ship filled with Jews escaping Nazi Germany. Those people 
subsequently were sent to Hitler's death camps. With another 20 to 30 
people killed by the Haitian regime last weekend, I am afraid that we 
are making that tragic mistake again. We must reverse this unjust 
policy. I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4114, the 
Governors Island Reinforcement Act of 1994.
  


                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, May 3, 1994, may be found in the 
Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                                 MAY 4
     9:30 a.m.
       Armed Services
       Military Readiness and Infrastructure Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense, and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on environmental programs and the implementation of the 
           Base Closure Acts.
                                                           SR-232A
       Energy and Natural Resources
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-366
       Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine the number of Federal 
           courthouses under construction.
                                                            SD-342
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings on provisions of H.R. 6 and S. 1513, 
           bills authorizing funds for programs of the Elementary 
           and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
                                                            SR-485
     10:00 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
       Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine the effect of rising interest 
           rates on the homebuilding industry.
                                                            SD-538
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To resume hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on telephone companies providing cable 
           services.
                                                            SR-253
       Finance
         To hold hearings on S. 1579, to contain health care costs 
           and improve access to health care through accountable 
           health plans and managed competition.
                                                            SD-215
       Foreign Relations
         Business meeting, to consider pending nominations.
                                                            SD-419
     2:00 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Merchant Marine Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1945, to authorize funds for 
           fiscal year 1995 for certain maritime programs of the 
           Department of Transportation.
                                                            SR-253
       Foreign Relations
       East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on United States policy toward China.
                                                            SD-419
     4:00 p.m.
       Select on Intelligence
         To hold closed hearings on intelligence matters.
                                                            SH-219

                                 MAY 5
     9:30 a.m.
       Rules and Administration
         To resume hearings on S. 1824, to improve the operations 
           of the legislative branch of the Federal Branch, 
           focusing on Title III, Subtitle B (Staffing, 
           Administration, and Support Agencies), and Subtitle C 
           (Abolishing the Joint Committees).
                                                            SR-301
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold closed hearings on proposed budget estimates for 
           fiscal year 1995 for the Department of Defense, 
           focusing on classified programs.
                                                    S-407, Capitol
       Appropriations
       Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Legal Services Corporation, and the 
           Securities and Exchange Commission.
                                                    S-146, Capitol
       Appropriations
       Transportation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Transportation Safety Board, 
           and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
           Department of Transportation.
                                                            SD-138
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
       Housing and Urban Affairs Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine management issues at the 
           Department of Housing and Urban Development.
                                                            SD-538
       Finance
         To resume hearings to examine health care reform issues, 
           focusing on health care at the end of life and 
           implementation of advanced directives.
                                                            SD-215
       Judiciary
         Business meeting, to consider pending calendar business.
                                                            SD-226
       Labor and Human Resources
       Education, Arts and Humanities Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on S. 1513, authorizing funds for 
           programs of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
           of 1965.
                                                            SD-430
     2:00 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Legislative Branch Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the U.S. Senate.
                                                            SD-116
       Armed Services
       Nuclear Deterrence, Arms Control, and Defense Intelligence 
           Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense, and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on long-range bomber programs and requirements.
                                                            SR-222
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Public Lands, National Parks and Forests Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 471, to establish a new area study 
           process for proposed additions to the National Parks 
           System, and S. 528, to provide for the transfer of 
           certain United States Forest Service lands located in 
           Lincoln County, Montana, to Lincoln County in the State 
           of Montana.
                                                            SD-366
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation to finance 
           veterans health care programs.
                                                            SR-418
       Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
         To hold hearings to examine the human rights situations 
           in Serbian-controlled Kosovo, Sandzak and Vojvodina.
                                              Room to be announced
     4:00 p.m.
       Armed Services
       Coalition Defense and Reinforcing Forces Subcommittee
         To resume hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense, and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on tactical aviation modernization programs.
                                                           SR-232A

                                 MAY 6
     9:30 a.m.
       Governmental Affairs
         To hold hearings to examine health care information 
           management.
                                                            SD-342
     10:00 a.m.
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         To hold hearings on the nominations of Alan S. Blinder, 
           of New Jersey, to be a Member of the Board of Governors 
           of the Federal Reserve System, Steven M. Wallman, of 
           Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange 
           Commission, and Philip N. Diehl, of Texas, to be 
           Director of the Mint, Department of the Treasury.
                                                            SD-538
       Veterans' Affairs
         To hold oversight hearings to examine how military 
           research may be hazardous to veterans' health, focusing 
           on lessons from the Cold War and the Persian Gulf War.
                                                            SD-106
     2:00 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Legislative Branch Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Office of Technology Assessment, and 
           the Library of Congress.
                                                            SD-116

                                 MAY 10
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold oversight hearings on implementation of the 
           Administration's Climate Change Action Plan and the 
           Energy Policy Act of 1992.
                                                            SD-366
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 
           the Farm Credit Administraion, and the Food and Drug 
           Administration, Department of Health and Human 
           Services.
                                                            SD-138
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on the potential role of Federal 
           reclamation projects in meeting the water supply needs 
           of the Colonias in Texas.
                                                            SD-366

                                 MAY 11
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Park Service, Department of 
           the Interior.
                                                    S-128, Capitol

                                 MAY 12
     9:00 a.m.
       Office of Technology Assesment
         Board meeting, to consider pending business.
                                                   EF-100, Capitol
     9:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To resume hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on long-distance services.
                                                            SR-253
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on the Environmental Protection Agency's 
           proposed renewable oxygenate standard.
                                                            SD-366
       Rules and Administration
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Federal Election 
           Commission.
                                                            SR-301
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Corporation for National and 
           Community Service.
                                                            SD-106
     2:00 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Public Lands, National Parks and Forests Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on S. 1549, to revise the Act 
           establishing Golden Gate National Recreation Area to 
           provide for the management of the Presidio by the 
           Secretary of the Interior, and S. 1639, to provide for 
           the management of the portions of the Presidio under 
           the jurisdiction of the Secretary of the Interior.
                                                            SD-366

                                 MAY 13
     9:30 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs, focusing on 
           the global land mines crisis.
                                                            SH-216
       Appropriations
       Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Departments of Labor, Health and 
           Human Services, and Education.
                                                            SD-192

                                 MAY 17
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
           the Pacific Rim, NATO, and peacekeeping programs.
                                                            SD-192
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs.
                                                            SD-138
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for the earthquake disaster program.
                                                            SR-253

                                 MAY 18
     9:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings on S. 1350, to revise the Earthquake 
           Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to provide for an 
           expanded Federal program of hazard mitigation and 
           insurance against the risk of catastrophic natural 
           disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
           volcanic eruptions.
                                                            SR-253

                                 MAY 19
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense.
                                                            SD-192
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Veteran's Affairs, and 
           the Selective Service System.
                                                            SD-106

                                 MAY 20
     9:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Departments of Veteran's Affairs and 
           Housing and Urban Development, and independent 
           agencies.
                                                            SD-138

                                 MAY 24
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs, focusing on 
           export promotion.
                                                            SD-138

                                 MAY 25
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of the Interior.
                                                    S-128, Capitol

                                 MAY 26
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine policy options for the 
           disposition of excess weapons plutonium.
                                                            SD-366
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Aeronautics and Space 
           Administration.
                                                            SD-106

                                 JUNE 8
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Energy.
                                                    S-128, Capitol
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                                 JUNE 9
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To continue hearings on water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                                JULY 19
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         Business meeting, to mark up proposed legislation 
           authorizing funds for fiscal year 1995 for the 
           Department of Defense.
                                                            SD-192

                             CANCELLATIONS

                                 MAY 3
     9:30 a.m.
       Armed Services
       Force Requirements and Personnel Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Department of 
           Defense, and the future years defense program, focusing 
           on Reserve component manpower, personnel, and 
           compensation issues.
                                                            SD-106
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to review the implementation of the 
           Central Valley Project Improvement Act (Title 34 of 
           P.L. 102-575) and the coordination of the program with 
           other Federal protection and restoration efforts in the 
           San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
                                                            SD-366

                             POSTPONEMENTS

                                 MAY 3
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
           defense conversion programs.
                                                            SD-192