[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 38 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1561, FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT, 
                       FISCAL YEARS 1996 AND 1997

                                 ______


                               speech of

                       HON. THOMAS J. BLILEY, JR.

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 1996

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report 
for H.R. 1561, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, fiscal years 
1996 and 1997. This measure dismantles the United States Information 
Agency [USIA] and, in doing so, amends the Television Broadcasting to 
Cuba Act and the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act. Additionally, the 
conference report establishes as an urgent priority the development of 
an appropriate national strategy to respond to emerging infectious 
diseases. I am interested in these provisions as a general matter, and 
also as chairman of the Committee on Commerce.
  Regarding the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act, the Committee on 
Commerce exchanged letters with the Committee on Foreign Affairs when 
that committee sought to amend the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act 
in the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal years 1990 and 
1991 (Pub. L. 101-246). Furthermore, the Commerce Committee reported 
its own version of the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (Pub. L. 98-111) 
on July 29, 1983 (H. Rept. 98-284, Part II). The committee will be 
interested to see the results of the pilot program to permit 
advertising on such television and radio broadcasts as provided for in 
the conference report. I look forward to continued activity on the part 
of the Commerce Committee in these areas, although I still believe the 
Television Marti and Radio Marti programs should not be administered 
through the Voice of America.
  Turning to another point of interest in the conference report, this 
measure requires that the President develop a strategic plan ``to 
identify and respond to the threat of emerging infectious diseases to 
the health of the people of the United States.'' In accordance with 
this committee's jurisdiction over public health and quarantine under 
rule X of the Rules of the House, I look forward to the opportunity to 
review the President's recommendations in concert with other efforts 
made by the Commerce Committee on that front.
  Based on the jurisdiction of the Committee on Commerce over the 
aforementioned statutes, and on the jurisdiction of the committee over 
public health, I would like to note our intent to continue in the 
exercise of our authority in these areas.

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