[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 153 (Thursday, September 28, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H9600-H9601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENDING AUTHORITIES UNDER MIDDLE EAST PEACE FACILITATION ACT
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on International Relations be discharged from further consideration of
the bill (H.R. 2404) to extend authorities under the Middle East Peace
Facilitation Act of 1994 until November 1, 1995, and for other
purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Hefley). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from New York?
Mr. HAMILTON. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Speaker, I do not
intend to object, and I yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr.
Gilman], chairman of the committee, to explain his unanimous-consent
order.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2404 temporarily extends the Middle
East Peace Facilitation Act of 1994, which otherwise would have expired
on October 1, 1995. That act was previously extended by Public Law 104-
17 and by Public Law 104-22.
H.R. 2404 extends the act until November 1, 1995, and includes a
transition provision to make certain that there is no lapse in the
act's authority.
Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I
do not intend to object, I simply want to note that I do not think it
is helpful to Israel, to the Palestinians or to maintaining momentum in
the peace process to have to come to this floor every 30 or 45 days to
extend these authorities on a short-term basis. I hope that we will be
able to make this the last short-term extension of the Middle East
Peace Facilitation Act and that we can instead fashion a provision that
holds the parties to the Middle East peace process to the terms of the
agreements they have negotiated but which does not go beyond those
terms.
Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I yield to the
gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel].
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from Indiana for yielding
to me.
Mr. Speaker, this is now the third time that we are renewing the
Middle East Peace Facilitation Act. This, in my opinion, is not really
the way to go about it. Each time we renew it, we say it is for a
temporary moment until we can put the law together and pass a new
Middle East Peace Facilitation Act and each time there is just a simple
renewal.
I do not think this is a good process. We have had legislation
introduced. I have introduced a bill. We have had no markups on the
committee. We had one hearing last week, but we have not had any
markups.
The Senate is moving ahead with its foreign ops bill. Senator Helms
and Senator Pell are putting together language. Quite frankly, I see no
reason why we should cede our authority to the Senate. Why should the
Senate language ultimately be the language that is adopted?
I think that this House has a very important role to play and,
frankly, I think that our Committee on International Relations ought to
put all the legislation that has been proposed at a hearing, talk about
it, do a markup, have a markup of the bill, and we ought to come up
with new MEPFA language. That is the way I think that we ought to
proceed.
Yasser Arafat's feet must be held to the fire. I know there is a
signing going on in the White House today. I intend to be there. All of
us hope and pray for Middle East peace, but I think a just peace will
only be a just peace if there is compliance on all sides, and that
includes the PLO and it includes Mr. Arafat.
I believe that United States money should continue to flow for this
process, if the Palestinians, if Mr. Arafat is keeping his pledges. If
he does not, then I think the money ought to stop; only Mr. Arafat and
the PLO can determine that.
So I do not think an automatic renewal is the way to go. I understand
it is only for 30 days and I will not object to the 30 days, but I will
be hard-pressed 30 days from now to come here and agree to another
extension.
Again, I think that the peace process will only work and American
money should only continue to flow if both sides are adhering to what
they agreed. We do not have that now. The covenants are still in
place, talking about the destruction of Israel, the PLO covenants, and
Yasser Arafat's track record has been less than admirable. So I think
that while we probably have no choice today, again, I think that our
committee, and I would hope that the chairman, in fact, I wonder if the
chairman would give a commitment that we would have a markup of my bill
and other bills that have been proposed and also perhaps that our
committee can formulate a bill.
Again, I see no reason why this House has to cede its authority on
this important sphere to the Senate. Why should
[[Page H 9601]]
the Senate foreign operations bill be the core to any new Middle East
Peace Facilitation Act that is proposed?
While Senator Helms and Senator Pell are putting together their
language and doing a good job, I think we have an equal role to play,
not simply a role of following the Senate.
So I am wondering if the chairman can give me assurances that we will
indeed have a markup in this House and that this House will come up
with its own bill and not simply rubberstamp the Senate version in the
foreign ops bill.
Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation of objection, I
yield to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman].
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, in response to the concerns of the gentleman
from New York, we share those concerns. We will have an opportunity in
the next 30 days to take a good, hard look at all of those problems.
And hopefully our committee will be able to address some of the
gentleman's concerns.
I thank the gentleman for raising this issue.
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 not objection.
The Clerk read the bill, as follows:
H.R. 2404
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITIES.
(a) In General.--Section 583(a) of the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law
103-236), as amended Public Law 104-22, is amended by
striking ``October 1, 1995,'' and inserting ``November 1,
1995,''.
(b) Consultation.--For purposes of any exercise of the
authority provided in section 583(a) of the Foreign Relations
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 (Public Law
103-236) prior to October 5, 1995, the written policy
justification dated June 1, 1995, and submitted to the
Congress in accordance with section 583(b)(1) of such Act,
and the consultations associated with such policy
justification, shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of
section 583(b)(1) of such Act.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and 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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