[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 135 (Thursday, September 26, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H11250-H11254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REMOVAL OF RUSSIAN TROOPS FROM KALININGRAD

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 51) expressing the sense of the 
Congress relating to the removal of Russian troops from Kaliningrad, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 51

       Whereas from 1945 to the early 1990's Kaliningrad was a 
     Russian military outpost consisting of as many as 200,000 
     Russian military personnel concentrated in an area of 15,000 
     square kilometers and Kaliningrad has suffered substantial 
     environmental damage as a result of this military presence;
       Whereas since this time the number of Russian military 
     personnel in Kaliningrad has declined significantly, although 
     the number of such personnel in the region is still 
     substantial;
       Whereas polls conducted by the Kaliningrad Sociological 
     Center have shown that over 60 percent of the Kaliningrad 
     public favors development of Kaliningrad as an economic 
     bridge between Europe and Russia;
       Whereas establishment of Kaliningrad as a free economic 
     zone by the Russian Government in 1994 represents a positive 
     step toward Kaliningrad's integration into the Baltic and 
     European economies and toward giving Kaliningrad an 
     opportunity to flourish economically and to contribute 
     substantially to the well-being of the Baltic region; and
       Whereas Russian economic analysts at the Russian Foreign 
     Policy Foundation have noted that militarization of 
     Kaliningrad ``corresponded neither to the needs of the 
     population of the region itself, nor to the necessities of 
     its economic development'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have the right to self-
     determination which extends to the conduct of their foreign 
     policy regarding membership in the North Atlantic Treaty 
     Organization;
       (2) development of the Kaliningrad region as a free trade 
     zone will help ensure the freedom and future prosperity and 
     stability of the Baltic region; and
       (3) continued military reductions in and environmental 
     restoration of the Kaliningrad region will greatly facilitate 
     economic development and prosperity in Kaliningrad.

                              {time}  1245

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. (Mr. Ewing). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] and the gentleman from American 
Samoa [Mr. Faleomavaega] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York, [Mr. Gilman].
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 51 focuses on a 
situation that has received very little attention in our foreign policy 
considerations with regard to Europe--and specifically with regard to 
the Baltic region of that continent.
  This resolution, as introduced by Congressman Cox of California--and 
as amended by the House International Relations Committee, expresses 
certain concerns regarding that portion of the Baltic region now known 
as Kaliningrad, which has been a part of the Russian Federation since 
the end of World War II.
  Specifically, the resolution notes the need for Russia to continue to 
reduce its military presence in Kaliningrad, encourages the 
environmental restoration of that enclave, and also encourages its 
economic integration into the larger Baltic region.
  Unlike the original text, the amended version of this resolution does 
not raise questions concerning Russia's sovereignty over Kaliningrad.
  Frankly, it is probably best that we leave unopened the Pandora's Box 
that involves possible border changes and challenges to sovereignty in 
post-cold-war Eastern Europe.
  Still, although this resolution does not now challenge the 
sovereignty of the Russian Federation with regard to Kaliningrad, we 
should take a moment to at this point to note Russia's challenges to 
the sovereignty of the Baltic states--including:
  Its threats of retaliation against those states as they seek 
membership in NATO;
  Russian military transit to and from Kaliningrad through the 
sovereign territory of Lithuania; and
  Questions related to the Russian border with Estonia.
  With regard to that last issue, Russia's de facto demarcation of the 
border with Estonia has left Estonia with little choice but to 
relinquish 5 percent of the territory it held prior to the 1940 Soviet 
occupation.
  All Estonia asks in return is that Russia recognize the validity of 
the 1920 Treaty of Tartu, under which the U.S.S.R. recognized Estonia's 
sovereignty.
  Russia, however, continues to refuse to recognize that Treaty.
  Mr. Speaker, as I have stated, this resolution, as amended, does not 
challenge the current status of Kaliningrad.
  Let me take this opportunity, however, to say that what is good for 
the goose is good for the gander.
  If Russia expects its sovereignty to be respected in regions like

[[Page H11251]]

Kaliningrad, it must respect the sovereignty of its neighbors, 
including the Baltic States.
  I hope that the President will make that clear to the Russian 
Government, and make it clear also--as this resolution does--that the 
decision by the Baltic states to apply for membership in NATO is their 
decision to make.
  It should not be subject to continuing threats of military 
retaliation originating in Russia proper or from the Kaliningrad 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend my colleague, Congressman Cox, for working 
diligently on this resolution and on issues of security and stability 
in the Baltic region in general.
  I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this resolution, along with more 
than 50 other Members of Congress, and I hope that all of my colleagues 
will join in supporting this measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution, 
as amended by the Committee on International Relations. I want to 
commend the gentleman from New York, the chairman of the Committee on 
International Relations, and the gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] 
for their hard work in working the provisions of this resolution.
  I appreciate the gentleman from California's willingness to work with 
the administration and with the minority to craft a resolution that 
deserves strong bipartisan support. I believe this resolution is 
constructive. It spells out a future for Kaliningrad that can 
contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Baltic region. In 
case some of our colleagues do not know where Kaliningrad is located, 
Mr. Speaker, it is between Poland and Lithuania.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Wisconsin [Mr. Roth].
  Mr. ROTH. Mr. Speaker, let me just say that I have very much enjoyed 
serving under the gentleman's chairmanship. I served in my 18 years in 
Congress under many chairmen, but I must say that he is the most fair, 
the most open-minded and also the most internationally focused. It is 
one of the reasons the last resolution we had before us on Kaliningrad. 
There are not many chairmen, in my opinion, that would have taken this 
up because there is not much of a constituency. But it is a big problem 
and he addressed it. I think it exemplifies the type of leadership that 
we have had under his chairmanship, and I think I just want to say it 
has been most gratifying to serve under the gentleman.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from California [Mr. Cox], who is a major sponsor of this measure.
  Mr. COX of California. Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to congratulate the 
chairman not only for reporting this vitally important legislation but 
also for what he has done throughout the last 2 years of this 
remarkably productive Congress. He has been a beacon of wisdom, 
judgment, and expertise on the subject of foreign affairs. I wanted to 
thank him personally for the leadership that he has provided to the 
United States during this period.
  The bill before us, House Concurrent Resolution 51, will promote two 
very good ideas in the relationship between Russia and Western Europe 
and, frankly, the United States and the rest of the world.
  The first is that it will demilitarize a region that is not even 
contiguous to Russia but in which Russia maintains more than twice as 
many troops as does the United States and all of Europe. That is 
Kaliningrad. Kaliningrad, as has been discussed here amply, is nudged 
between, nestled between Lithuania, Poland, Belarus. It is not 
reachable from Russia without crossing the air space or the territory 
of some other country.
  Necessarily without the permission of Lithuania, particularly when 
Russia used to be the Soviet Union, the troop crossings took place 
massively, disruptively in ways that caused a great deal of friction. 
It is important for Baltic peace, stability, and security that 
Kaliningrad be demilitarized. It is also important for the relationship 
of Russia, Europe, and the United States because this is a potential 
hot spot. This is where NATO and Russia might unfortunately 
accidentally meet in the future. It ought not to happen.

  This is a flash point of conflict that we can see in advance, that we 
ought to deal with it just now. Russia did not create this problem. 
Russia is now a nation friendly to the United States. Russia inherited 
this problem, and as a sign of good faith Russia ought to neutralize 
this situation as quickly as possible.
  The second good idea embedded in this resolution is that the area of 
Kaliningrad will be made a free trade zone, making this area centrally 
located at the intersection of the Baltics, of Western and Eastern 
Europe and Russia, making this area economically vital, a bridge from 
Russia to Europe and from Europe into Russia. In 1995, Boris Yelstin 
signed a decree creating a 10-year free ecomonic zone in Kaliningrad. 
Customs duty exemptions are maintained in this area as a result. There 
is a 5-year cap on tax rates at 16 percent. This compares favorably 
even to Hong Kong, where the rate is 17 percent.
  Before Kaliningrad can become another economic Hong Kong, the region 
has to undergo a massive environmental cleanup. As a result of the 
Soviet military occupation and presence in this area for so long a 
period of time, Kaliningrad became the major polluter of the Baltic 
Sea. This, too, must be attended to. Kaliningrad must be cleaned up. 
The key elements of the resolution before us are the following: First, 
the need for Kaliningrad's demilitarization; second, the need for 
environmental cleanup; third, the development of Kaliningrad as a 
commercial bridge between Europe and Asia; and, finally, Lithuania, 
Latvia, and Estonia's right autonomously, independently, without 
coercion to join whatever military alliance they wish. It happens that 
that is NATO. They have the right to request NATO membership.
  This resolution is strongly supported by a number of groups who have 
communicated with us in the Congress, not the least of whom are 
committees representing all the Baltic nations. I personally have met 
with the presidents of each of the Baltic countries in recent weeks to 
discuss this. I know that if Russia takes these forward-looking steps, 
it will very much improve the prospects for even better relations 
between the United States and Russia.
  For that reason, I have written this resolution, introduced it, moved 
it through the committee, and am happy to have it here before us on the 
floor today. By sending this message, not just to Russia but to the 
people of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Belarus, all of Europe, 
Congress will help reduce the possibility of military conflict between 
Russia and NATO, between Russia and its neighbors and bolster the 
progress of freedom in the Baltics and in Russia.
  I urge an aye vote in favor of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following for the Record:
                                             Joint Baltic American


                                     National Committee, Inc.,

                                Rockville, MD, September 13, 1996.
     Hon. Benjamin Gilman,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Gilman: The Joint Baltic American 
     National Committee, Inc. (JBANC) appreciates your efforts to 
     facilitate NATO expansion and hopes for your support for 
     Congressman Christopher Cox's Concurrent Resolution no. 51, 
     regarding Kaliningrad.
       JBANC is concerned about the security and territorial 
     integrity of the Baltic countries. We support the Baltic 
     states membership in NATO. The demilitarization of Russian 
     forces, environmental restoration, and development of a free 
     trade zone in the Kaliningrad region will help create 
     stability in the entire Baltic area.
       Baltic regional security is in the U.S. national interest. 
     A recent study by the Commission on America's National 
     Interests places the Baltic states in the ``extremely 
     important interest'' category. It states that a U.S. policy 
     priority is to prevent Russia from reabsorbing the Baltic 
     states.
       Your efforts to help restore security in the Baltic region 
     will be greatly appreciated.
           Sincerely,
                                                     Vello Ederma,
     Chairman.
                                       ____


[[Page H11252]]


                                              Central and East    
                                               European Coalition,
                                  Washington, DC, August 29, 1996.


                 COALITION STATEMENT ON BALTIC SECURITY

       The Central and East European Coalition expresses deep 
     concern for the security of the Baltic states of Estonia, 
     Latvia and Lithuania in the face of constant vocal threats 
     from Russia. These threats run from demands to draw them into 
     the Russian sphere of influence and prevent them from being 
     considered for NATO membership, to outright absorption into 
     the Russian state.
       The Central and East European Coalition is an umbrella 
     organization of 18 national ethnic groups, representing some 
     22 million Americans with roots in Central and Eastern 
     Europe.
       The aggressive Russian rhetoric has originated from 
     President Yeltsin, the Foreign and Defense Ministers and many 
     other officials, diplomats and the military. In some cases, 
     threats have included renewed military occupation. 
     Government-funded think-tanks have drafted new doctrines that 
     have suggested absorption of the three independent states 
     into a new Russian-controlled entity. In confidential 
     correspondence, President Yeltsin has attempted to influence 
     President Clinton to keep the Balts out of NATO.
       The Coalition opposes Russian intimidation against any of 
     its neighbors. The Baltics, as other independent states of 
     Central and Eastern Europe, are and must remain sovereign 
     states. Their territorial integrity must be preserved. Their 
     independence and development of democratic institutions and 
     free markets are in the national interest of the United 
     States. The Commission on America's National Interests, a 
     joint enterprise consisting of RAND, Harvard and the Nixon 
     Center, recently concluded that it is in ``extremely 
     important'' U.S. national interest to prevent Russia from 
     reintegrating Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania by force.
       The Coalition urges the Administration and the Congress, 
     along with the Presidential candidates, immediately to issue 
     specific public declarations in support of the security of 
     the Baltic States and their right to sovereignty, the 
     inviolability of their territory, and their right to seek 
     NATO membership. Russia must be warned that continued 
     intimidation and threats against the Baltics will be met with 
     appropriate measures.
                                                                    ____

         Lithuanian American Community, Inc., Board of Directors, 
           Executive Committee,
                              Los Angeles, CA, September 11, 1996.
     Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman,
     Chairperson, Committee on International Relations, House of 
         Representatives.
       Dear Congressperson Gilman: It is my understanding that in 
     the near future, the Committee on International Relations 
     might consider the revised version of House concurrent 
     Resolution 51, introduced by Congressmen Christopher Cox and 
     William O. Lipinski calling for the demilitarization of the 
     Kaliningrad region on the shores of the Baltic sea.
       This is an issue of monumental importance to the Baltic 
     American community in the United States as well as the people 
     of the Baltic countries. The Kaliningrad/Konigsberg enclave 
     is the site of a massive concentration of Russian military 
     forces, equipment and weapons right in the heart of the 
     Baltic region. As such it is a serious military threat to the 
     sovereignty of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania and a 
     destabilizing factor in Central and Eastern Europe.
       Specifically, HCR 51 calls for the demilitarization of 
     Kaliningrad and calls upon Russia to respect Baltic interests 
     in joining NATO.
       I respectfully ask your support for the resolution when it 
     is considered by the Committee on International Relations.
       Thank you for your help.
           Respectfully,


                                           Anthony Polikaitis,

     Secretary.
                                                                    ____

                                               September 11, 1996.
     Hon. Benjamin A. Gilman,
     Chairman, Committee on International Relations, House of 
         Representatives.
       I understand that the Committee on International Relations 
     may soon consider the revised version of House Concurrent 
     Resolution 51, requesting demilitarization of the Kaliningrad 
     region and respecting Baltic interests in joining NATO.
       This is a critical issue to the safety of the Baltic 
     region, as well as a major concern to the Baltic American 
     Community. The large concentration of Russian military forces 
     and weapons in the heart of Northern Europe poses a serious 
     military threat. It is also a good reason for the Baltic 
     countries to become part of NATO.
       Our community asks that you support HCR 51 when it enters 
     your committee. We appreciate your support.
           Sincerely,
                                                  Uldis K. Sipols,
     Chairman, Latvian Association of Detroit.
                                                                    ____

                                      American Latvian Association


                                   in the United States, Inc.,

                                 Rockville, MD, September 9, 1996.
     Hon. Christopher Cox,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Representative Cox: The American Latvian Association, 
     which unites more than 160 Latvian American groups located 
     throughout the United States, wholeheartedly supports HCR 51, 
     expressing the sense of Congress concerning demilitarization, 
     environmental improvement and economic development in the 
     Kaliningrad region. We thank you for your leadership on this 
     legislation, which affirms U.S. interest in the achievement 
     of stable, secure and environmentally safe conditions for the 
     furthering of democratic and market reforms in Central and 
     Eastern Europe and the Baltic countries.
       As the process of political, security and economic 
     transformation continues in the lands formerly controlled by 
     the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, concern continues to 
     grow about the Kaliningrad region of the Russian Federation. 
     An exclave of the Russian Federation separated from Russia's 
     mainland by Lithuania and Poland, the Kaliningrad region, 
     economically disadvantaged and environmentally degraded by 
     its former Soviet administrators, continues today to be a 
     major outpost for the armed forces of the Russian Federation.
       Russia has taken steps to reverse the region's economic 
     plight, by establishing Kaliningrad as a Free Economic Zone. 
     However, Kaliningrad and its military garrison continue to be 
     used by Russia as a means to intimidate the country's closest 
     western neighbors, including Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania and 
     Poland. Russian military forces in the region have been used 
     repeatedly as an argument against the expansion of the NATO 
     alliance to include countries that have made clear their 
     freely stated desire to join the group--specifically the 
     formerly Soviet occupied, now sovereign countries of Latvia, 
     Estonia and Lithuania.
       In a Europe recovering from a half-century of superpower 
     confrontation, Kaliningrad is notable for its lack of 
     participation in the political, economic and security 
     transformation now underway. This legislation, which offers 
     sensible suggestions to achieve stability, security and 
     environmental safety in Kaliningrad, serves as a reasonable 
     expression of the will of Congress concerning this pivotal 
     region of Europe. This is why the American Latvian 
     Association supports HCR 5 1, and thanks you, Rep. Cox, for 
     your sponsorship of this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Janis Kukainis,
     President.
                                                                    ____

                                               Lithuanian-American


                                               Community, Inc.

                                 Arlington VA, September 12, 1996.
     Hon. Christopher Cox,
     House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Congressman Cox: As a steadfast and long time 
     supporter of Lithuania's independence, we greatly value your 
     efforts to enhance Lithuania's security and peace in the 
     Baltic region by focusing U.S. government attention on the 
     continuing problem of Russian military forces in the Baltic 
     seacoast region now known as Kaliningrad.
       We all know the history of the region; i.e., that the 
     former Soviet government parlayed its role as temporary 
     administrator of the area after World War II into a huge 
     military base at the heart of Europe. The current Russian 
     government maintains it as the most forward projection of 
     Russian military power in Europe. As you know, the forces 
     that Russia maintains in the Kaliningrad area do not fall 
     under CFE Treaty limits. And Russian officers stationed in 
     the region have been linked to illegal weapons shipments and 
     smuggling of illicit drugs.
       It is quite clear from the negotiations which have 
     proceeded between yourself and the Clinton Administration, 
     that the Clinton Administration intends to continue to turn a 
     blind eye to the threats posed by the continuing Russian 
     military presence in Kaliningrad.
       We support your efforts without reservation and urge you 
     and your colleagues in the House and Senate to stand firm in 
     requiring the Clinton Administration to begin, what will be a 
     long process of, strengthening the security of the emerging 
     democracies of Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia and the 
     rest of central Europe.
       We believe that the fundamental question which the United 
     States Congress should address is the question of security 
     for the states bordering the Russian exclave in the 
     Kaliningrad territory. We have suggested language which 
     appears the State Department has rejected. But we submit it 
     to the Congress, hoping that it or something similar in 
     nature will find its way into the final version of the Cox 
     resolution.
       Resolved: That it is the sense of the Congress that the 
     United States in pursuing enhanced security for the countries 
     of Eastern Europe, should take all possible steps to ensure 
     that the Russian Federation's efforts to maintain relations 
     with the territory now known as Kaliningrad, not undermine 
     the security and sovereignty of any neighboring country.
       The current inattention to the threats emanating from the 
     Russian military forces based in the Kaliningrad territory 
     will only fester weakening the surrounding states and 
     undermining the peace in Europe. Since the Administration 
     lacks the political will to focus on this problem before it 
     becomes a crisis, it is right that the United States Congress 
     should remind the Administration of its responsibility to 
     help secure the peace and security of the emerging 
     democracies of Eastern Europe.
           Sincerely,

                                         Regina Narusis, J.D.,

                                    President, Lithuanian-American
                                                   Community, Inc.


[[Page H11253]]


  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. 
This may be the last item that I will be managing during the 104th 
Congress. I wanted to take just a moment to note that there were a 
number of significant legislative achievements of the Committee on 
International Relations during this Congress and to say a few words of 
gratitude to those who have assisted our committee in its work.
  I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the members of our 
committee who will not be returning next year. We will have other 
opportunities to discuss their careers at length. I would like to 
mention special affection for the gentleman from Wisconsin, Toby Roth, 
for the gentlewoman from Kansas, Jan Meyers, for the gentleman from 
Kansas, Sam Brownback, the gentleman from New Jersey, Bob Torricelli, 
and the gentleman from Florida, Harry Johnston. Serving together on our 
committee is a very special experience, and I have valued our 
relationship with each of these Members.
  I would also like to specifically thank the gentleman from Indiana 
[Mr. Hamilton], the ranking minority member of the committee. He and I 
have faced each other many times during the past 2 years, sometimes on 
the same side of the question, sometimes on opposite sides. I very much 
appreciate his many courtesies and the courtesies he has extended 
through his staff.
  I have been privileged during the Congress to have been able to have 
the assistance of the gentleman from Nebraska, Doug Bereuter, who 
served as the vice chairman of our committee and also as subcommittee 
chairman. I extend my thanks to him and to Toby Roth, the gentleman 
from New Jersey, Chris Smith, the gentleman from Indiana, Dan Burton, 
and the gentlewoman from Florida, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, who served as 
our subcommittee chairs and to their respective subcommittee ranking 
members.
  Our committee has had more full committee chairmen than any other 
committee as part of our membership. The gentleman from Pennsylvania, 
Bill Goodling, the gentleman from Iowa, Jim Leach, the gentleman from 
Illinois, Henry Hyde,  and Jan Meyers are full committee chairs and 
have made time to participate in our committee's work. To them and to 
all the members of our committee on both sides of the aisle, I extend 
my personal thanks.
  Mr. Speaker, many people who usually go unnamed and unnoticed by the 
American people are indispensable to the work of the House and the 
House committees. They have been especially helpful to me as I 
fulfilled my responsibilities as chairman of our committee during this 
session of the Congress. These people, the floor staffs, leadership 
staffs, Cloakroom staffs, and pages, as well as the Parliamentarians, 
reporters, clerks, and doormen, all deserve our thanks.
  Also, we have received invaluable help from the Office of Legislative 
Counsel, Congressional Research Service, and finally our own committee 
staff provides highly professional assistance to the Members.
  Under leave to revise and extend, I will be a little more detailed in 
our thanks, but I want to let all of them know that their assistance is 
truly heartfelt and thanks go to all of them.
  Mr. Speaker, this may be the last item I will manage during the 104th 
Congress and I wanted to take just a moment to note that there were a 
number of significant legislative achievements of the Committee on 
International Relations during this Congress and to say a few words of 
gratitude to those who have assisted our committee in its work.
  First of all, there was H.R. 7, our portion of the Contract With 
America, which had important provisions related to U.N. peacekeeping 
and command-and-control issues, as well as NATO enlargement.
  Then, in H.R. 1561, the American Overseas Interest Act, we 
reauthorized and reinvented the American foreign policy establishment 
and extended--at lower levels--our foreign assistance programs. This 
bill was, unfortunately, subject to a long filibuster in the Senate and 
was ultimately vetoed even when it was reduced considerably in its 
reach.
  We passed legislation providing for a move of the American Embassy in 
Israel to Israel's capital, Jerusalem. The President did not see fit to 
sign that bill, but did allow it to become law.
  We passed legislation, that was signed into law, aimed at preventing 
foreigners from taking over the confiscated assets of American citizens 
in Cuba, under the LIBERTAD Act, also known as the Helms-Burton Act.
  We passed legislation, also signed into law, aimed at cutting off 
investments in the Iranian energy sector, so as to deprive that regime 
of the funds needed to carry out terror operations and to develop 
weapons of mass destruction.
  We passed legislation concerning important security assistance 
provisions, the first such authorization bill in 11 years. We also 
passed micro-enterprise and Africa development fund bills.
  We also passed legislation aimed at facilitating the entry of 
emerging democracies into NATO, and we passed legislation extending and 
reforming the Export Administration Act.
  These are just a few of our achievements of our committee. Many 
others took the form of oversight.
  I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the members of our 
committee who will not be returning next year. We will have other 
opportunities to discuss their career at length, but I would like to 
mention special affection for Toby Roth, Jan Meyers, Sam Brownback, Bob 
Torricelli, and Harry Johnston. Serving together on our committee is a 
very special experience, and I have valued our relationships with each 
of these Members.
  I would like to specially thank the gentleman from Indian [Mr. 
Hamilton] the ranking minority member of our committee. He and I have 
faced each other many times during the past 2 years, sometimes on the 
same side of the question and sometimes on opposite sides. I very much 
appreciate his many courtesies and the courtesies he has extended 
through his staff.
  I have been privileged during this Congress to have been able to have 
the assistance of Representative Doug Bereuter who served as vice 
chairman of our committee and also as subcommittee chairman. I extend 
my thanks to him and to Toby Roth, Chris Smith, Dan Burton, and Ileana 
Ros-Lehtinen, who have served as subcommittee chairmen, and to the 
respective subcommittee ranking members.
  Our committee has had more full committee chairmen than any other 
committee. Bill Goodling, Jim Leach, Henry Hyde, and Jan Meyers, all 
full committee chairs, have made time to participate in our Committee's 
work.
  To them, and to all of the members of our committee on both sides of 
the aisle, I extend my thanks.
  Mr. Speaker, many people who usually go unnamed and unnoticed to the 
American public are indispensable in the work of the House. They have 
been especially helpful to me as I fulfilled my responsibilities as 
chairman of our committee.
  I also wish to express my appreciation for the Speaker's floor 
staff--Len Swinehart and his colleagues, and the Speaker's Assistant 
for National Security matters, Gardner Peckham, who have been most 
helpful during this Congress.
  Also, the majority leader's staff--David Hobbs, Peter Davidson, Brian 
Gunderson, Siobhan McGill, and their colleagues.
  Also, the majority whip's staff--Scott Hatch and his colleagues, 
especially Scott Palmer and Monica Vegas Kladakis.
  And the other members of the majority floor staff--Jay Pierson and 
Ron Lasch.
  Also, the cloakroom managers and staff--Tim Harroun, Jim Oliver, 
Joelle Hall, and their colleagues; and the pages, who are under the 
supervision of Peggy Sampson.
  We have had good cooperation from the minority counterparts of these 
individuals, as well.
  I also wish to thank the House Parliamentarian, Charles Johnson, as 
well as his colleagues, John Sullivan, Tom Duncan, Moftiah McCartin, 
and Tom Wickham, who have worked extensively with our committee.
  In addition, I'd like to recognize the reading clerks and other 
clerks and assistants who stand and sit near the presiding officer to 
aid him, as well as the skilled official reporters and transcribers who 
record our proceedings.
  I also thank the other floor staff and doormen and Capitol Police who 
provide for our security or summon us to see our constituents.
  I might also add that, off this floor, we have had wonderful 
assistance from the Office of Legislative Counsel, especially Ms. 
Yvonne Haywood, Mr. Mark Synnes, and Ms. Sandra Strokoff. We also had 
excellent help from the Congressional Research Service, especially the 
Foreign Affairs and Defense Division, the Economics Division, and the 
American Law Division.
  And, finally, our own committee staff, headed by Dr. Richard Garon, 
and our committee's minority staff, headed by Dr. Mike Van Dusen.
  I thank them all for the innumerable contributions to the work of our 
committee in this challenging and fruitful Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.

[[Page H11254]]

  The senior Democrat on this side of the aisle to the Committee on 
International Relations deeply regrets not being here because of a 
conflict of schedule. I am certain that the sentiments expressed 
earlier by the gentleman from New York is very much in order to the 
fact that this has been a very productive year for the Committee on 
International Relations.
  I will say to the gentleman from New York that we have had our 
differences in principle, but it has never been on differences in 
personalities. I appreciate the leadership and certainly the fairness 
that he has given in this stewardship as chairman of this committee. I 
want the gentleman to know that.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to express the gratitude and appreciation of 
the Nation also to the two gentlemen from this side of the aisle on the 
committee, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Torricelli], also the 
gentleman from Florida [Mr. Johnston], who will also not be here next 
year due to retirement and other choices that they have made in their 
political careers. I certainly would like to commend them for their 
services that they have rendered as members, outstanding members of 
this committee.
  I also want to recognize with appreciation the gentleman from 
Wisconsin whom I have had the privilege of working with closely on 
matters of international trade and some of the foreign policies that we 
have dealt with on this committee and certainly would like to wish him 
well because of his retirement. I want to express that on behalf of the 
members of this side of the committee.

                              {time}  1300

  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from California, given his profound 
statement and understanding of the seriousness of the problem here in 
the Baltic States, I think the provisions of this resolution are well 
in order, and I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time,
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the delegate from American Samoa, Mr. Faleomavaega, 
for his kind remarks and for his willingness to take an active role 
continually throughout the consideration of the measures before our 
Committee on International Relations. We thank him for his involvement.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman] that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House 
Concurrent Resolution 51, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read: 
``Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress concerning 
economic development, environmental improvement, and stability in the 
Baltic region.''
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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