[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 160 (Tuesday, October 17, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H10108-H10109]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PROVIDING FOR DISTRIBUTION OF USIA FILM ``FRAGILE RING OF LIFE''

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2070) to provide for the distribution within the 
United States of the U.S. Information Agency film entitled ``Fragile 
Ring of Life.''
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 2070

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

     SECTION 1. DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF THE 
                   UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY FILM ENTITLED 
                   ``FRAGILE RING OF LIFE''.

       Notwithstanding section 208 of the Foreign Relations 
     Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1986 and 1987 (22 U.S.C. 
     1461-1(a)) and the second sentence of section 501 of the 
     United States Information and Education Exchange Act of 1948 
     (22 U.S.C. 1461)--
       (1) the Director of the United States Information Agency 
     shall make available to the Archivist of the United States a 
     master copy of the film entitled ``Fragile Ring of Life''; 
     and
       (2) upon evidence that necessary United States rights and 
     licenses have been secured and paid for by the person seeking 
     domestic release of the film, the Archivist shall--
       (A) reimburse the Director for any expenses of the Agency 
     in making that master copy available;
       (B) deposit that film in the National Archives of the 
     United States; and
       (C) make copies of that film available for purchase and 
     public viewing within the United States.

     Any reimbursement to the Director pursuant to this section 
     shall be credited to the applicable appropriation of the 
     United States Information Agency.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Smith] and the gentleman from Virginia [Mr. Moran] each 
will be recognized for 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith].

                              {time}  1545

  Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SMITH of New Jersey asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2070 
as introduced by our colleague, Mr. Moran. This legislation authorizes 
the distribution within the United States of a specific film, ``The 
Fragile Ring of Life'' produced by the U.S. Information Agency.
  This legislation is necessary because section 501 of the Smith Mundt 
Act of 1948 prevents the release within the United States of products 
commissioned by the U.S. Information Agency for 12 years.
  The intent of the Smith Mundt Act is to prevent the executive branch 
from using the U.S. Information Agency as a political tool within the 
United States. While this is a reasonable objective, over the years 
Congress has approved the early release of several films and videotape 
programs through legislative action. The decision to waive the Smith 
Mundt Act restriction on domestic dissemination is usually based on 
finding the material offers worthwhile educational or cultural 
information of interest or value to American citizens.
  The ``Fragile Ring of Life'' does meet these standards. The film 
discusses programs operating around the world that are focused on 
protecting sea life and coral reefs. In addition, it provides a useful 
summary of various efforts to establish environmentally sound practices 
within countries that rely upon the sea for food, commerce, or tourism.
  I urge support for H.R. 2070 so that this film may be made available 
to domestic viewers.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This is a very simple, straightforward, noncontroversial bill. It 
simply allows the film that the U.S. Information Agency sponsored, the 
``Fragile Ring of Fire,'' to be distributed within the United States.
  If it were not for this legislation, this film could not be shown for 
another 12 years, because, as the gentleman from 

[[Page H 10109]]
New Jersey [Mr. Smith] said, the Smith-Mundt Act of 1948, and I gather 
that was no relation to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], it 
was another Mr. Smith, but in 1948 to prevent the executive branch from 
using the U.S. Information Agency as a political tool, and it said that 
the film has to be around for 12 years before it can be shown initially 
in the United States.
  We have passed any number of other pieces of legislation because of 
this restrictive law. The Thomas Jefferson papers show, which 
commemorated the 250th anniversary of Thomas Jefferson's birth; we had 
a documentary about crimes against humanity regarding the conflict in 
Yugoslavia; we had a film called ``The Long Way Home,'' about the 
humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan; a tribute to Mickey Leland; 
photographs of military operations-related activities in the Republic 
of Vietnam for the purpose of developing and publishing military 
histories. All of these films served an important purpose, but they all 
had to get this kind of specific legislative authority before they 
could be shown in the United States.
  The ``Fragile Ring of Fire'' is important because it will contribute 
to scholarly efforts and public awareness of these undersea issues. 
There are a number of private sector efforts going on to protect the 
world's coral reefs by revealing the incredible beauty and productivity 
of coral reefs in generating food, income, and employment to 
communities around the world. This film shows some stark examples of 
the environmental degradation that has occurred and highlights the most 
successful reef conservation programs. The filmmakers went all the way 
around the Florida keys, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and 
shot some stunning underwater scenes in all of these locations. It is 
just so ironic that it cannot be shown in the United States.
  Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and important of all natural 
ecosystems. They are considered the rain forests of the ocean. They are 
located within eight States, U.S. States and territories, and the third 
largest reef in the world is located next to the Florida keys. It spans 
150 miles from the south of Miami to the Gulf of Mexico, and over 6 
million tourists every year visit the keys to boat, fish, and snorkel 
and scuba dive and see more than 6,000 species of plants, fish, and 
invertebrates.
  Because the keys are so important, not only commercially but because 
of protein they provide, any number of environmental contributions that 
coral reefs make, it is disturbing that 10 percent of the reefs have 
been lost already, and scientists estimate another 20 to 30 percent 
could be lost over the next 15 years.
  That is why this is important to be shown. The State Department has a 
coral reef initiative that brings seven countries together to more 
effectively manage coral reef ecosystems.
  The Department of State already has a long list of organizations that 
want to participate in this within the United States, schools, museums, 
environmental groups, and they need to be able to show this film.
  I cannot imagine any reason why all of the Members would not want 
them to be able to show this film, and, in fact, many of the Members 
may want to make it available to their school systems.
  I do want to express my appreciation to the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Hamilton], the ranking Democrat on the full committee, and the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, in moving this through the committee, and 
lastly, I want to put in a plug in recognition to the superb staff of 
the Committee on International Relations, Beth Ford and Kristen Gilley. 
They have done a terrific job, as well as Kris King, on my staff, who 
has followed this for months and made sure it got legislated, as well 
as putting all of these thoughts together.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I do thank the gentleman for his kind words. It is a good bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Riggs). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2070.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. 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 1 and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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