[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 194 (Thursday, December 7, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S18230-S18231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           ORDER OF PROCEDURE

  Mr. KERRY. In that case, Madam President, if I may, I would like to 
review with the Senator very briefly those items as we understand them 
that are summarized within H.R. 1561.
  On Monday when we take up this issue we have agreed, have we not, 
that as to the issue of consolidation, that we have agreed on 
compromise language with technical changes which will propound a $1.7 
billion savings over 5 years with a baseline of fiscal year 1995 at the 
appropriated level, that there would be no mandatory abolition of 
agencies, there would be not more than 30 percent of the savings 
realized for programmatic reductions, and there would be not more than 
15 percent of the savings realized from State Department administrative 
accounts.
  Does the chairman agree with my summary of the consolidation?
  Mr. HELMS. That is correct. And it will be made a part of the Record.
  Mr. KERRY. With respect to other bill issues, there is agreement on 
language reflected in a summary of changes in Division A which will be 
made a part of the Record.
  There is a deletion of section 168 based on Senator Dodd's request in 
writing to have this dealt with in conference on the Cuban Liberty and 
Solidarity Act. There is a deletion of section 603 relating to coercive 
population control policies. And there is an addition of $10 million in 
fiscal year 1996 for the East-West Center pursuant to an agreement 
between the chairman and ranking member and Senator Inouye.
  Mr. HELMS. That is correct.
  Mr. KERRY. With respect to Iraqi claims, there is a compromise which 
contemplates satisfying licensing for those people with letters of 
advice while simultaneously expanding--compromise language which we 
arrived at this evening which basically splits the difference between 
the parties with respect to the concerns that have been expressed.
  Mr. HELMS. That is correct, Madam President.
  Mr. KERRY. With respect to the authorization levels, there is an 
agreement that those authorization levels currently set out in the bill 
will be addressed in conference with an understanding among the parties 
that we will make a good-faith effort and seek to increase the levels 
of operating accounts for the agencies affected by the bill.

  Mr. HELMS. That is correct.
  Mr. KERRY. With respect to conference issues as to consolidation, 
there is an agreement that the Senate conferees will operate under 
consensus with respect to the consolidation proposal regarding 
mandatory cost savings, the abolition of the agencies, and the 
limitations as to where those cost savings may be achieved?
  Mr. HELMS. That is correct.
  Mr. KERRY. With respect to the foreign aid provisions, the population 
provisions will be a Member issue in the conference. And there is 
agreement that foreign aid provisions of the U.S. Senate will be 
neither added nor dropped in conference without a mutual discussion, 
involvement by Senate conferees?
  Mr. HELMS. That is customary.
  Mr. KERRY. Similarly, any discussion or consideration of the foreign 
aid provisions of the House bill will be by similar participation?
  Mr. HELMS. That is customary. The Senator will be a member of the 
conference committee.
  Mr. KERRY. Procedural, as to procedural issues that have now been set 
forth within the context of the unanimous consent agreement--and there 
is no need to repeat those. And the chairman has agreed to schedule 
hearings for early next year, with committee action on the convention 
in the early spring for the Chemical Weapons Convention. It is also the 
understanding that the committee will resume normal activities with 
respect to the scheduling of hearings and committee actions on all 
currently pending nominees and other committee business.
  Mr. HELMS. That was my intent all along, Madam President.
  Mr. KERRY. Well, Madam President, let me say that I want to thank the 
distinguished chairman and his staff. This has been a complicated and 
long negotiating process. But I think it has been one where both 
parties fairly attempted to try to work the best compromise possible to 
effect some very complicated changes within the structure of our 
foreign policy establishment.
  I am convinced that what we have achieved here is a strong beginning 
for a reevaluation of how we are doing business, of the 
responsibilities of these various agencies and departments. I am 
convinced that as the parties proceed in good faith into the conference 
itself, that we have an opportunity to make our delivery of the foreign 
policy product of this country far more effective, far more efficient, 
and the taxpayers of this country will benefit significantly from the 
changes which are promoted here.
  The chairman has stood his ground on many issues and fought hard, as 
have we. And I think, as in all efforts to make the compromise, this 
represents exactly that, a sound meeting of the minds and a sound 
effort to try to bring the parties together. I am convinced that it is 
a good product.
  There are still some issues that we need to work on. The chairman 
understands that. I understand that. Members understand that. But I 
think what we have done, by breaking through here in the last week, is 
to bring the committee back together in an important way and to 
indicate that we are all intending to do our utmost to try to see to it 
that there is a strong bipartisan effort to present the strongest 
possible future work product from this important committee. And I thank 
the chairman for his continued efforts even when the road was difficult 
to keep the lines of communication open and to help to make this 
happen. 

[[Page S 18231]]


  Mr. HELMS. Madam President, I thank the Senator from Massachusetts. I 
am grateful for the opportunity to work for him and with him in 
reaching this agreement. And I have only the observation that this 
could have been achieved many, many weeks ago if there had not been 
such intransigence. But that is behind us.
  I hope from this point on that we can work together in good faith, 
not question each other's good faith, and work for the American people, 
saving money and improve the foreign policy apparatus of this country, 
which badly needs improving. And I pledge that I shall work with the 
Senator as long as he is willing to work with me. And I thank the 
Senator. And I thank the Chair.
  I want to send to the desk, Madam President, a printed review of the 
items that Senator Kerry has just discussed for the benefit of the 
reporter. I know he tried to take it down, but it is easier to have it 
in writing.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the review be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                Checklist--Helms-Kerry Meeting on S. 908


                    a. summary of managers amendment

                            1. Consolidation

       Agreed on compromise language offered by Kerry with 
     technical changes, as follows:
       $1.7 billion in savings over 5 years; baseline is FY 1995 
     appropriated level;
       No mandatory abolition of agencies;
       Not more than 30% of the savings realized from programmatic 
     reductions;
       Not more than 15% of the savings realized from State 
     Department's administrative accounts.

                          2. Other bill issues

       Agreed on language reflected in attached summary of changes 
     in Division A with the following additional changes:
       (a) deletion of Section 168 based on Dodd's request in 
     writing to Kerry to have this dealt with in conference on the 
     Cuban Liberty and Solidarity Act;
       (b) deletion of Section 603 relating to coercive population 
     control policies (House bill contains a similar provision); 
     and
       (c) addition of $10 million in FY 1996 for the East-West 
     center, pursuant to Helms' agreement with Inouye.

                            3. Iraq Claims--

                        4. Authorization levels

       Agreement that authorization levels would be addressed in 
     conference with an effort to increase the levels of operating 
     accounts for agencies affected by the bill.


                          b. conference issues

                            1. Consolidation

       Agreement that the Senate conferees will operate ``under 
     consensus'' with respect to Kerry's consolidation proposal 
     regarding mandatory cost savings, abolition of the agencies 
     and the limitations as to where cost savings may be achieved.

                       2. Foreign Aid Provisions

       (a) Population provisions will be a Member issue in 
     conference.
       (b) Agreement that foreign aid provisions will either be 
     added nor dropped in conference without Kerry's involvement.


                          c. procedural issues

       1. Agreed that the pending nominations which are ready to 
     be acted upon (i.e. 18 ambassadorial nominations and 4 FSO 
     promotion lists) and the START II treaty will be added on by 
     the Committee at a business meeting immediately prior to 
     floor action on S. 908.
       2. Agreed to propound 4 UC agreements prior to any action 
     on S. 908 as follows:

                              (a) Nominees

       Upon passage of S. 908, the 18 nominations and the 4 FSO 
     promotion lists will be deemed passed by the Senate in bloc. 
     In the event that the Committee has not acted upon these 
     nominations, the UC agreement would provide for the Committee 
     to be discharged of the 18 ambassadorial nominations and the 
     4 FSO promotion lists and for immediate passage of all these 
     nominations upon passage of S. 908.

                        (b) Conferees on S. 908

       Upon passage of S. 908, conferees would be appointed.

                              (c) START II

       Upon passage of S. 908 in the event that Committee has not 
     acted the Committee would be discharged of START II and Start 
     II will be acted upon by the Senate prior to the end of this 
     session.
       (d) Conferees on Cuba
       Upon passage of S. 908, conferees would be appointed on the 
     Cuban Liberty and Solidarity Act.


                            d. other issues

                     1. Chemical Weapons Convention

       Will schedule hearings for early next year and Committee 
     action on the convention in early spring

                      2. Other Pending Nominations

       Committee will resume normal activities including 
     scheduling hearings and Committee action on all currently 
     pending nominees, and other Committee business.


               s. 908--summary of changes in division `a'

              Agreements reached on changes in Division A

                       (Agreed-upon on 11/09/95)

       Delete Foreign Service end strengths in section 141 (c) and 
     (d). Reporting requirement on end strengths included in Kerry 
     reorganization proposal.
       Delete restrictions in section 111(c) on liaison office in 
     North Korea. Done in managers amendment--7/31/95.
       Agreed to drop sections 166 and 167 relating to immigration 
     in conference.
       Amend section 205 relating to UN inspector general.
       Amend section 212 dealing with prior notification of UN 
     Security Council votes on peacekeeping.
       Substitute Intelligence Committee language on intelligence 
     sharing with UN in section 216.
       Delete section 217 exempting US from UN sanctions.
       Delete provision terminating US participation in ILO in 
     section 313(1).
       Amend section 314 dealing with US participation in UN Human 
     Rights Committee.
       Agreed to drop new reporting requirements in conference.

  Mr. HELMS. I thank the Chair.
  Mr. PELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Rhode Island is recognized.
  Mr. PELL. Madam President, I would just like to say how fortunate the 
United States is to have in its setting an individual with the manner, 
negotiating skill and tact, as that of the Senator from Massachusetts. 
He has carried the load in a wonderful way. I feel guilty not having 
shared it more. And his willingness to compromise is the essence of 
politics and the essence of progress. He and the Senator from North 
Carolina have conducted themselves ably. I would like to put in a word 
for the assistant of the Senator from Massachusetts, Nancy Stetson. By 
coincidence, she is from the State of Rhode Island.

  Mr. KERRY. I thank the distinguished former chairman and now ranking 
member of the committee for his very generous comments.
  Mr. HELMS. Madam President, it goes without saying that I am 
grateful, as I always am, for the remarkable staff of the majority on 
the Foreign Relations Committee. Beside me is Steve Berry, who has 
worked arduously and continuously, and he still has a little bit of his 
hair left. And then there is Randy Scheunemann, who once was on our 
staff and is now associated with Senator Dole. He has been of 
invaluable help. I cannot go down the long list, but I am obliged to 
mention my Monroe, North Carolina colleague, the chief of staff of the 
Foreign Relations Committee, retired navy admiral Bud Nance. He calls 
himself ``Bud,'' but his name is James Wilson Nance. I must insert the 
personal note that Bud and I were born 2 months apart, two blocks apart 
in the little town of Monroe. He served 38 years in the Navy, and after 
that, he served Ronald Reagan as his foreign affairs advisor.
  Mr. KERRY. If my colleague will yield before he closes, I join with 
him in thanking his staff, also--Steve Berry, particularly, and Randy 
Scheunemann have been extraordinarily helpful in working through the 
issues. We are grateful for their help.
  Mr. HELMS. That is very kind of the Senator. I know they appreciate 
that.

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