[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      JOBS THROUGH TRADE EXPANSION ACT OF 1994--CONFERENCE REPORT

  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I submit a report of the committee of 
conference on H.R. 4950 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The report will be stated.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
     two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
     4950) to extend the authorities of the Overseas Private 
     Investment Corporation, and for other purposes, having met, 
     after full and free conference, have agreed to recommend and 
     do recommend to their respective Houses this report, signed 
     by a majority of the conferees.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the Senate will proceed to 
the consideration of the conference report.
  (The conference report is printed in the House proceedings of the 
Record of October 4, 1994.)
  Mr. SARBANES. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle for allowing us to take up and pass this conference 
report. H.R. 4950, the Jobs Through Trade Expansion Act of 1994, is a 
bill we can all support, although it has taken a good deal of work to 
steer it through the procedural hurdles that have faced us over the 
last few days. I think the fact that we have managed to get to this 
point in a very short time is a testament to the broadly recognized 
importance and value of this piece of legislation.
  Let me explain briefly what this bill would do. First, and perhaps 
most urgently, it would extend the operating authority of the Overseas 
Private Investment Corporation for another 2 years. As many of you 
know, OPIC is one of the most cost-effective instruments for promoting 
private investment in developing countries and transitional economies. 
Attracting foreign business investment is one of the highest priorities 
of countries like South Africa and the New Independent States of the 
former Soviet Union, and OPIC is a key player in that area. OPIC's 
authority to issue insurance and guarantees expired on September 30, 
however, and without this legislation they would not be able to 
continue their much-needed mission.
  A second major provision of this conference report authorizes 
appropriations for the Trade and Development Agency. By funding 
feasibility studies and other development-related activities that would 
involve the use of U.S. exports, the TDA simultaneously promotes 
economic development and the export of U.S. goods and services to 
developing countries It is estimated that the TDA returns to the U.S. 
economy $25 for every dollar disbursed. In carrying out its mission the 
TDA has received a well-deserved reputation for effectiveness and 
success.
  Title III of the conference report reauthorizes export promotion 
programs with in the International Trade Administration of the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, while title IV establishes new mechanisms for 
the promotion of U.S. environmental technologies. Such mechanisms will 
not only promote U.S. jobs by expanding U.S. exports, but also will 
assist foreign countries in protecting and cleaning up their natural 
environments, which of course benefits all of us.
  Finally, the conference report directs the United States Agency for 
International Development [USAID], in conjunction with the Department 
of Commerce's Patent and Trademark Office and other Federal agencies, 
to establish a program of training and technical assistance in 
intellectual property protection. This would be yet another program 
that benefits the United States while contributing to international 
economic development.
  Mr. President, I want to underscore the importance of this 
legislation and once again to thank my colleagues for their assistance 
in seeing it through to final passage. I would particularly like to 
commend my colleague in the House, Republican Sam Gejdenson, for all 
his hard work inputting this package together. The bill he introduced 
on the House side was broader in scope than the measure we were able to 
move through the Senate, and I am pleased that we were able to accept 
many of the House provisions in conference.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the conference report be 
agreed to; that the motion to reconsider be laid on the table; and that 
statement thereon appear in the Record at the appropriate place as 
though read.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the conference report was agreed to.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I rise today to offer my strong support 
for the amendment offered by Senator Simon to establish a National 
African-American Museum within the Smithsonian. The amendment before us 
today represents the culmination of many years of hard work on the part 
of many people both in and out of Congress. I am very proud to have the 
opportunity to be a part of this important effort.
  Throughout our Nation's history African-Americans have made enormous 
contributions to every aspect of American life. While African-Americans 
have made vast contributions to our society, many of those 
contributions have gone unrecognized or ignored.
  Today, we have a unique opportunity to correct this injustice and 
properly acknowledge and celebrate the vast contributions of African-
Americans who have made contributions to our Nation's military, 
politics, law, religion, education, and many other areas which have a 
bearing on our daily lives. With the enactment of this legislation, we 
have an opportunity today to fully recognize the many contributions of 
African-Americans to our Nation. I urge my colleagues not to let this 
opportunity pass.
  Some may argue that this museum will highlight the differences among 
the people of our Nation harming our efforts to create a more 
harmonious society. Mr. President, we are one Nation made up of many 
parts. The diversity of our Nation is its strength. The history of the 
African-American is the history of America. The two are inseparable. 
Through the establishment of this museum we are celebrating our 
Nation's history as a melting pot of different peoples. This museum 
will ensure the preservation of an important aspect of American 
history.
  I believe this is an extremely worthy effort. Nevertheless, I share 
my colleagues concerns about the cost of this or any other Federal 
legislation. Our $4 trillion deficit demands that we exercise prudent 
fiscal judgment in all of our legislation.
  Mr. President, I believe that the effort we are pursuing today not 
only meets the goal of recognizing the achievements of a people whose 
contributions to our society are immeasurable but it also meets our 
goal of fiscal responsibility.
  It should be noted that it is the intention of the sponsors of the 
legislation, it supporters outside of Congress and the Smithsonian to 
seek private donations to fund as much of the museum's activities as 
possible. In fact, the legislation restricts the use of appropriated 
funds to operation and maintenance only. There is strong public support 
for this museum and we must draw upon this support to make the museum a 
reality.
  Opponents of this legislation have argued that if most of the 
activities of the museum will be privately funded, then why is it 
necessary to authorize any Federal funding for the museum. These 
arguments are misleading and false.
  Mr. President, no museum within the Smithsonian is wholly operated by 
private donations. While proponents of this bill intend to do 
everything possible to raise private funds for the museum, it should 
not be forced to meet a higher standard than any other museum on the 
mall. Such arguments are at best are spurious and at worst harken back 
an inequality which African-Americans have been fighting against for 
hundreds of years.
  In one form or another this bill has been reported by the rules 
committee twice, passed the Senate once and the House once. Throughout 
this process there has been little or no opposition to the bill. It has 
30 cosponsors and enjoys broad bipartisan support.
  The truth is that this museum is not controversial and this bill 
should be passed immediately. Those who truly have cost in mind should 
realize that the longer we stall this bill the more expensive it will 
be to establish the museum later. As we delay passage of this bill, the 
museum will lose valuable collections and costs will increase. More 
importantly, we as a nation will continue to lose our history which is 
irreplaceable.
  Dr. Carter G. Woodson a noted African-American historian said ``that 
History is being daily made, but it ceases to be history unless it is 
recorded and passed on to coming generations.'' This museum will ensure 
the words of Dr. Woodson were not pointless.
  Museums play an important role in educating our society. This museum 
will serve to better educate all Americans as to the diversity and 
richness of our history. Lately, there has been an increased focus on 
race relations.
  Racism is a concern of every member of this body. I sincerely believe 
that racism exists in an atmosphere where people are unaware of the 
contributions that others have made to our society. While I am not so 
naive as to believe that this museum will end racism, I believe it 
offers us a great opportunity to help dispel one of its root causes--
ignorance.
  Mr. President, I don't claim that this legislation will resolve the 
problems facing the African-American community in our Nation. But if we 
cannot enact legislation to establish a simple museum, how can we ever 
be expected to resolve the difficult and more contentious issues which 
beset minority communities throughout our Nation. I urge my colleagues 
to join me in supporting this legislation.

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