[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 5, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H5826-H5832]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 3540, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT 
        FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call 
up House Resolution 445 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 445

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule 
     XXIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 3540) making appropriations for foreign 
     operations, export financing, and related programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and for other 
     purposes. The first reading of the bill shall be dispensed 
     with. Points of order against consideration of the bill for 
     failure to comply with clause 1(b) of rule X or clause 7 of 
     rule XXI are waived. General debate shall be confined to the 
     bill and shall not exceed one hour equally divided and 
     controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
     Committee on Appropriations. After general debate the bill 
     shall be considered for amendment under the five-minute rule. 
     The bill shall be considered by title rather than by 
     paragraph. Each title shall be considered as read. Points of 
     order against provisions in the bill for failure to comply 
     with clause 2, 5(b), or 6 of rule XXI are waived except as 
     follows: beginning with ``: Provided'' on page 9, line 12, 
     through ``Appropriations'' on line 18; and beginning with ``: 
     Provided'' on page 13, line 20, through ``relocation'' on 
     page 14, line 5. Where points of order are waived against 
     part of a paragraph, points of order against a provision in 
     another part of such paragraph may be made only against such 
     provision and not against the entire paragraph. During 
     consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the 
     Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on 
     the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has 
     caused it to be printed in the portion of the Congressional 
     Record designated for that purpose in clause 6 of rule XXIII. 
     Amendments so printed shall be considered as read. The 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone until a 
     time during further consideration in the Committee of the 
     Whole a request for a recorded vote on any amendment. The 
     Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may reduce to not less 
     than five minutes the time for voting by electronic device on 
     any postponed question that immediately follows another vote 
     by electronic device without intervening business, provided 
     that the time for voting by electronic device on the first in 
     any series of questions shall be not less than fifteen 
     minutes. After the reading of the final lines of the bill, a 
     motion that the Committee of the Whole rise and report the 
     bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted shall, if offered by the majority leader or a 
     designee, have precedence over a motion to amend. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Florida [Mr. Goss] is 
recognized for 1 hour.

[[Page H5827]]

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, for purposes of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr. 
Hall], pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During 
consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose 
of debate only.
  (Mr. GOSS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, like last year, we bring to the floor an open 
rule for the consideration of the foreign operations appropriations 
bill. Under this rule any Member may offer an amendment that is in 
order under the standing Rules of the House. It does not get any more 
straightforward or fair than that.
  The bill includes a few specific waivers for points of order against 
unauthorized appropriations, reappropriation, 3-day layover of 
published hearings and a technical trade provision. The first two are 
needed because there has not been a foreign operations authorization 
bill that has made it into law since 1985. It is worth noting that the 
administration succeeded in blocking our efforts to enact even partial 
authorizing legislation by vetoing the American Overseas Interests Act 
earlier this year. The technical trade waiver is needed to grant the 
president authority to impose penalties on products from countries that 
have not conformed to international economic sanctions on Iraq, Serbia, 
and Montenegro, authority that has been included in this bill for the 
last 5 years.
  Finally, we have waived the requirement that the subcommittee's 
published hearings be available 3 days prior to floor consideration. It 
is my understanding that these are available now.
  Mr. Speaker, this Congress has consistently asserted the importance 
of reaching a balanced budget, and I am pleased that under H.R. 3540, 
total foreign operations spending next year will be $11.95 billion, 
$450 million less than last year's level. This is a very small fraction 
of the total $1.6 trillion Federal budget, but it is important that we 
have made the effort to identify and fund those programs that are thru 
priorities, while reducing spending overall.
  I am also pleased to note that this legislation contains an updated 
version of last year's Dole language on Haiti. As my colleagues may 
remember, this language was drafted to encourage the Clinton White 
House to honor its commitments to consult with Congress on aid to 
Haiti, particularly with regard to investigations into political 
violence and extrajudicial killings. My colleagues may also recall that 
the White House was unable to certify that the Government of Haiti was 
being cooperative last year and ultimately waived these provisions. 
Beyond these murders, there are other matters that deserve further 
scrutiny. In recent weeks Haiti has seen a spate of troubling events, 
including: A series of murders of off-duty Haitian Police Officers, the 
murder of the mayor of Chansolme, and the subsequent mob raid on police 
station in Port-au-Prince that ended in the deaths of seven individual 
who had come in for questioning; suggesting that all is not as well as 
the Clinton administration would have us to believe.
  As we run up to the June 30 deadline for the long-waited departure of 
the United Nations troops. Evidence that the Haitian national police 
are unable to maintain order is particularly troubling.
  In addition, there are still questions to be answered regarding where 
all of the Money American taxpayers have sent to Haiti has gone. We are 
talking here about more than $2 billion in taxpayers investment under 
the Clinton administration. Reports, of large expenditures by President 
Aristide's recently created foundation in an antiprivatization 
campaign, in particular, are drawing attention in some circles and 
obviously run contrary to U.S. announced policy.
  Finally, I would note that, on the general question of aid to Latin 
America and the Caribbean, I am pleased to see that the committee has 
included language to encourage a more equitable distribution of aid 
dollars in this region than we have seen from the administration in the 
past 3 years.
  I urge my colleagues to support this fair and open rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following material for the Record.

 THE AMENDMENT PROCESS UNDER SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE,\1\ 103RD CONGRESS V. 104TH CONGRESS 
                                              [As of May 31, 1996]                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  103d Congress                        104th Congress           
              Rule type              ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Number of rules    Percent of total   Number of rules    Percent of total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open/Modified-open \2\..............                 46                 44                 71                 60
Structured/Modified Closed \3\......                 49                 47                 31                 26
Closed \4\..........................                  9                  9                 17                 14
                                     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.........................                104                100                119                100
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ This table applies only to rules which provide for the original consideration of bills, joint resolutions or
  budget resolutions and which provide for an amendment process. It does not apply to special rules which only  
  waive points of order against appropriations bills which are already privileged and are considered under an   
  open amendment process under House rules.                                                                     
\2\ An open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule. A      
  modified open rule is one under which any Member may offer a germane amendment under the five-minute rule     
  subject only to an overall time limit on the amendment process and/or a requirement that the amendment be     
  preprinted in the Congressional Record.                                                                       
\3\ A modified closed rule is one under which the Rules Committee limits the amendments that may be offered only
  to those amendments designated in the special rule or the Rules Committee report to accompany it, or which    
  preclude amendments to a particular portion of a bill, even though the rest of the bill may be completely open
  to amendment.                                                                                                 
\4\ A closed rule is one under which no amendments may be offered (other than amendments recommended by the     
  committee in reporting the bill).                                                                             


                          SPECIAL RULES REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE, 104TH CONGRESS                         
                                              [As of May 31, 1996]                                              
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Disposition of 
    H. Res. No. (Date rept.)         Rule type           Bill No.              Subject                rule      
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H. Res. 38 (1/18/95)...........  O................  H.R. 5...........  Unfunded Mandate        A: 350-71 (1/19/ 
                                                                        Reform.                 95).            
H. Res. 44 (1/24/95)...........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 17..  Social Security.......  A: 255-172 (1/25/
                                                    H.J. Res. 1......  Balanced Budget Amdt..   95).            
H. Res. 51 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 101.........  Land Transfer, Taos     A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Pueblo Indians.         1/95).          
H. Res. 52 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 400.........  Land Exchange, Arctic   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Nat'l. Park and         1/95).          
                                                                        Preserve.                               
H. Res. 53 (1/31/95)...........  O................  H.R. 440.........  Land Conveyance, Butte  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        County, Calif.          1/95).          
H. Res. 55 (2/1/95)............  O................  H.R. 2...........  Line Item Veto........  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                                                2/95).          
H. Res. 60 (2/6/95)............  O................  H.R. 665.........  Victim Restitution....  A: voice vote (2/
                                                                                                7/95).          
H. Res. 61 (2/6/95)............  O................  H.R. 666.........  Exclusionary Rule       A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Reform.                 7/95).          
H. Res. 63 (2/8/95)............  MO...............  H.R. 667.........  Violent Criminal        A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Incarceration.          9/95).          
H. Res. 69 (2/9/95)............  O................  H.R. 668.........  Criminal Alien          A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Deportation.            10/95).         
H. Res. 79 (2/10/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 728.........  Law Enforcement Block   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Grants.                 13/95).         
H. Res. 83 (2/13/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 7...........  National Security       PQ: 229-100; A:  
                                                                        Revitalization.         227-127 (2/15/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 88 (2/16/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 831.........  Health Insurance        PQ: 230-191; A:  
                                                                        Deductibility.          229-188 (2/21/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 91 (2/21/95)...........  O................  H.R. 830.........  Paperwork Reduction     A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Act.                    22/95).         
H. Res. 92 (2/21/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 889.........  Defense Supplemental..  A: 282-144 (2/22/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 93 (2/22/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 450.........  Regulatory Transition   A: 252-175 (2/23/
                                                                        Act.                    95).            
H. Res. 96 (2/24/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1022........  Risk Assessment.......  A: 253-165 (2/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 100 (2/27/95)..........  O................  H.R. 926.........  Regulatory Reform and   A: voice vote (2/
                                                                        Relief Act.             28/95).         
H. Res. 101 (2/28/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 925.........  Private Property        A: 271-151 (3/2/ 
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 103 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1058........  Securities Litigation   .................
                                                                        Reform.                                 
H. Res. 104 (3/3/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 988.........  Attorney                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Accountability Act.     6/95).          
H. Res. 105 (3/6/95)...........  MO...............  .................  ......................  A: 257-155 (3/7/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 108 (3/7/95)...........  Debate...........  H.R. 956.........  Product Liability       A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Reform.                 8/95).          
H. Res. 109 (3/8/95)...........  MC...............  .................  ......................  PQ: 234-191 A:   
                                                                                                247-181 (3/9/   
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 115 (3/14/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1159........  Making Emergency Supp.  A: 242-190 (3/15/
                                                                        Approps.                95).            
H. Res. 116 (3/15/95)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 73.....  Term Limits Const.      A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Amdt.                   28/95).         

[[Page H5828]]

                                                                                                                
H. Res. 117 (3/16/95)..........  Debate...........  H.R. 4...........  Personal                A: voice vote (3/
                                                                        Responsibility Act of   21/95).         
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 119 (3/21/95)..........  MC...............  .................  ......................  A: 217-211 (3/22/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 125 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1271........  Family Privacy          A: 423-1 (4/4/   
                                                                        Protection Act.         95).            
H. Res. 126 (4/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 660.........  Older Persons Housing   A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        Act.                    6/95).          
H. Res. 128 (4/4/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1215........  Contract With America   A: 228-204 (4/5/ 
                                                                        Tax Relief Act of       95).            
                                                                        1995.                                   
H. Res. 130 (4/5/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 483.........  Medicare Select          A: 253-172 (4/6/
                                                                        Expansion.              95).            
H. Res. 136 (5/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 655.........  Hydrogen Future Act of  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1995.                   2/95).          
H. Res. 139 (5/3/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1361........  Coast Guard Auth. FY    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        1996.                   9/95).          
H. Res. 140 (5/9/95)...........  O................  H.R. 961.........  Clean Water Amendments  A: 414-4 (5/10/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 144 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 535.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Arkansas.               15/95).         
H. Res. 145 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 584.........  Fish Hatchery--Iowa...  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                                                15/95).         
H. Res. 146 (5/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 614.........  Fish Hatchery--         A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Minnesota.              15/95).         
H. Res. 149 (5/16/95)..........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 67..  Budget Resolution FY    PQ: 252-170 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   255-168 (5/17/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 155 (5/22/95)..........  MO...............  H.R. 1561........  American Overseas       A: 233-176 (5/23/
                                                                        Interests Act.          95).            
H. Res. 164 (6/8/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1530........  Nat. Defense Auth. FY   PQ: 225-191 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   233-183 (6/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 167 (6/15/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1817........  MilCon Appropriations   PQ: 223-180 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                245-155 (6/16/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 169 (6/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1854........  Leg. Branch Approps.    PQ: 232-196 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                236-191 (6/20/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 170 (6/20/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1868........  For. Ops. Approps. FY   PQ: 221-178 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   217-175 (6/22/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 171 (6/22/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1905........  Energy & Water          A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       12/95).         
H. Res. 173 (6/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 79.....  Flag Constitutional     PQ: 258-170 A:   
                                                                        Amendment.              271-152 (6/28/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 176 (6/28/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 1944........  Emer. Supp. Approps...  PQ: 236-194 A:   
                                                                                                234-192 (6/29/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 185 (7/11/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 235-193 D:   
                                                                        1996.                   192-238 (7/12/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 187 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1977........  Interior Approps. FY    PQ: 230-194 A:   
                                                                        1996 #2.                229-195 (7/13/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 188 (7/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1976........  Agriculture Approps.    PQ: 242-185 A:   
                                                                        FY 1996.                voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 190 (7/17/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2020........  Treasury/Postal         PQ: 232-192 A:   
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       voice vote (7/18/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 193 (7/19/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 96.....  Disapproval of MFN to   A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        China.                  20/95).         
H. Res. 194 (7/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2002........  Transportation          PQ: 217-202 (7/21/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       95).            
H. Res. 197 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 70..........  Exports of Alaskan      A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Crude Oil.              24/95).         
H. Res. 198 (7/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2076........  Commerce, State         A: voice vote (7/
                                                                        Approps. FY 1996.       25/95).         
H. Res. 201 (7/25/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2099........  VA/HUD Approps. FY      A: 230-189 (7/25/
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 204 (7/28/95)..........  MC...............  S. 21............  Terminating U.S. Arms   A: voice vote (8/
                                                                        Embargo on Bosnia.      1/95).          
H. Res. 205 (7/28/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2126........  Defense Approps. FY     A: 409-1 (7/31/  
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 207 (8/1/95)...........  MC...............  H.R. 1555........  Communications Act of   A: 255-156 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1995.                   95).            
H. Res. 208 (8/1/95)...........  O................  H.R. 2127........  Labor, HHS Approps. FY  A: 323-104 (8/2/ 
                                                                        1996.                   95).            
H. Res. 215 (9/7/95)...........  O................  H.R. 1594........  Economically Targeted   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Investments.            12/95).         
H. Res. 216 (9/7/95)...........  MO...............  H.R. 1655........  Intelligence            A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Authorization FY 1996.  12/95).         
H. Res. 218 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1162........  Deficit Reduction       A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Lockbox.                13/95).         
H. Res. 219 (9/12/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1670........  Federal Acquisition     A: 414-0 (9/13/  
                                                                        Reform Act.             95).            
H. Res. 222 (9/18/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1617........  CAREERS Act...........  A: 388-2 (9/19/  
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 224 (9/19/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2274........  Natl. Highway System..  PQ: 241-173 A:   
                                                                                                375-39-1 (9/20/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 225 (9/19/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 927.........  Cuban Liberty & Dem.    A: 304-118 (9/20/
                                                                        Solidarity.             95).            
H. Res. 226 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 743.........  Team Act..............  A: 344-66-1 (9/27/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 227 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1170........  3-Judge Court.........  A: voice vote (9/
                                                                                                28/95).         
H. Res. 228 (9/21/95)..........  O................  H.R. 1601........  Internatl. Space        A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        Station.                27/95).         
H. Res. 230 (9/27/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 108....  Continuing Resolution   A: voice vote (9/
                                                                        FY 1996.                28/95).         
H. Res. 234 (9/29/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2405........  Omnibus Science Auth..  A: voice vote (10/
                                                                                                11/95).         
H. Res. 237 (10/17/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2259........  Disapprove Sentencing   A: voice vote (10/
                                                                        Guidelines.             18/95).         
H. Res. 238 (10/18/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2425........  Medicare Preservation   PQ: 231-194 A:   
                                                                        Act.                    227-192 (10/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 239 (10/19/95).........  C................  H.R. 2492........  Leg. Branch Approps...  PQ: 235-184 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (10/ 
                                                                                                31/95).         
H. Res. 245 (10/25/95).........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 109.  Social Security         PQ: 228-191 A:   
                                                    H.R. 2491........   Earnings Reform.        235-185 (10/26/ 
                                                                       Seven-Year Balanced      95).            
                                                                        Budget.                                 
H. Res. 251 (10/31/95).........  C................  H.R. 1833........  Partial Birth Abortion  A: 237-190 (11/1/
                                                                        Ban.                    95).            
H. Res. 252 (10/31/95).........  MO...............  H.R. 2546........  D.C. Approps..........  A: 241-181 (11/1/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 257 (11/7/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Res. FY 1996....  A: 216-210 (11/8/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 258 (11/8/95)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2586........  Debt Limit............  A: 220-200 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 259 (11/9/95)..........  O................  H.R. 2539........  ICC Termination Act...  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                14/95).         
H. Res. 261 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 115....  Cont. Resolution......  A: 223-182 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 262 (11/9/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2586........  Increase Debt Limit...  A: 220-185 (11/10/
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 269 (11/15/95).........  O................  H.R. 2564........  Lobbying Reform.......  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                16/95).         
H. Res. 270 (11/15/95).........  C................  H.J. Res. 122....  Further Cont.           A: 229-176 (11/15/
                                                                        Resolution.             95).            
H. Res. 273 (11/16/95).........  MC...............  H.R. 2606........  Prohibition on Funds    A: 239-181 (11/17/
                                                                        for Bosnia.             95).            
H. Res. 284 (11/29/95).........  O................  H.R. 1788........  Amtrak Reform.........  A: voice vote (11/
                                                                                                30/95).         
H. Res. 287 (11/30/95).........  O................  H.R. 1350........  Maritime Security Act.  A: voice vote (12/
                                                                                                6/95).          
H. Res. 293 (12/7/95)..........  C................  H.R. 2621........  Protect Federal Trust   PQ: 223-183 A:   
                                                                        Funds.                  228-184 (12/14/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 303 (12/13/95).........  O................  H.R. 1745........  Utah Public Lands.....                   
H. Res. 309 (12/18/95).........  C................  H.Con. Res. 122..  Budget Res. W/          PQ: 230-188 A:   
                                                                        President.              229-189 (12/19/ 
                                                                                                95).            
H. Res. 313 (12/19/95).........  O................  H.R. 558.........  Texas Low-Level         A: voice vote (12/
                                                                        Radioactive.            20/95).         
H. Res. 323 (12/21/95).........  C................  H.R. 2677........  Natl. Parks & Wildlife  Tabled (2/28/96).
                                                                        Refuge.                                 
H. Res. 366 (2/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2854........  Farm Bill.............  PQ: 228-182 A:   
                                                                                                244-168 (2/28/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 368 (2/28/96)..........  O................  H.R. 994.........  Small Business Growth.  .................
H. Res. 371 (3/6/96)...........  C................  H.R. 3021........  Debt Limit Increase...  A: voice vote (3/
                                                                                                7/96).          
H. Res. 372 (3/6/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3019........  Cont. Approps. FY 1996  PQ: voice vote A:
                                                                                                235-175 (3/7/   
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 380 (3/12/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2703........  Effective Death         A: 251-157 (3/13/
                                                                        Penalty.                96).            
H. Res. 384 (3/14/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 2202........  Immigration...........  PQ: 233-152 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (3/21/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 386 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.J. Res. 165....  Further Cont. Approps.  PQ: 234-187 A:   
                                                                                                237-183 (3/21/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 388 (3/20/96)..........  C................  H.R. 125.........  Gun Crime Enforcement.  A: 244-166 (3/22/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 391 (3/27/96)..........  C................  H.R. 3136........  Contract w/America      PQ: 232-180 A:   
                                                                        Advancement.            232-177, (3/28/ 
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 392 (3/27/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3103........  Health Coverage         PQ: 229-186 A:   
                                                                        Affordability.          Voice Vote (3/29/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 395 (3/29/96)..........  MC...............  H.J. Res. 159....  Tax Limitation Const.   PQ: 232-168 A:   
                                                                        Amdmt..                 234-162 (4/15/  
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 396 (3/29/96)..........  O................  H.R. 842.........  Truth in Budgeting Act  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                                                17/96).         
H. Res. 409 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2715........  Paperwork Elimination   A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        Act.                    24/96).         
H. Res. 410 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.R. 1675........  Natl. Wildlife Refuge.  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                                                24/96).         
H. Res. 411 (4/23/96)..........  O................  H.J. Res. 175....  Further Cont. Approps.  A: voice vote (4/
                                                                        FY 1996.                24/96).         
H. Res. 418 (4/30/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2641........  U.S. Marshals Service.  PQ: 219-203 A:   
                                                                                                voice vote (5/1/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 419 (4/30/96)..........  O................  H.R. 2149........  Ocean Shipping Reform.  A: 422-0 (5/1/   
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 421 (5/2/96)...........  O................  H.R. 2974........  Crimes Against          A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Children & Elderly.     7/96).          
H. Res. 422 (5/2/96)...........  O................  H.R. 3120........  Witness & Jury          A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Tampering.              7/96).          
H. Res. 426 (5/7/96)...........  O................  H.R. 2406........  U.S. Housing Act of     PQ: 218-208 A:   
                                                                        1996.                   voice vote (5/8/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 427 (5/7/96)...........  O................  H.R. 3322........  Omnibus Civilian        A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Science Auth.           9/96).          
H. Res. 428 (5/7/96)...........  MC...............  H.R. 3286........  Adoption Promotion &    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        Stability.              9/96).          
H. Res. 430 (5/9/96)...........  S................  H.R. 3230........  DoD Auth. FY 1997.....  A: 235-149 (5/10/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 435 (5/15/96)..........  MC...............  H. Con. Res. 178.  Con. Res. on the        PQ: 227-196 A:   
                                                                        Budget, 1997.           voice vote (5/16/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 436 (5/16/96)..........  C................  H.R. 3415........  Repeal $4.3 cent fuel   PQ: 221-181 A:   
                                                                        tax.                    voice vote (5/21/
                                                                                                96).            
H. Res. 437 (5/16/96)..........  MO...............  H.R. 3259........  Intell. Auth. FY 1997.  A: voice vote (5/
                                                                                                21/96).         
H. Res. 438 (5/16/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3144........  Defend America Act....  .................
H. Res. 440 (5/21/96)..........  MC...............  H.R. 3448........  Small Bus. Job          A: 219-211 (5/22/
                                                                        Protection.             96).            
                                   ...............  H.R. 1227........  Employee Commuting      .................
                                                                        Flexibility.                            
H. Res. 442 (5/29/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3517........  Mil. Const. Approps.    A: voice vote (5/
                                                                        FY 1997.                30/96).         
H. Res. 445 (5/30/96)..........  O................  H.R. 3540........  For. Ops. Approps. FY   .................
                                                                        1997.                                   
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Codes: O-open rule; MO-modified open rule; MC-modified closed rule; C-closed rule; A-adoption vote; D-defeated; 
  PQ-previous question vote. Source: Notices of Action Taken, Committee on Rules, 104th Congress.               


  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. HALL of Ohio asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague 
from Florida, Mr. Goss, as well as my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle, for bringing this resolution to the floor.

[[Page H5829]]

  House Resolution 445 is an open rule which will allow full and fair 
debate on H.R. 3540, a bill making appropriations in fiscal 1997 for 
foreign operations, export financing, and related programs.
  As my colleague from Florida has described, this rule provides 1 hour 
of general debate, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations.
  Under this rule, amendments will be allowed under the 5-minute rule, 
the normal amending process in the House. All Members, on both sides of 
the aisle, will have the opportunity to offer amendments.
  I am pleased that the Rules Committee was able to report this rule 
without opposition in a voice vote, and I plan to support it.
  The bill appropriates $11.9 billion for foreign operations, export 
financing, and related programs for fiscal 1997. This represents a cut 
of $1 billion below the administration request. The level is $180 
million below last year's conference agreement on the foreign 
operations appropriations bill.
  In many ways, this bill is the most important of the 13 
appropriations bills. For millions of people throughout the world, this 
bill makes the difference between freedom and oppression, between war 
and peace, and between life and death.
  When I traveled to Bosnia last year, I saw some of the thousands of 
refugees who would never have survived if not for the health, food, and 
housing programs funded through the foreign operations appropriations 
bill. It will be this bill, that we are about to consider, that will 
help the people of the former Yugoslavia take additional steps to 
rebuild their war-torn society.
  I want to commend the chairman of the Foreign Operations 
Subcommittee, Mr Callahan, and the ranking minority member, Mr. Wilson, 
for their work in crafting this bill. In particular, I thank the 
committee for emphasizing assistance to the people who need it most and 
who are least able to help themselves. These are the children.
  A study last year by the program on international policy attitudes 
demonstrated that 91 percent of Americans believe that we should 
maintain or increase spending on child survival activities around the 
world. Members of Congress agree.
  This bill creates a child survival and disease program fund which 
provides $600 million for child survival, basic education, nonchild 
disease, and UNICEF. The funding for basic education is especially 
important in proverty-stricken countries, because basic education can 
give children hope.
  I am also pleased with the full funding of the administration's 
request of $190 million for international disaster assistance. This is 
a $9 million increase from last year.
  Finally, I am grateful that the bill appropriates $6 million for 
activities to remove land mines in former war zones. An estimated 
25,000 innocent civilians, including women and children, are maimed or 
killed by antipersonnel land mines each year. The funds will help 
reduce this tragedy.
  If I have a major disappointment with this bill, it is that the 
overall levels of funding are too low. an article from Monday's June 3, 
1996 Washington Post pointed out that overall U.S. international 
affairs spending has been cut in half since 1984, adjusted for 
inflation. The article carried warnings that these cuts will eventually 
reduce the ability of this Nation to protect its interests abroad.
  Foreign aid is a critical element of our foreign policy. I fear that 
the shortsighted decisions of today will come back to haunt the next 
generation which will live in a world that does not remember America's 
compassion and generosity.
  Still, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Wilson, and the members of the subcommittee 
have done an excellent job of establishing priorities under difficult 
fiscal constraints.
  On another note of disappointment, I regret that international 
military education and training funds are allowed for Indonesia while 
reports continue of human rights abuses in the territory of East Timor 
which is controlled by Indonesia.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the adoption of this open rule and of the bill.

                              {time}  1045

  Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. 
Pallone].
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule. Speaking in 
my capacity as cochairman of the Congressional Caucus on Armenian 
Issues, I am happy to note that once again the foreign operations bill 
includes an important provision known as the Humanitarian Aid Corridor 
Act which restricts U.S. aid to those countries blocking deliveries of 
humanitarian aid to third countries. While this provision is not 
country-specific, it clearly applies to Turkey, which for more than 3 
years has maintained a blockade of neighboring Armenia. The blockade 
imposed along the Armenian border with Turkey disrupts the delivery of 
vitally needed humanitarian supplies.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the current provision allows for a 
Presidential waiver, and last month President Clinton exercised that 
waiver. I deeply regret that decision and I have joined with the 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] and 27 other Members in sending a 
letter to the President protesting this decision.
  Later today we will debate an amendment by the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Visclosky] that will remove that waiver, and I urge Members' 
support to help support the intent of Congress.
  Another provision is a provision in the legislation that fairly 
addresses the issue of United States aid to Azerbaijan, another 
neighbor of Armenia which maintains a blockade. Direct United States 
aid to Azerbaijan is prohibited through the efforts of my colleague, 
the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter]. The legislation allows United 
States nongovernmental and private voluntary organizations to use the 
Azerbaijani Government facilities to distribute aid, while for the 
first time providing United States Government aid to the Armenian 
enclave of Nagorno-Karabagh. This is an honorable agreement. I salute 
the subcommittee chairman, the ranking member, and other subcommittee 
members for their work on this provision and urge that there be no 
attempts to change the language of that provision.
  Mr. Speaker, I also support the limit on economic support fund 
assistance to Turkey and hope this provision will send a signal of 
disapproval over the Turkish blockade of Armenia, the occupation of 
Cyprus, and the campaign against the Kurdish people.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, I am a cosponsor of an amendment with the 
gentleman from California [Mr. Radanovich], the gentleman from Michigan 
[Mr. Bonior], and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Blute], that 
would withhold about 2 percent of total United States aid to Turkey, 
about $3 million, until the Turkish Government has joined the United 
States and the international community in acknowledging the atrocity 
committed against the Armenian population of the Ottoman Empire and 
taken steps to honor the memory of the victims of the Armenian 
genocide.
  This amendment provides a practical incentive for Turkey to come to 
terms with this tragic chapter in its history. By acknowledging the 
Armenian genocide, Turkey will help to open the door to full diplomatic 
relations with Armenia, and I urge adoption of that amendment.
  On the negative side, Mr. Speaker, I believe the foreign operations 
bill does not provide sufficient funding for programs supporting the 
New Independent States of the former Soviet Union. While in general I 
am concerned that the development assistance funding level, while a 
slight increase over fiscal 1996, is still below the administration's 
request, I understand that there may be an amendment brought forth that 
would further decrease U.S. aid funding. I would urge opposition to 
such an amendment.
  As an example of where U.S. aid development assistance is doing great 
work, I would cite India, the world's second most populous country, a 
democracy which just completed national elections. The development 
assistance program in India is supporting market-oriented economic 
growth, deregulation, privatization, and I would urge that we not cut 
into this program any further.

  I understand that the gentleman from Illinois, Dan Burton, plans to

[[Page H5830]]

offer an amendment to the bill that will single out India by 
restricting American assistance. The Burton amendment is not a cutting 
amendment. It is strictly an attempt to stigmatize India. Given overall 
cuts in development assistance as well as budget and structure, the 
rule changes in aid, the India program may already be vulnerable to 
reductions. India has just completed a national election and a new 
government has been sworn in. Market-oriented economic reforms have 
been in place for 5 years and the USAID Program has aided in these 
provisions. It is imperative that we send the right message to India, 
the world's largest democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, the amendment proposed by the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Burton] would damage United States-India relations at a time when 
we should be drawing closer, not drifting apart, as the world's two 
largest democracies. I would urge opposition to that Burton amendment.
  Mr. Speaker, I support the rule and I appreciate the fact that we are 
dealing with an open rule on such an important bill.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California [Ms. Harman].
  Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to 
me.
  Mr. Speaker, as we begin debate on the foreign operations bill, 
Israel's future is a central issue. As a strong supporter of the peace 
process, I watched the recent Israeli election with some trepidation. 
While the transition is not yet complete, I believe that Prime 
Minister-elect Benjamin Netanyahu deserves high marks for his centrist 
tone and his willingness to reach out to all elements of Israeli 
society and to leaders throughout the region.
  In this election, Israelis did not choose peace or security, they 
chose peace and security. His razor-thin election may be a source of 
unexpected strength for Netanyahu, justifying his reach beyond his 
base. While the extremes of Israel's political life try to exercise 
their power, the Prime Minister, for the first time elected 
independently, must recognize that governing on the fringe is a sure 
recipe for failure. He has already indicated that the most important 
ministries will be filled by Likud moderates.
  No Israeli has been untouched by the wars Israel has had to fight for 
its existence. Netanyahu lost his older brother, Yonatan, who led the 
daring and dramatic raid on Entebbe. And no one was untouched by the 
tragic assassination of Yitzahk Rabin. As a warrior who waged a fight 
for peace, Rabin's quest must not be abandoned.
  Bibi Netanyahu is assuming the post of Prime Minister at a crossroads 
for Israel. If this week is any indication, he is moving in the right 
direction.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill, as I said before in my opening statement, is 
an extremely important bill to the Congress and to people all over the 
world. In many cases, it does mean life or death. I have had the 
privilege and the honor of being able to travel in many Third World 
nations, not only living in Third World nations but traveling in Third 
World nations, and seeing our food aid and seeing our serums and 
immunization programs and oral rehydration therapy and food-enriched 
programs and development assistance actually work. I have followed the 
food from our country to the port up-country and seen it being eaten 
and used by the people of the country.
  Most of our food, much of our food and much of our medicines, goes 
through nonprofit organizations, nonprofit organizations like 
Worldvision and Catholic Relief Services and CARE and some of the great 
nonprofits of the world. I am very proud of them and the work that they 
put in and their people that are in the field.
  Mr. Speaker, these moneys and these programs really, really work. 
What is interesting is that there have been a couple of polls lately, 
as recent as 6 months ago, where people were asked about foreign aid. 
And they said, in so many words, that hunger and development assistance 
and poverty issues were as important as balancing the budget and health 
care. Ninety-five percent of the people polled said that, that they 
would like to see more money put in the child survival programs, which 
the gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Callahan] has agreed to do. It is a 
tremendous thing that we are doing here, because I do know that this 
will save lives.
  Another thing I want to say, Mr. Speaker, and Congressmen and 
Congresswomen and Senators need to do a much better job of it in our 
own districts, we need to tell people the true story of what our budget 
is for foreign aid. Most Americans believe, and as a matter of fact 
there was another poll taken about this, most Americans believe, out of 
our total budget that we spend in our own country and overseas, that 
somewhere between 17 and 22 percent of all of our budget goes for 
foreign aid. They believe that. In fact, it is not true.
  Then when we ask people in the same poll, what do you think it really 
ought to be, they would say I think a good figure would be around 7 or 
8 percent. The fact is, of our total budget, only one-half of 1 percent 
really goes for foreign aid. It continues to get cut and cut and cut. 
Since 1985 we have cut development assistance by 40 percent. We have 
cut so many excellent programs.
  Whatever we say on the floor today is very, very important to many 
countries. How we work in the world, other countries follow. If we give 
money and aid to Bosnia or to Ethiopia, other countries look to see 
what we do. We are truly a leader in this world. If we make a statement 
today on the floor about Indonesia or about South Korea or about any 
nation in the world, it will be read by that country tomorrow. There is 
the funny saying that they always say, that every Congressman believes 
himself to be an Assistant Secretary of State. We must realize that as 
Members of Congress, that we do have a constituency, and the 
constituency really is the hurting people of the world.
  One thing I also want to remind Congressmen and Members of the House 
is that a good portion of the bill today, even though moneys might be 
appropriated to Israel or to Bosnia or to many nations of the world, a 
good percentage of that money is spent in our own country. When we do a 
polio eradication program in many, many countries of the world, 80 
percent of that serum is bought here in the United States. The same 
thing with development assistance. The same thing with economic 
assistance. So I hope we remember this. We do have a constituency, and 
the constituency is we need to really care. This foreign aid works, and 
it works very, very well for the world and for our own country.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 3 minutes to the 
distinguished gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] chairman of the 
Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on 
International Relations.
  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished 
gentleman for yielding time to me.
  Mr. Speaker, let me say I think there is a place for a certain amount 
of foreign aid, but there are a number of areas where we can make some 
economies and make some cuts. One of those is in the administrative 
costs over at AID.
  I want to read a quote from one of the senior staffers at AID. Her 
name is Sally Shelton, and my colleague, the gentleman from Virginia, 
has heard me use this quote before. Here is what she said. She said, 
``Larry Byrne,'' assistant administrator for management at AID, ``said 
that AID was 62 percent,'' almost two-thirds of the way, ``through the 
fiscal year and we have 38 percent of the dollar volume of procurement 
actions completed; we need to do,'' or spend, ``another $1.9 billion in 
the next 5 months. There are large pockets of money in the field * * * 
so let's get moving.''
  The indication was that they had not spent enough money, and they 
wanted to spend this money very rapidly so they could ask for an 
additional appropriation the next year. That is the kind of craziness 
that goes on in the bureaucracy that needs to be corrected. The only 
way to correct that, in my opinion, when we find this out is to make 
economies or cuts in those particular areas to send a signal.
  When I was in the Indiana General Assembly, I was a State senator, 
and I went into an office. I was sitting waiting to see somebody. I 
heard a fellow talking around the corner. He said, ``We have got to 
spend x number of millions of dollars in the next 60 days or

[[Page H5831]]

else we cannot ask for an additional appropriation from the State 
legislature.''
  I stuck my head around the corner and said, ``What is your name?'' 
And he said, ``Who are you?'' And I said, ``I am Senator Burton,'' and 
his face got kind of gray. I said, ``How can you be saying things like 
that, you want to spend money as fast as you can right now so you can 
ask for more money later on?''
  What we need to be doing in government is putting a suggestion box on 
all of the walls of the bureaucracies saying ``If you come up with a 
suggestion that is going to save money, we will give you a bonus.'' In 
other words, we want to encourage cutting spending and saving money.
  Here we have just the opposite. That is the same thing that was going 
on in my great State of Indiana when I was a State senator. We have 
bureaucrats who say, ``Hey, we have to get more money next year, and if 
we are going to ask for more money, we have to spend what we already 
have.'' Here we have one of the chief executive officers at AID saying 
``We have to spend $1.9 billion in the next 5 months or else we cannot 
ask for more money.'' That is just unconscionable.
  I would like to say to my colleagues, I am going to have some 
amendments today that will cut some spending in Federal programs. They 
are not going to cut into the muscle and bone, but I think they will 
cut into the fat, and they will certainly send a signal. It is time, if 
we are really concerned about balancing the budget, that we make these 
economies and send a signal to the bureaucracy: Do not spend more money 
to get more money, spend less money to do a good job.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman 
from Virginia [Mr. Moran].
  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, let me respond a bit to my friend, the 
gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton]. I certainly have no criticism of 
the statement by Ms. Shelton, who is a professional of great integrity, 
and particularly under the recent circumstances, I would not want to 
say anything in the least bit critical. I do not think that there is 
any question but that that is an absolutely accurate statement. 
However, it does not necessarily imply irresponsibility or 
``nonsense,'' I think is the word that the gentleman from Indiana used.
  The U.S. Agency for International Development has been under the gun 
to make sure that their money is spent as carefully as possible so that 
there is full, complete accountability. In order to do that, it 
oftentimes requires that you delay grants, that you delay the money 
that is put out in the field until you get exactly that kind of project 
that you want. I think their concern was that there are a lot of 
countries in great need of assistance who are not getting that 
assistance because of the conscientious attitude that they have taken.
  When you look at the child survival programs, for example, or the 
micro enterprise programs, they require a lot of analysis, a lot of 
staff people making sure that that money is spent well. I suspect, 
though, that you would have at least as many detractors if the money 
had not been spent when you look at the need throughout the world, 
particularly in the developing countries.
  Now, this amendment that the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Burton] has, 
would substantially cut the ability of AID to manage these programs, 
particularly child survival and micro enterprise and a number of the 
education and democracy efforts that we are attempting in developing 
countries. We have already set in motion a reduction of 440 staff 
people in AID. This would cut us to more than 600 people who would have 
to be let go, most of them out in the field. That means that our 
programs in child survival, micro enterprise, all of the programs that 
we agree are needed and appropriate when we look at them individually 
would not be able to be managed, and I do not think that the 
administration or the Congress want programs out there that cannot be 
managed. In fact, I am told by AID that if the Burton amendment passes, 
with that reduction, it is likely that the agency would have to shut 
down its operations at some point during this fiscal year for lack 
of funds. I do not think that is what we want.

  Let me move off of the Burton amendment, because I think we are going 
to have another opportunity to discuss that at some length. I want to 
address the bill itself.
  Mr. Speaker, we recently agreed that we would increase defense 
spending by $12 billion above the President's request. Now, this bill 
in its total comes in less than $12 billion. It comes in at $11.9 
billion, a full $1 billion reduction below the budget request, but it 
is approximately equal to the amount of money we added to defense over 
and a above what the Pentagon requested.
  I would ask for help from the majority leadership on this, because I 
think they are aware of an attitude that is increasing that our policy 
is basically isolationist. I cannot believe that the leadership feels 
that it ought to be, but this is certainly the signal that is sent with 
this bill.
  When you consider the fact that half of this bill is $5 billion, 
which goes to Israel and Egypt, for which we do not require any 
accountability for how the money is spent, the other half has to be 
divided among the rest of the world. And when you look at the amount of 
money we spend on aid to developing countries, it is .15 percent of our 
gross domestic product, .0015 of out total national economy. Imagine 
that.
  Now, that is the least amount that any developed country contributes 
to the other developing countries of the world, and we have the most at 
stake. We are going to benefit the most by creating the purchasing 
capabilities of other countries because that equates to market 
opportunities in the United States.
  So talk about being penny-wise and pound-foolish. We are the world's 
leader; there is no question about that. The rest of the world looks to 
us for leadership. This is not the way to lead.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 7 minutes to the distinguished 
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], a member of the committee.
  (Mr. PORTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Florida for 
yielding me this time.
  Mr. Speaker, among the major abusers of human rights in the world are 
North Korea, and Burma, and China, and Nigeria, and Sudan, and Turkey. 
We do not provide foreign assistance to the first five of those, but we 
do to the last one, Turkey. And yes, Mr. Speaker, Turkey is a valuable 
ally of the United States, one that has stood with us in many difficult 
international situations, one that has provided for the southern flank 
of NATO, and yet we must worry a great deal that a country that 
espouses democracy, that wishes to become part of the European Union 
economically, still engages in some of the most egregious human rights 
abuses on Earth.
  Let me begin by pointing out that we are 22 years after Turkish 
troops invaded Cyprus, and there are still 35,000 Turkish troops 
occupying the northern 38 percent of that island in violation of 
numerous U.N. resolutions and United States congressional expressions 
of opposition. Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, in his most 
recent report to the U.N. on Cyprus, expressed serious concern at the 
excessive levels of military forces and armaments in Cyprus and 
repeated that the northern part of the island remains one of the most 
densely militarized areas in the world. Turkish troops continue to deny 
the freedom and human rights of the Greek-Cypriot enclaved and have 
worked to drive them out of their traditional ancestral villages and 
homes through a process of ethnic cleansing.
  In addition, Turkey continues to block humanitarian aid to our ally 
Armenia, where aid is very, very needed and essential to the survival 
of the people of that country. The President of the United States 
recently, not informing the Congress that he was going to do so, or 
ever sending notice to this body, as a matter of fact, allowed the 
Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act that we passed last year as part of this 
bill to be entirely waived regarding Turkey. What it means is that 
United States humanitarian aid that is destined for the people of 
Armenia will continue to be blocked by Turkey, which also receives aid 
from the United States. I cannot imagine a more egregious situation, 
and I cannot imagine

[[Page H5832]]

the fact that the President of the United States would waive that 
provision of the law and we would hear about it not by his notifying 
Congress, but through the Turkish foreign minister.
  Recently, Turkey occupied islands that have long been conceded as 
belonging to Greece, upping the tension between our allies, Greece and 
Turkey, for reasons beyond comprehension, and most egregiously.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Kurdish minority in Turkey continues to be 
repressed by the government of that country. There were 713 
applications for treatment of torture by the Human Rights Foundation in 
Turkey just last year. Torture continues to be a process used by the 
Turkish Government throughout the country, particularly in respect to 
the Kurdish minority. As many as 2 million people have left their homes 
in the southeast--these are Kurdish peoples--over the past 7 years and 
have been made refugees in their own country; 2,200 villages in the 
southeast have been destroyed by Turkish military troops. During the 
last year, 1,443 publications were confiscated on court order, most 
pro-Kurdish publications.
  Mr. Speaker, Turkey most recently tried and convicted its leading 
author, and what was he convicted of? He was convicted of speaking out 
against the policy of the Turkish Government to use violence only 
against its huge Kurdish minority of 15 to 20 million people, instead 
of sitting down at the table and negotiating with them to resolve 
differences and to guarantee their rights.

  Mr. Speaker, government agents have harassed human rights monitors as 
well as lawyers and doctors involved in documenting human rights 
violations. Some of them reported death threats. A number of monitors 
have been aggressively prosecuted by the Government of Turkey. The 
government gave an 8-year sentence to their leading author, Yasif 
Kamal, and they then said that they would not impose the sentence if he 
would cease criticizing the government for its policy against the 
Kurdish people, an obvious act of censorship by the government on a 
person speaking out against human rights abuses that are among the most 
egregious in the world.
  There is genocide against the Kurds going on in Turkey, Mr. Speaker, 
there is continuing intransigence and militarism on Cyprus, aggression 
toward Greece, and disruption of United States aid intended for the 
people of Armenia. For all these reasons, the subcommittee cut half of 
the economic assistance provided to Turkey in this bill. As I said, it 
is one of the world's major human rights abusers, and yet the only one 
that receives assistance from the United States. We provided a cut in 
the bill to send a message that all of these abuses must cease.
  We want Turkey to be our ally. We wish to have a close relationship 
with Turkey and with its people. But, Mr. Speaker, it is made very, 
very difficult to do so when a major ally of ours claiming to be a 
democracy observes very few of the tenets of democracy whatsoever, is 
listed among the major human rights abusers in the world and commits 
genocide against its own people without any willingness to sit down at 
the table and talk our differences.
  I believe this cut is justified. I would go further if I could, but 
this Congress must send a message to Turkey, to its government, to its 
people, that we need to see Turkey move toward real democracy, observe 
human rights, the basic rights that all people on this planet deserve, 
and stop the occupation of Cyprus, the prevention of humanitarian aid 
to the people of Armenia, stop its actions against Greek interests and 
the repression of its Kurdish minority.
  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I would like to point out before I yield back my time that the 
efforts of the distinguished gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Hall] with regard 
to dealing with the problems of the world, the most egregious problems 
with those who are the least able to deal with themselves, the sick, 
the poor, the children, and particularly in the areas of starvation, 
the accomplishments of the gentleman and commitment to that cause are 
well-known and I congratulate him for that.
  Obviously there are a great many global problems out there. You 
cannot pick up a newspaper, you cannot look at a map, you cannot turn 
on the television without being reminded that if it is not East Timor, 
it is Korea or one of the former Russian states or it is Russia itself 
or the Turks or the Greeks or maybe it is the Cypriots, as we have just 
heard the problem there, or perhaps it is the Baltics or the Balkans, 
perhaps it is the Visegrads. Maybe it comes to our own hemisphere, to 
South America or Central America or perhaps the Caribbean where we have 
Cuba and Haiti and some other things that catch our attention. 
Sometimes we look at the other side of the issues where we have 
apparently enemies to American interests, and Iraq and Iran and Libya 
jump into focus, and I have not even mentioned perhaps three of the 
biggest problem areas that we have, the immediate threat always to 
peace from the Mideast, that continuing nagging question; the problems 
going on in India today, the teeming masses there and how they are 
going to be fed and what provisions there are going to be for them. I 
know we have not talked about the continent of Africa where every day, 
if we can keep up with the map and the changes that are going on, the 
problems seem to be simply overwhelming.

                              {time}  1115

  The point of this is that we could have endless debate and we could 
commit endless resources to try and solve all the problems of the 
world, but obviously we do not have endless time, we do not have 
endless ability and we do not have endless resources. It is the people 
we work for, the American people, in the end, who are going to tell us 
how much resource we should commit to our domestic problems and then 
what percentage should we commit to the folks overseas who are in true 
need.
  That is what this debate is about, and that is why I think it is 
important that this debate come forward under an open rule.
  I have no doubt that there will be many Members coming forward and 
spending a great deal of time acquainting us and the people who are 
interested in this debate with aspects of our foreign assistance, our 
foreign interests, our foreign activities and our foreign operations 
that are vital not only to our national interests, our national well-
being and to American interests overseas, whether it be individual, 
corporate, or just tourists on a summer vacation, but also to the well-
being and the survival, as my friend from Ohio has so eloquently 
spoken, of so many countries where they have so little compared to what 
we enjoy in this much-blessed United States.
  That debate, I think, is a debate that is critical every year. I 
think it helps set the tone and helps set the measure and the standard 
of what we are about in our world leadership role. I look forward to 
that debate, and I am extremely pleased that we are able to come 
forward from the Rules Committee, both sides, in agreement that this 
should be an open rule so that we can have such discussion in the 
people's House.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, I yield back the 
balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.
  The previous question was ordered.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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