[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 108 (Thursday, June 29, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H6645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXTENDING AUTHORITIES UNDER THE MIDDLE EAST PEACE FACILITATION ACT OF 
                                  1994

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table the Senate bill--S. 962--to extend authorities under 
the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1994 until August 15, 1995, 
and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the right to object, and I do 
not intend to object, but I do want to state some concerns I have about 
the process surrounding the consideration of the bill.
  This is the Middle East Peace Facilitation Act. It expires June 30, 
1995, which is this Friday. The bill before us, S. 962, extends the law 
only for another 45 days, until August 15.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill is critical to the Middle East peace process. 
If the act is allowed to expire, all funds for direct assistance to the 
Palestinian authority and the West Bank and Gaza will be cut off. The 
United States will not be able to contribute to international efforts 
to benefit the Palestinian authority, and representatives of the 
Palestinian authority or related entities will not be able to maintain 
an office in the United States. So, engaging in dipomatic activities 
here would be virtually impossible.
  In short, allowing this law to expire could bring down the peace 
process at a time of intense Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
  Given the fragile, but nonetheless positive, nature of ongoing 
discussion between the Israelis and Palestinians, I have concern that 
we want to add to the instabilities of the region by extending this law 
only until August 15. By doing so, we are sending mixed signals to the 
parties, raising doubts about our resolve in the peace process. We 
create artificial tensions for a region that has plenty of real 
tensions. We do so for reasons that have nothing to do with 
Palestinians or Israelis.
  We want the Palestinians to do more to control violence. We have 
concerns about some actions of the Palestinian authority. But we have 
an ongoing process to monitor Palestinian behavior without imposing 
unnecessary time pressures on both sides.
  I think it is a mistake not to authorize a longer extension at this 
time.
  I will not object to the bill, but I do hope that when we have to 
return to the floor later this summer to extend this law again, we do 
so for a longer period of time.
  We should send a signal of strong support for the Middle East peace 
process, not the opposite. The Middle East peace process is hard 
enough. We in the Congress should not make it harder.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. HAMILTON. Further reserving the right to object, I yield to the 
gentleman from New York.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, S. 962 is a temporary extension of the 
Middle East Peace Facilitation Act, which is scheduled to expire at the 
end of this week unless congressional authority is extended.
  Because we will conference with the Senate on a more substantive 
Middle East Peace Facilitation Act prior to the summer recess, this 
legislation extends the Act until August 15, 1995. In essence, this is 
a 45-day extension.
  I therefore urge positive consideration of this legislation under my 
unanimous consent request.
  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the Senate bill, as follows:

                                 S. 962

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

     SEC. 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES.

       Section 583 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, 
     Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law 103-236) is amended by 
     striking ``July 1, 1995'' and inserting in lieu thereof 
     ``August 15, 1995''.

  The Senate bill was ordered to be read a third time, was read the 
third time, and passed, and a motion to reconsider was laid on the 
table.

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