[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 70 (Wednesday, June 8, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                           EXECUTIVE SESSION

                                 ______


                           EXECUTIVE CALENDAR

  Mr. GLENN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations:
  Calendar Nos. 944 to and including 964.
  I further ask unanimous consent that the nominees be confirmed, en 
bloc, that any statements appear in the Record as if read; that upon 
confirmation the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc; 
that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action, and 
the Senate return to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The nominations, considered and confirmed, en bloc, are as follows:

                   Securities and Exchange Commission

       Steven Mark Harte Wallman, of Virginia, to be a Member of 
     the Securities and Exchange Commission for the term expiring 
     June 5, 1997.

                         Federal Reserve System

       Alan S. Blinder, of New Jersey, to be a member of the Board 
     of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired 
     term of fourteen years from February 1, 1982.
       Alan S. Blinder, of New Jersey, to be Vice Chairman of the 
     Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term 
     of four years.

                          Department of State

       David Elias Birenbaum, of the District of Columbia, to be 
     Representative of the United States of America to the United 
     Nations for U.N. Management and Reform, with the rank of 
     Ambassador.
       Carol Jones Carmody, of Louisiana, for the rank of Minister 
     during her tenure of service as Representative of the United 
     States of America on the Council of the International Civil 
     Aviation Organization.
       Timothy A. Chorba, of the District of Columbia, to be 
     Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United 
     States of America to the Republic of Singapore.
       Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., of Rhode Island, to be Ambassador 
     Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of 
     America to the Republic of Malta.
       Frank G. Wisner, of the District of Columbia, a Career 
     Member of the Senator Foreign Service, Class of Career 
     Minister, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary 
     of the United States of America to India.

                       Inter-American Foundation

       Harriet C. Babbitt, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Board 
     of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for the 
     remainder of the term expiring September 20, 1994.
       Harriet C. Babbitt, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Board 
     of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation for a term 
     expiring September 20, 2000. (Reappointment)

              U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy

       Maria Elena Torano, of Florida, to be a Member of the 
     United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a 
     term expiring July 1, 1994.
       Maria Elena Torano, of Florida, to be a Member of the 
     United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy for a 
     term expiring July 1, 1997. (Reappointment)

         International Bank for Reconstruction and Development

       Jan Piercy, of Illinois, to be United States Executive 
     Director of the International Bank for Reconstruction and 
     Development.

           U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency

       Sally A. Shelton, of Texas, to be an Assist Administrator 
     of the Agency for International Development.

                             The Judiciary

       Theodore Alexander McKee, of Pennsylvania, to be United 
     States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit.
       Billy Michael Burrage, of Oklahoma, to be United States 
     District Judge for the Northern, Eastern and Western 
     Districts of Oklahoma.
       Terry C. Kern, of Oklahoma, to be United States District 
     Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma.
       Vanessa D. Gilmore, of Texas, to be United States District 
     Judge for the Southern District of Texas.

                         Department of Justice

       Florence M. Cauthen, of Alabama, to be United States 
     Marshal for the Middle District of Alabama for the term of 
     four years.
       Joseph George DiLeonardi, of Illinois, to be United States 
     Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois for the term of 
     four years.
       Dallas S. Neville, of Wisconsin, to the United States 
     Marshal for the Western District of Wisconsin for the term of 
     four years.
       John R. O'Connor, of Connecticut, to be United States 
     Marshal for the District of Connecticut for the term of four 
     years.
       Michael A. Pizzi, of New York, to be United States Marshal 
     for the Eastern District of New York for the term of four 
     years vice Charles E. Healey.
       Robert Bruce Robertson, of Oklahoma, to be United States 
     Marshal for the Eastern District of Oklahoma for the term of 
     four years.
       Michael R. Bromwich, of the District of Columbia, to be 
     Inspector General, Department of Justice.


           Statement on the Nomination of Joseph Paolino, Jr.

  Mr. PELL. I strongly endorse the nomination of the former mayor of 
Providence, RI, Joseph R. Paolino, Jr., to be Ambassador to Malta. I 
have the highest regard for Joe, and am delighted that President 
Clinton has chosen him to represent the United States in Malta.
  Malta is located at an important crossroads in the central 
Mediterranean between Tunisia, Libya, and Italy. Its economy is 
thriving, and there appear to be good opportunities for increased 
commercial relations between the United States and Malta. I believe it 
is particularly appropriate that President Clinton has nominated Joe 
Paolino, an individual with a strong background in economic 
development, and a respected member of the Italo-American community, 
for this post.
  After serving as an intern in my office years ago, Joe embarked upon 
a distinguished career in public service in Rhode Island and has become 
one of our State's most capable and experienced young leaders. Elected 
to the Providence City Council at the age of 24, Joe became in 1984 the 
youngest mayor in the city's history. Most recently, Joe directed Rhode 
Island's Department of Economic Development. Throughout this entire 
period, Joe has been a prominent leader of the Italo-American 
community, not only at the State, but at the national level.
  I have always been impressed with Joe's energy, drive, and desire to 
serve. He has excelled at every job he has had, and I have every 
confidence that Joe will tackle his new assignment with the same vigor 
that has served him so well in his previous duties.
  I would urge my colleagues to approve this nomination.


caution in south asia: the nomination of frank wisner as ambassador to 
                                 india

  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, on May 17, 1994, the Foreign Relations 
Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs held a confirmation 
hearing for Ambassador Frank Wisner to fill the long-vacant post of 
United States Ambassador to India. During this hearing, I asked 
Ambassador Wisner a number of detailed questions regarding the 
proliferation of nuclear weapons in the South Asia region. As I am sure 
you are aware, Mr. President, the proliferation of weapons and the 
Chinese military buildup, specifically, are of particular concern to 
India. Consequently, if confirmed, Ambassador Wisner must be prepared 
to face this issue and other regional weapons proliferation concerns.
  I have a long-standing interest in the problem of proliferation of 
nuclear weapons in unstable regions of the world. South Asia is one 
such region. The proliferation of nuclear weapons is the most critical 
national security issue facing the United States today. It is of 
paramount interest that the United States demonstrate a unified 
position on this issue.
  I was troubled by Ambassador Wisner's responses to my questions at 
his initial hearing last week. His responses regarding the Chinese 
weapons buildup vividly demonstrated that the current administration 
currently does not have a unified policy regarding nuclear non-
proliferation. When Ambassador Wisner responded to my questions on the 
ever expanding Chinese military machine, the Ambassador stated 
unequivocally, ``We cannot say that China is engaged * * * in a major 
arms buildup.'' Yet, I have read repeatedly in major national and 
international newspapers that the opposite is true. What is the real 
story?
  It is difficult for me, as a Member of Congress, to explain to my 
constituents in my home State of South Dakota the inconsistencies 
between the administration's position on the Chinese nuclear weapons 
buildup and reports from the major national media. When I meet with my 
constituents at town meetings and foreign policy forums, they as, 
``What is the real story?'' My constituents are informed. They read the 
New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. I owe 
it to my constituents to find correct answers to their questions. They 
deserve to know the real story.
  That is why I repeatedly raided nuclear proliferation questions with 
Ambassador Wisner. While some may believe that my questions regarding 
the Chinese buildup were irrelevant to Ambassador Wisner's nomination 
as United States Ambassador to India, we must recognize the circuitous 
nature of regional nuclear arms proliferation. There is a chain 
reaction of nuclear weapons acquisition in South Asia. India, fearing 
China, built a bomb. Pakistan, partially because it considered India's 
nuclear program a threat to its national security, developed its own 
nuclear program. While both Indian and Pakistan may believe this tit-
for-tat nuclear policy lowers the risk of conflict, should a hot 
conflict erupt in the region, the stakes would be much higher with 
nuclear weapons figured into the calculation.
  As one nation obtains the technology and the components necessary to 
construct nuclear weapons, it is politically difficult for another 
country that feels threatened by the first to withstand the temptation 
to strengthen its own nuclear programs. This competition substantially 
increases the possibility that disputes between nations could end in an 
atomic clash. I fear this could happen in South Asia.
  Ambassador Winston Lord, in testimony before the East Asian and 
Pacific Affairs Subcommittee on May 4, 1994, stated that increased 
Chinese military spending does not threaten the United States. 
According to Ambassador Lord,

       [T]hose countries near China have more concern earlier 
     about implications of military buildup than we do. What China 
     is doing now is from a relatively low technology base and 
     projection base. It does not immediately threaten us, nor do 
     they have aggressive intentions to.

  What Ambassador Lord fails to recognize is that a regional nuclear 
threat from China is our problem.
  First, China currently is developing a new generation of nuclear 
weapons capable of reaching the United States. Second, even if China 
currently does not have the projection capabilities necessary to launch 
a nuclear attack against the United States, we cannot ignore the threat 
of a Chinese nuclear buildup to nations in the South Asia region, such 
as India and Pakistan. Ambassador Wisner and the administration must 
recognize the importance of Chinese military expansion and how that may 
affect the region as a whole.
  Additionally, I have had reservations about confirming Ambassador 
Wisner because of his role in the administration's recent attempts to 
waive the Pressler amendment and allow Pakistan to receive up to 38 F-
16 fighter aircraft. I regarded this move as the State Department's 
effort to kill the Pressler amendment. Delivering up to 38 F-16's, 
several P-3's and some number of T-38 trainers to Pakistan at this 
juncture only would encourage other nations to develop limited nuclear 
arsenals. What this administration in effect has said is that it is OK 
for an unstable nation to have some nuclear capability.
  The United States has never advocated limited nuclear capability for 
any country. According to the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation 
Treaty [NPT], only the permanent five members of the Security Council 
are authorized to have nuclear weapons. Why this administration would 
pursue such a calamitous policy escapes me. I have learned that 
Ambassador Wisner was the architect of the administration's policy 
change toward Pakistan. Naturally, I have been troubled by this.
  After Ambassador Wisner's confirmation hearing on May 17, 1994, I was 
not satisfied completely with his handling of questions regarding 
nuclear proliferation in South Asia. While I believed--and continue to 
believe--Ambassador Wisner did a find job as our U.S. Ambassador to 
Egypt, I did not feel confident at the time that he was fully prepared 
to be Ambassador to India, given the current state of nuclear 
proliferation in the region. Because of these misgivings, I requested 
an extension of Ambassador Wisner's confirmation hearing.
  At his second hearing, I again questioned the Ambassador about 
discrepancies between media reports and administration reports on 
Chinese military expansion. Regrettably, Ambassador Wisner's responses 
were similar to those he gave in the first hearing. After this second 
hearing, however, I felt somewhat more at ease with the Ambassador's 
position on South Asian nuclear proliferation. I explained my need for 
straight answers. I explained to him the importance of these issues to 
my constituents, as well as all Americans.
  I believe that it is extremely important to regional security that 
the ambassadorial post to India is filled. I will continue to raise 
questions with the administration about the South Asian regional arms 
race. Constituents in South Dakota and in all 50 States need assurances 
that U.S. representatives in that region are serving our national 
security interests.

                          ____________________