[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 142 (Tuesday, October 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]


                              {time}  2220
 
 AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF NAVAL VESSELS TO CERTAIN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and pass the bill (H.R. 5155) to authorize the transfer of naval 
vessels to certain foreign countries.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5155

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER NAVAL VESSELS TO CERTAIN 
                   FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

       (a) Argentina.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Government of Argentina the ``NEWPORT'' class 
     tank landing ship SCHENECTADY (LST 1185). Such transfer shall 
     be on a lease basis under chapter 6 of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and following).
       (b) Chile.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Government of Chile the ``NEWPORT'' class 
     tank landing ships NEWPORT (LST 1179) and SAN BERNARDINO (LST 
     1189). Such transfers shall be on a lease basis under chapter 
     6 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and 
     following).
       (c) Malaysia.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Government of Malaysia the ``NEWPORT'' class 
     tank leading ship SPARTANBURG COUNTY (LST 1197). Such 
     transfer shall be on a sales basis under section 21 of the 
     Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761; relating to the 
     foreign military sales program).
       (d) Spain.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Government of Spain the ``NEWPORT'' class 
     tank landing ship HARLAN COUNTY (LST 1196). Such transfer 
     shall be on a lease basis under chapter 6 of the Arms Export 
     Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and following).
       (e) Taiwan.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
     Office in the United States (which is the Taiwan 
     instrumentality designated pursuant to section 10(a) of the 
     Taiwan Relations Act) the ``NEWPORT'' class tank landing 
     ships MANITOWOC (LST 1180) and SUMTER (LST 1181). Such 
     transfers shall be on a lease basis under chapter 6 of the 
     Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and following).
       (f) Venezuela.--The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to 
     transfer to the Government of Venezuela the ``NEWPORT'' class 
     tank landing ships PEORIA (LST 1183) and BARBOUR COUNTY (LST 
     1195). Such transfers shall be on a lease basis under chapter 
     6 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2796 and 
     following).

     SEC. 2. WAIVER OF REQUIREMENTS FOR NOTIFICATION TO CONGRESS.

       The following provisions do not apply with respect to the 
     transfers authorized by this Act:
       (1) In the case of a sale under section 21 of the Arms 
     Export Control Act, section 525 of the Foreign Operations, 
     Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 
     1994 (Public Law 103-87) and any similar, successor 
     provision.
       (2) In the case of a lease under section 61 of the Arms 
     Export Control Act, section 62 of that Act (except that 
     section 62 of that Act shall apply to any renewal of the 
     lease).

     SEC. 3. COSTS OF TRANSFERS.

       Any expense of the United States in connection with a 
     transfer authorized by this Act shall be charged to the 
     recipient.

     SEC. 4. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.

       The authority granted by section 1 of this Act shall expire 
     at the end of the 2-year period beginning on the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, except that leases entered into during 
     that period under section 1 may be renewed.

     SEC. 5. REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT OF VESSELS IN THE UNITED 
                   STATES.

       It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of the 
     Navy should request that each country to which a naval vessel 
     is transferred under this Act have such repair or 
     refurbishment of the vessel as is needed, before the vessel 
     joins the naval forces of that country, performed at 
     shipyards located in the United States, including United 
     States navy shipyards.

     SEC. 6. CONDITION FOR TRANSFER.

       No vessel may be transferred under this Act until the 
     Secretary of Defense certifies in writing to Congress that, 
     after the transfer--
       (1) the amphibious lift capacity remaining available in the 
     Navy is sufficient in all lift categories to transport 2\1/2\ 
     Marine Corps expeditionary brigades simultaneously; and
       (2) the amphibious lift capacity planned to be available in 
     the Navy under the future-years defense program will be 
     sufficient in all lift categories, throughout the period 
     covered by the future-years defense program, to transport 
     2\1/2\ Marine Corps expeditionary brigades simultaneously.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poshard). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] will be recognized for 20 
minutes, and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be 
recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews].
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to the appropriate 
provisions of the Arms Export Control Act, this bill authorizes the 
transfer of nine naval vessels; one through sale to Malaysia and 8 
through leases to Chile, Taiwan, Venezuela, Argentina and Spain.
  The bill is in the national security interests of the United States 
because it will:
  Help improve ties between the U.S. navy and the navies of friendly 
and allied governments;
  Help improve the naval capabilities of friendly and allied 
governments;
  Save the U.S. government $9.9 million in first year initial 
deactivation and storage costs;
  Generate $22.2 million in Government sales and lease revenues for the 
U.S. Treasury; and
  Generate a minimum ``best estimate'' of $73 million in revenues for 
U.S. Government and private shipyards in preparing these naval vessels 
for transfer.
  The House has the opportunity to have clear and positive impact on 
both the budget and our national security interests through passage of 
the legislation we have before us today.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  All of the remaining eight ships, the United States intends to 
transfer pursuant to chapter 6 of the AECA. During their lease periods, 
these eight ships will be retained on the U.S. Naval Vessel Register 
while under the operational command and control of the designated 
foreign recipients. Under the lease terms, the United States may 
terminate the leases and have the vessels returned to U.S. custody 
should the need arise.
  Three of the nine ships remain in active service and would be 
transferred directly to the foreign countries once they are 
decommissioned. The remaining six ships are currently in inactive 
status and would require refurbishment and reactivation work before the 
recipient nation could take possession.
  The United States would incur no costs for the transfer of these 
naval vessels. Any expenses incurred in connection with the transfers 
would be charged to the recipient nation including maintenance, repair 
and reactivation costs, and training.
  The U.S. Government will receive a total of $22.2 million in sales 
and lease revenues as a result of this legislation. Further, by 
transferring these ships, the United States will avoid nearly $10 
million in deactivation and storage costs. In addition, it is 
anticipated that the recipient countries will pay U.S. shipyards a 
total of at least $73 million for repair and refurbishment work on the 
ships.
  Accordingly, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
measure. It advances the valuable, cooperative relationships the United 
States has established with each of these nations' navies and manages 
to save U.S. taxpayers a significant amount of money at the same time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Andrews] for his excellent work in bringing this measure to 
the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this legislation is to authorize the 
transfer of nine ships to six countries--Argentina, Chile, Malaysia, 
Spain, Taiwan, and Venezuela. The proposed transfers involve Newsport 
class Tank Landing Ships.
  Of the nine ships, the United States intends to sell one of the 
vessels pursuant to chapter 21 of the Arms Export Control Act. This 
ship will not remain on the U.S. Naval Vessel Register.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New York [Mr. 
Gilman] for his work and for the cooperation of the minority in this 
legislation, and to reemphasize the point that the gentleman made very 
well a minute ago, that this legislation will create U.S. jobs in U.S. 
shipyards for U.S. workers as a result of the legislation being passed.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 5155.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

              PROMOTING POLITICAL STABILITY IN TAJIKISTAN

  Mr. ANSWERS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 302) urging the 
President to promote political stability in Tajikistan through efforts 
to encourage political resolution of the conflict and respect for human 
rights and through the provision of humanitarian assistance and, 
subject to certain conditions, economic assistance
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 302

       Whereas the conflict in Tajikistan between the government 
     and opposition forces has caused the death of tens of 
     thousands of persons and has displaced 500,000 persons, one-
     tenth of the country's 5,400,000 people;
       Whereas the conflict has been characterized on all sides by 
     gross human rights violations, abuses, and brutalities, 
     including the murders of children, pregnant women, and 
     babies, widespread use of torture, and summary executions;
       Whereas the current violence has the potential to cause 
     conflict along ethnic lines between Tajiks and Uzbeks 
     throughout the region;
       Whereas the United Nations Security Council has called upon 
     all parties to reach a political solution and seek national 
     reconciliation;
       Whereas the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe has established a mission in Tajikistan to seek ways 
     to revolve the conflict;
       Whereas through the efforts of the Special Envoy of the 
     Secretary General of the United Nations to Tajikistan, 
     negotiations are now being conducted;
       Whereas elections have been scheduled by the Government of 
     Tajikistan for November 6, 1994;
       Whereas the success of a truly representative government 
     will assist with the development of a peaceful and stable 
     Central Asia and beyond;
       Whereas the United States has successfully responded to 
     urgent needs for food and other humanitarian assistance in 
     the past;
       Whereas food access rather than availability will be a 
     critical problem facing Tajikistan for the foreseeable 
     future;
       Whereas there remain significant shortages of necessary 
     building materials, wheat, cooking oil, soap, and shoes;
       Whereas lack of fuel nationwide will delay food shipments 
     to Gorno Badakshan, creating severe food shortages in that 
     region, and has the potential to cripple the economy;
       Whereas economic assistance can sometimes be given through 
     nongovernmental organizations, in the form of 
     microdevelopment projects, thus supporting the economy from 
     the bottom up;
       Whereas continued support for the present of the United 
     Nations and other international organizations and for 
     microdevelopment projects could encourage the peaceful return 
     and reintegration of refugees and displaced Tajiks; and
       Whereas any unconditional economic assistance for the 
     central government in Dushanbe, by any party, amounts to a 
     failure to take advantage of political leverage to support 
     national reconciliation and human rights: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),
       (a) That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) while the Congress welcomes steps taken by the 
     Government of Tajikistan toward the holding of open 
     elections, it expresses its concerns that nomination, 
     registration, and voting procedures are inadequate to ensure 
     that such elections will be free and fair; and
       (2) any peacekeeping activities in Tajikistan should be 
     conducted in full conformity with United Nations and 
     international peacekeeping norms and practices.
       (b) That it is the further sense of the Congress that the 
     President--
       (1) should support existing efforts at national 
     reconciliation in Tajikistan, including--
       (A) those of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe, and
       (B) the current diplomatic initiatives, through the office 
     of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General of the United 
     Nations to Tajikistan;
       (2) should seek, through his good offices, to obtain full 
     respect by the Government of Tajikistan for basic freedoms 
     and internationally recognized human rights, including full 
     implementation of Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
     Europe commitments;
       (3) should maintain support for humanitarian assistance to 
     the people of Tajikistan, including assistance for refugees, 
     internally displaced persons, and returnees, with an eye for 
     encouraging self-sufficiency in as many sectors as possible;
       (4) should urge the international community to make similar 
     commitments;
       (5) should seek to ensure that a substantial portion of 
     assistance provided to Tajikistan is channeled through 
     nongovernmental organizations; and
       (6) should seek to ensure that economic assistance is 
     provided directly to the Government of Tajikistan only if it 
     is making significant progress in--
       (A) protecting and facilitating the activities of human 
     rights groups, including their monitoring of human rights 
     abuses by or upon any party and the training of local human 
     rights organizations;
       (B) promoting democratic development, including free and 
     fair elections;
       (C) participating in and otherwise facilitating conflict 
     resolution efforts;
       (D) terminating interference in the non-violent activities 
     of the political opposition;
       (E) allowing the International Committee of the Red Cross 
     to visit prisoners in accordance with its mandate, which 
     includes private interviews with prisoners;
       (F) participating in and otherwise facilitating the 
     compilation of a list of all those who have been 
     extrajudicially executed or have disappeared; and
       (G) facilitating the protection and reintegration of 
     returnees.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Andrews] will be recognized for 20 minutes, and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews].
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  (Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, sometimes large principles 
are found in small and remote places. Tajikistan is such a place. It is 
a country that perhaps some of our colleagues have not even heard of, 
and I am certain most Americans have not even heard of.
  It is a small country. It is perhaps one of the smallest areas of 
what used to be the Soviet Union, but it has recently been a place of 
immense human suffering, a place where half a million people tonight 
are removed and displaced from what they used to call home, a place 
where elements who used to run the Soviet KGB we believe are running 
what calls itself the Government of Tajikistan, a government which 
shows very little indication of being a legitimate, law-abiding 
government.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution says that the United States, within the 
appropriate limits of international law, and without extending 
ourselves in ways that we should not extend ourselves, should take 
sides with respect to what has gone on in Tajikistan with respect to 
our principles.
  It calls upon our President to very carefully monitor the elections 
that have been called in November in Tajikistan, and we certainly 
believe that every indication is that those elections will not be 
legitimate. There is not free and equal access to the ballot. There is 
not a free press.

  Mr. Speaker, we want our President and our State Department to let 
the world and the people of Tajikistan and the Government of Tajikistan 
know that we are watching. The resolution calls for us to facilitate, 
through the United Nations and other instrumentalities of peace, a 
reconciliation negotiation process, so all sides in that country can be 
brought together to create a truly law-based constitution and a truly 
legitimate and representative government.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, and most importantly, this resolution calls 
upon the United States to condition future aid to Tajikistan upon 
dramatic improvement in its human rights records, upon the 
implementation of real democratic standards, and upon the 
implementation of a true and legitimate government.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 302, which calls on the President to seek ways to promote 
political stability in Tajikistan.
  It also states the sense of this Congress regarding elections and any 
peacekeeping missions in that country.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from New Jersey [Mr. 
Andrews], a member of our Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East 
and the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs, for his work in bringing this measure to the floor.
  As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Andrews has made 
the situation in Tajikistan a focus of his efforts at a time when much 
of the attention of the committee and of this House has been drawn to 
more pressing issues and conflicts around the world.
  In introducing this resolution, Mr. Andrews has sought to point out 
the importance of recent developments in Tajikistan for the peace and 
stability of the Central Asian region and beyond.
  Frankly, if a political settlement is not found that will end the 
very violent conflict that has afflicted Tajikistan, it is possible 
that Central Asia could erupt into a regional conflict that would 
easily exceed the conflict in Bosnia in its violence and suffering.
  This resolution calls on the President to support current efforts by 
the United Nations and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in 
Europe to arrange a negotiated settlement to the conflict.
  It also calls on the President to continue to provide humanitarian 
aid to the victims of the conflict, but to provide economic aid to the 
Government of Tajikistan only if it is seeking a resolution of the 
conflict, working to develop a democratic political system, and 
promoting basic freedoms and human rights for its citizens.
  Finally, the resolution expresses the sense of the Congress that it 
welcomes steps taken by the Government of Tajikistan towards the 
holding of open elections, but that it is concerned that certain pre-
election procedures will not ensure that such elections are free and 
fair.
  It also states the sense of the Congress that any peacekeeping 
mission in Tajikistan should be conducted in full conformity with UN 
and international norms and practices.
  I agree with Mr. Andrews that it is important that the so-called 
peacekeeping mission now underway in Tajikistan by the Russian-
dominated ``Commonwealth of Independent States'' organization be 
brought under some kind of binding supervision by the United Nations.
  It is likely that only that can ensure its impartiality and 
commitment to the democratic development of Tajikistan.
  Frankly, the Russian military units involved in that so-called 
peacekeeping mission to date have clearly favored the Russian-supported 
regime.
  If Russia wants to mount a peacekeeping mission in Tajikistan, it 
needs to be impartial.
  Mr. Speaker, I welcome Mr. Andrews' resolution.
  Given his willingness to seek bipartisan input on his resolution, I 
have joined him as a sponsor of the measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of House Concurrent Resolution 302.

                              {time}  2230

  Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Rohrabacher], another member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, nowhere is the example of what has 
happened in the Soviet Union more clear than Tajikistan. In the years 
before the changeover in the Soviet Union, repression was the order of 
the day in Tajikistan just like all over the rest of the Soviet Union. 
The democratic aspirations of people were totally repressed as were 
their religious convictions. Then a few years ago when the central 
power of the Soviet Union broke down and the hand of tyranny loosened, 
a coalition of Democrats and Muslims--in that part of the world the 
predominant religious faith is the Muslim faith--and after 70 years of 
Communist rule, 70 years of repression of democracy, 70 years of 
atheist oppression of religious convictions, a coalition of Muslims and 
Democrats emerged in that country. Unfortunately, in Tajikistan as in 
other parts of the world, in other parts of the former Soviet Union, 
the Democrats and the people who then took power were not as accustomed 
to the niceties of democracy and the compromises and the type of 
strategizing that needs to go on. In fact, what happened was that the 
old-guard communists with the old KGB rulers of Tajikistan retook power 
violently and a civil war then followed in this far-off country.
  What we are finding and what the people found in the old-guard 
Communist movement that seized power from the Democrats and Muslims who 
had the coalition is that freedom and stability go hand in hand and 
that without Moscow there to repress those people, the people of 
Tajikistan were not about to see their freedom totally destroyed and 
there has been an ongoing conflict.
  Mr. Speaker, both sides now are seeking a way to end the instability 
and bloodshed that has happened since the old-guard communists reseized 
power in Tajikistan. They have come up with the idea of an election.
  I would like to thank my colleagues tonight for the attention that 
they have paid to this far-off country, because we are sending a 
message. An election is not simply the casting of ballots. It is also a 
recognition of the freedom of speech and assembly and it is permitting 
people who oppose your ideas to have a say and giving people without 
fear the right to move forward and express their opinions and to try to 
determine the future of their country.
  Today we are sending a message to the people of Tajikistan. ``You are 
not alone. We are watching.'' The United States is on the side not of 
any faction but on the side of those people who would seek freedom and 
liberty for their people. In that, we hope that the people of 
Tajikistan will have an honest election and that freedom and democracy 
will indeed reign in that country.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from California [Mr. 
Rohrabacher] for his poignant remarks and for his support of the 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. ANDREWS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] 
and the gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher], my Republican 
friends, for their support and associate myself with their comments and 
reiterate to the Government of Tajikistan, we say tonight that your 
abuses of human rights have not gone unnoticed and your access to the 
public treasury of the United States will not go unchallenged until you 
mend your ways and fall in line with the march toward democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poshard). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Andrews] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 
302.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a 
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not 
present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5, rule I, and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

                          ____________________