[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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