[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 139 (Thursday, September 29, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 29, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
  DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1995, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
   SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND RESCISSIONS ACT, 1994--CONFERENCE 
                                 REPORT

  Mr. MITCHELL. Mr. President, I ask that the Chair lay before the 
Senate H.R. 4649, the conference report accompanying the District of 
Columbia appropriations bill.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       Resolved, That the House recede from its disagreement to 
     the amendment of the Senate numbered 12 to the bill (H.R. 
     4649) entitled ``An act making appropriations for the 
     Government of the District of Columbia and other activities 
     chargeable in whole or part against the revenues of said 
     District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1995, and 
     for other purposes and concur therein with an amendment.
  The Senate resumed consideration of the amendments in disagreement to 
the conference report.

       Pending:
       (1) Gramm Amendment No. 2585 (to House amendment to Senate 
     amendment number 3), to strengthen the Violent Crime Control 
     and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 by reducing the number of 
     social programs and increasing the penalties for criminal 
     activity.
       (2) Cohen/Sasser Amendment No. 2594 (to House amendment to 
     Senate amendment number 6), to provide for enhanced penalties 
     for health care fraud.
       (3) Wofford Amendment No. 2595 (to Cohen Amendment No. 
     2594), to disqualify Members of Congress from participating 
     in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program under chapter 
     89 of title 5, United States Code.
       (4) Domenici Amendment No. 2596 (to House amendment to 
     Senate amendment number 12), to improve the operations of the 
     legislative branch of the Federal Government.
       (5) Boren Amendment No. 2597 (to Domenici Amendment No. 
     2596), to improve the operations of the legislative branch of 
     the Federal Government.


                Amendment No. 2595 to Amendment No. 2594

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question before the Senate is an amendment 
in the second degree, Amendment No. 2595 offered by the Senator from 
Pennsylvania [Mr. Wofford].
  The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, has the time under the Pastore rule expired 
for the day?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. No, it has not.
  Mr. BYRD. It has not?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. It has not.
  Mr. BYRD. I ask unanimous consent that I may speak out of order for 5 
minutes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The Senator may proceed. The Senator from West Virginia.
  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I will not detain the 
Senate more than 5 minutes.

                           THOUGHTS ON HAITI

  Mr. BYRD. Mr. President, many discussions concerning the scope and 
duration of our military operation in Haiti have been conducted in 
recent days, both on this floor and in other meetings. I am taking this 
opportunity to outline my views on the language that I believe should 
be adopted regarding Haiti.
  I believe that we should act to set reasonable limits on the mission 
and duration of the United States operation in Haiti. I would propose 
defining and limiting the United States mission in Haiti to, first, 
protecting United States citizens and interests in Haiti, and 
protecting the safety of the multinational force now deployed in Haiti. 
The second element of the mission should be to stabilize the security 
situation in Haiti so that the restored democratically elected 
Government can quickly reassume the functions of government. This 
effort includes protecting the key individuals in this transition, such 
as in the United States role yesterday in protecting the Haitian 
Legislature so that it can meet and operate. It also includes providing 
technical assistance to the Haitian Government in order to begin the 
process of retraining the military and police, and enhancing their 
noncombat capabilities, to operate in support of the best interests of 
the people and the democratic constitution of Haiti. The third element 
of the mission in Haiti would be to facilitate the provision of 
humanitarian assistance to the people of Haiti. Finally, the fourth 
mission of the United States operation in Haiti should be to ensure the 
safe and orderly transition to the U.N. mission in Haiti, which is to 
replace the current United States-led operation, called for in the U.N. 
Security Council resolution.
  We have all been mindful of the problems associated with vaguely 
defined missions, which seem to lead, as in the case of Somalia, to 
mission ``creep,'' so-called, and operations of open-ended duration. I 
would propose to fund this operation through February 15, 1995, with 
two possible extensions. I would include a 1-month extension, to March 
15, 1995, at the discretion and recommendation of the President, in 
order to ensure the orderly transition to the U.N. mission in Haiti and 
to provide for the safe and orderly withdrawal of United States forces, 
except those Americans included in the U.N. mission. Beyond March 15, I 
would propose a possible additional extension of the United States 
operation, if the President requests such an extension, and also the 
funding, and if the Congress approves the extension and the funding 
therefore. This request should be addressed under fast track rules, 
that would allow the Congress to offer germane amendments, but that 
would also ensure a congressional vote, within a very constricted 
timeframe, in relation to the President's recommendation.
  As a final element, I believe that the President should report to the 
Congress on a monthly basis on the progress being made toward 
transitioning from a U.S.-led operation to a U.N.-led operation. These 
progress reports will help the Congress to evaluate any request for an 
extension of the United States operation. They also would serve to keep 
pressure on the United Nations to get its act together in organizing an 
effective follow-on force to the current U.S.-led operation.
  Mr. President, I will have more to say on this subject matter, but I 
did think it only fair to my colleagues that they know that I do have a 
proposal that I may wish to advance. I may not have the votes for it, 
because the administration and others have been very busy in urging 
that there be no cutoff date. And I have not attempted to corral any 
votes or buttonhole any Senators. I think I have spoken to two 
different Senators about it, just by way of asking their opinions.
  But, Mr. President, I do feel that my colleagues should know the bare 
outlines of the proposal that I am advancing. They can make their 
judgments about it when we get to a fuller discussion of the subject 
matter.
  I thank the Chair and I thank all Senators.

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