[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 11, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D600-D602]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D600]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 6 public bills, H.R. 1861-1866; and 3 private bills, 
H.R. 1867-1869 were introduced.                              
  Page H3720
Reports Filed: Reports were filed as follows:
  H. Res. 165, waiving a requirement of clause 4(b) of rule XI with 
respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the 
Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 105-128); and
  S. 768, a private bill (H. Rept. 105-129).             
Pages H3719-20
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
designated Representative Rogers to act as Speaker pro tempore for 
today.                                                       
  Page H3665
Foreign Relations Authorization Act: The House passed H.R. 1757, to 
consolidate international affairs agencies and to authorize 
appropriations for the Department of State and related agencies for 
fiscal years 1998 and 1999. The House considered amendments to the bill 
on Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 10, and 
Wednesday June 11.                                    
  Pages H3670-H3706
  On a demand for a separate vote on certain amendments agreed to in 
the Committee of the Whole:
  By a yea-and-nay vote of 420 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 180, agreed to 
the Gilman en bloc amendment that establishes the ``Foreign Affairs 
Agencies Consolidation and Reinvention Act of 1997,'' (agreed to in the 
Committee of the Whole on June 11);                      
Pages H3680-87
  By a recorded vote of 422 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 181, 
agreed to the Gilman en bloc amendment that strikes fee account 
provisions for passport information services and visas to conform to 
existing procedure; (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 
4);                                                      
Pages H3687-88
  By a recorded vote of 354 ayes to 72 noes, Roll No. 182, agreed to 
the Smith of New Jersey amendment that increases funding for Radio Free 
Asia; (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4);   
Page H3688
  By a recorded vote of 279 ayes to 149 noes, Roll No. 183 agreed to 
the Skaggs amendment as amended that prohibits funding for television 
broadcasting to Cuba after October 1, 1997 if the President certifies 
that continued funding is not in the national interest of the United 
States (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4); 
                                                         Pages H3688-89
  By a recorded vote of 386 ayes to 42 noes with 1 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 184 agreed to the Hefley amendment that requires that the 
State Department maintain records on criminal incidents of individuals 
with immunity from the criminal jurisdiction of the United States under 
the Vienna Convention (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 
4);                                                      
Pages H3689-90
  By a recorded vote of 283 ayes to 146 noes, Roll No. 185, agreed to 
the Bachus amendment that requires an annual report to Congress listing 
overseas United States surplus properties for sale and specifies that 
amounts received from these sales be used for deficit reduction (agreed 
to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4 by a recorded vote of 277 
ayes to 146 noes, Roll No. 161);                         
Pages H3690-91
  By a recorded vote of 428 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 186, 
agreed to the Gilman en bloc amendment that authorizes certain U.S. 
citizen employees to perform designated consular officer duties; 
clarifies that the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security 
is responsible for diplomatic security and management; increases the 
authorized strength of the Foreign Service; establishes the policy that 
the United States shall not expel, extradite, or otherwise effect the 
involuntary return of any person to a country in which there is a 
substantial danger of torture; expresses the sense of Congress that the 
Government of Turkey recognize the Ecumenical Patriarch and its 
nonpolitical, religious mission and reopen the Halki Patriarchal School 
of Theology; and requires a report dealing with the repatriation of 
unresolved POW/MIA remains from Viet Nam (agreed to in the Committee of 
the Whole on June 4);                                    
Pages H3691-92
  By a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 201 noes, Roll No. 187, agreed to 
the Goss amendment that strikes the section relating to the Office of 
the Inspector General procedures for instances where an employee is the 
likely subject or target of a criminal investigation (agreed to in the 
Committee of the Whole on June 4 by a recorded vote of 214 ayes to 211 
noes Roll No. 162);                                      
Pages H3692-93
  By a recorded vote of 222 ayes to 202 noes, Roll No. 188, agreed to 
the Coburn amendment that prohibits funding for the Man and Biosphere 
Program or the World Heritage Program administered by the United 
Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (agreed to 
in the Committee of the Whole on June 4);                    
Page H3693
  By a recorded vote of 292 ayes to 135 noes with 1 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 189 agreed to the Gilman en bloc amendment that urges Peru to 
respect the rights of prisoners and expedite legal procedures; directs 
the State Department to monitor human

[[Page D601]]

rights in Ethiopia; establishes special envoys to promote mutual 
disarmament talks throughout the world; expresses the sense of Congress 
that Taiwan should reconsider the transfer of nuclear waste to North 
Korea; expresses support for Prime Minister Gujral of India; supports 
the sovereignty of Belarus; supports the accession of Taiwan to the 
World Trade Organization; requires a report concerning human rights 
violations of the Hmong and Laotian refugees who have returned to Laos; 
withholds assistance to countries that provide nuclear fuel to Cuba; 
makes funds available for the Cuban liberty and Democratic Solidarity 
Act of 1996 and the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992; urges the President to 
achieve an international arms sales code of conduct with all Wassenaar 
Arrangement countries; and requires compliance with the Buy American 
Act (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4); 
                                                         Pages H3693-97
  By a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'' and 1 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 190, agreed to the Smith of New Jersey amendment 
that requires the President to report on any border closure or economic 
or commercial blockade by any newly independent states that impede the 
delivery of U.S. humanitarian aid (agreed to in the Committee of the 
Whole on June 4);                                        
Pages H3696-97
  By a recorded vote of 141 ayes to 287 noes, Roll No. 191, rejected 
the Serrano amendment that requires reports to Congress on official 
complaints by the government of Cuba to the departments or agencies of 
the U.S. government (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 
4);                                                          
Page H3697
  By a recorded vote of 415 ayes to 12 noes, Roll No. 192, agreed to 
the Fox of Pennsylvania amendment that expresses the sense of Congress 
commending the government of Ukraine for their decision to relinquish 
nuclear weapons (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4); 
                                                         Pages H3697-98
  By a recorded vote of 387 ayes to 38 noes, Roll No. 193, agreed to 
the Lazio amendment that expresses the sense of Congress regarding the 
compliance with child and spousal support obligations by United Nations 
Personnel (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 4); 
                                                          Page H3698-99
  By a recorded vote of 234 ayes to 193 noes, Roll No. 194, agreed to 
the Smith of New Jersey amendment that prohibits population planning 
assistance to any foreign organization until the organization certifies 
that it will not perform abortions in any foreign country except where 
the life of the mother would be endangered or in cases of rape or 
incest and certifies that it will not engage in any activity to alter 
the laws or policies of any foreign country concerning the 
circumstances under which abortion is permitted, regulated, or 
prohibited; and prohibits any funds to the United Nations Population 
Fund (UNFPA) unless the President certifies that UNFPA has terminated 
all activities in the People's Republic of China or during the 12 
months preceding such certification there have been no coerced 
abortions associated with the family planning policies of the People's 
Republic of China (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 5 by 
a recorded vote of 232 ayes to 189 noes Roll No. 168); 
                                                      Pages H3699-H3700
  By a voice vote, agreed to the Gilman amendment that removes the 
prohibition against foreign assistance for narcotics related purposes 
to countries that have been decertified for funding (agreed to in the 
Committee of the Whole on June 10);                      
Pages H3700-01
  By a recorded vote of 410 ayes to 12 noes, Roll No. 195, agreed to 
the Scarborough amendment that applies to Sudan the provisions of the 
Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act that restricts financial 
transactions until the President certifies that Sudan is no longer 
sponsoring or supporting terrorism and provides that this restriction 
shall not apply to humanitarian assistance (agreed to in the Committee 
of the Whole on June 10 by a recorded vote of 415 ayes to 9 noes Roll 
No. 171);                                                    
Page H3701
  By a recorded vote of 423 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 196, 
agreed to the Nethercutt amendment that expresses the sense of Congress 
that Al-Faran, a militant organization that seeks to merge Kashmir with 
Pakistan should release immediately Donald Hutchings of the State of 
Washington and 3 Western Europeans from captivity and cease and desist 
from all acts of hostage-taking and other violent acts within the state 
of Jammu and Kashmir (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 
10 by a recorded vote of 425 ayes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 
173);                                                    
Pages H3701-02
  By a recorded vote of 366 ayes to 59 noes, Roll No. 197, agreed to 
the Miller amendment as amended that expresses the sense of Congress 
that the United States should allow the import of Cuban cigars at such 
time as the government of Cuba has freed all political prisoners, 
legalized all political activity, and agreed to hold free and fair 
elections (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 10 by a 
recorded vote of 375 ayes to 49 noes Roll No. 175);      
Pages H3702-03
  By a recorded vote of 417 ayes to 10 noes, Roll No. 198, agreed to 
the Fox of Pennsylvania amendment that expresses the sense of Congress 
regarding the designation of Romania as eligible for assistance under 
the NATO Participation Act of 1994 (agreed to in the Committee of the 
Whole on June 10);                                       
Pages H3703-04
  By a recorded vote of 427 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 199, 
agreed to the Ney amendment

[[Page D602]]

that prohibits assistance to any government that assists the Government 
of Libya in violating sanctions imposed by the United Nations and 
provides an exception for national security interests of the United 
States (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on June 10 by a 
recorded vote of 426 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 174); 
                                                         Pages H3704-05
  By a recorded vote of 244 ayes to 184 noes, Roll No. 200, agreed to 
the Rohrabacher amendment that restricts funding to the Russian 
Federation if the federation transfers an SS-N-22 missile system to the 
People's Republic of China (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole on 
June 11 by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 178); and 
                                                             Page H3705
  By a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'' and 3 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 201, agreed to the Paxon amendment that condemns 
the Palestinian Authority policy and practice of imposing the death 
penalty on anyone who sells land to a Jew (agreed to in the Committee 
of the Whole on June 10).                                
Pages H3705-06
Earlier, agreed to amendments in the Committee of the Whole:
  The Rohrabacher amendment, debated on June 10, that restricts funding 
to the Russian Federation if the federation transfers an SS-N-22 
missile system to the People's Republic of China (agreed to by a 
recorded vote of 225 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 178); and 
                                                         Pages H3670-71
  The Gilman en bloc amendment that establishes the ``Foreign Affairs 
Agencies Consolidation and Reinvention Act of 1997,'' requires a 
reorganization plan from the President not later than 60 days after 
enactment; mandates the abolition of the Arms Control and Disarmament 
Agency and transfers its functions to the Secretary of State by October 
1, 1998; mandates the abolition of the United States Information Agency 
and transfers its functions to the Secretary of State by October 1, 
1999; mandates the abolition of the International Development 
Cooperation Agency and transfers its functions to another agency or 
agencies by October 1, 1998; and reorganizes the functions of the 
Agency of International Development and consolidates various of its 
functions with the Department of State by October 1, 1999. 
                                                         Pages H3680-86
Rejected in the Committee of the Whole:
  The Sanford amendment that sought to limit the aggregate funding 
authorized to the amount appropriated in fiscal year 1997 resulting in 
a reduction of $265 million for both fiscal years 1998 and 1999 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 163 ayes to 261 noes, Roll No. 179); 
                                                         Pages H3671-80
  The Clerk was authorized in the engrossment of H.R. 1757 to correct 
section numbers, punctuation, and cross references and to make such 
other technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect 
the actions of the House in amending the bill.               
Page H3717
  On June 4, the House agreed to H. Res. 159, the rule that provided 
for consideration of H.R. 1757 and H.R. 1758.                
Page H3291
European Security Act: The House passed H.R. 1758, to ensure that the 
enlargement of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) proceeds 
in a manner consistent with United States interests, to strengthen 
relations between the United States and Russia, and to preserve the 
prerogatives of the Congress with respect to certain arms control 
agreements. Pursuant to section 3 of H. Res. 159, the rule that 
provided for consideration of the bill, the text of H.R. 1758 was 
appended to the engrossment of H.R. 1757, and H.R. 1758 was laid on the 
table.                                                   
  Pages H3706-16
  Agreed to the Frank motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
International Relations with instructions to report H.R. 1758 back 
forthwith with an amendment that adds a new section on Burdensharing 
that expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States already 
pays more than a proportionate share of the costs of the common defense 
of Europe and that the European members of NATO should pay the bulk of 
the costs of NATO expansion which are incurred by existing NATO 
members.                                                 
Pages H3716-17
  Subsequently, the bill was reported back and the amendment on 
Burdensharing was agreed to.                                 
Page H3717
  On June 4, the House agreed to H. Res. 159, the rule that provided 
for consideration of both H.R. 1757 and H.R. 1758.          
Pages H3291
Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and twenty-three recorded 
votes developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on 
pages H3670-71, H3680, H3686-87, H3687-88, H3688, H3688-89, H3689-90, 
H3690-91, H3691-92, H3692-93, H3693, H3695-96, H3696-97, H3697, H3698, 
H3699, H3700, H3701, H3702, H3702-03, H3703-04, H3704-05, H3705, and 
H3706. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 6:39 p.m.