[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6224-S6225]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHINA NONPROLIFERATION ACT

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we have talked a great deal about the need 
to find a way to consider the China trade bill and also to consider the 
problem of China nuclear weapons proliferation. Senator Thompson has 
done a lot of work in this area, as have others. He has a bill that he 
would like to have considered and has agreed for it to be considered 
freestanding, separate from the China PNTR legislation, and that he 
would not feel a need--if I could speak for him just momentarily--to 
offer it as an amendment to the China bill, if we can get it considered 
freestanding.
  So we have worked through that. I have discussed this with a number 
of interested parties, including Senator Daschle, and other members on 
both sides of the aisle.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that on Monday, July 10, at a 
time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with 
the minority leader, that the Senate proceed to the consideration of 
Calendar No. 583, S. 2645, the China Nonproliferation Act. I further 
ask consent that the bill be limited to relevant amendments. I finally 
ask consent that not later than 12:30 on Tuesday, July 11, the Senate 
proceed to vote on passage of the bill, with no intervening action or 
debate.
  Before the Chair rules, I would like to announce that it is my 
intention, as I have reiterated to the Armed Services Committee, that I 
will give them the opportunity to consider and, hopefully, conclude the 
DOD authorization bill. In fact, I am going to try to do a unanimous 
consent request on that next. We will try to get that Department of 
Defense authorization bill done--a very important bill--before the 
August recess.
  We are now working on a consent that was outlined last night by the 
chairman and ranking member. It is my hope that we could get an 
agreement on that time. If there is a problem with it, we will continue 
to work to find an agreement where we can remove the nongermane 
amendments, deal with the Defense amendments, and complete that very 
important legislation.
  So that is my request that I propound at this time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object.
  Mr. SHELBY. Reserving the right to object.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I will have to object until Senator Baucus 
arrives. He is on his way. Hopefully, this matter can be resolved very 
quickly.
  He has just walked in the Chamber. Senator Baucus is here. He can 
speak for himself. So until Senator Baucus has a chance to----
  Mr. LOTT. Others might seek to be recognized on this on their 
reservation.
  Mr. REID. I have my reservation.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Reserving the right to object, might I ask the leader a 
question?
  Mr. LOTT. Certainly.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask the majority leader, you said something about a 
freestanding nonproliferation bill?
  Mr. LOTT. Yes.
  Mr. DOMENICI. What is that?
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, in answer to the question of the Senator 
from New Mexico, this is legislation that has been developed by Senator 
Thompson. It is the China Nonproliferation Act. Perhaps under the 
Senator's reservation, he would like to yield to Senator Thompson so he 
could give a brief response to that question.

  Mr. THOMPSON. Mr. President, if I might please respond to my 
colleague.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Please.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Tennessee.
  Mr. THOMPSON. I say to Senator Domenici, this is a piece of 
legislation that is in response to the continuing array of reports and 
information that we have concerning the continued proliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction in which the Chinese are engaged.
  As you know, we are in the process of having an extensive national 
missile defense system debate in this country. Much of the reason for 
that need is what the rogue nations are doing. Much of what the rogue 
nations are being supplied with is coming from the Chinese Government 
and Chinese governmental entities.
  What this bill does is provide for an annual assessment. It is China 
specific. It is an annual assessment as to their level of proliferation 
activities. If any entities are engaged in those activities, there are 
certain responses in which our country engages to cut off those 
entities with regard to dual-use trade, munitions trade, access to our 
capital market. There is an array of things the President has to choose 
from to respond to that.
  Mr. DOMENICI. I say to the majority leader, I have no objection. I 
withdraw my reservation.
  Mr. SHELBY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alabama.
  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I have a reservation that maybe the 
majority leader can clarify, if he will yield for a question.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would be glad to yield under the Senator's 
reservation and respond to the question.
  Mr. SHELBY. Does this only relate to bringing up the Thompson bill 
and nothing else?
  Mr. LOTT. This unanimous consent request only deals with the bill S. 
2645, the China Nonproliferation Act. No other issue, no other bill is 
included in it.
  Mr. SHELBY. I have no objection.
  Mr. BAUCUS addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Montana.
  Mr. BAUCUS. I arrived on the floor a little late.
  What is the pending business?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. A unanimous consent request by the majority 
leader is pending.
  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, reserving the right to object, my concern 
is that we are setting the July schedule, albeit part of the July 
schedule, but without inclusion of a date or time for PNTR. I am very 
concerned that as we start taking up matters in July--even though it is 
the Thompson amendment--who knows what might intervene. You have 
reconciliation; you have appropriations bills, and whatnot. Because we 
do not have a date certain on the request for PNTR, it could very 
easily slip into September or even a later date.
  I know it is very much the intention of the majority leader to bring 
up the PNTR in July. He has said that many times. And I very much 
appreciate that. But as I have said personally to the majority leader, 
I am not so certain that, despite his best intentions, he can totally 
control whether or not PNTR actually does come up in July.

  In addition, the merits of the bill that would otherwise be scheduled 
to come up after the July recess is very dangerous. I do not think 
Senators have really had the time to look at the

[[Page S6225]]

provisions of that bill, to think through the implications of that 
bill. It has unilateral sanctions, mandatory--not discretionary--
sanctions against China. It is very overdrawn. American companies doing 
business in China could be sanctioned. It has extraterritorial 
provisions which are way beyond the ordinary rules of international 
law. I think it would cause a tremendous strain in the context of PNTR.
  My concern is that we are setting the schedule for July, albeit just 
a part of July, that does not include probably the most important vote 
that this Senate is going to take up this Congress; that is, passage of 
PNTR. And until there is a date set for PNTR, I must respectfully 
object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.
  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, we will continue to work with both sides of 
the aisle to see if this matter can be dealt with in an acceptable way, 
aside from it being offered as an amendment to the China PNTR bill. I 
think that would be potentially a large problem because if it were 
adopted, certainly then that legislation would have to go back to the 
House, and there is a lot of concern about that.
  As far as a time to consider the major bill, the China PNTR, this is 
an important part of the process in a move in that direction. And until 
we get this resolved, then it is going to be very hard to focus on 
exactly what date we could get a vote on the bill.
  I must also add that it is true we have a lot of important work to do 
in July. We have to deal with the very unfair death penalty. We have to 
deal with eliminating the marriage penalty tax. We have to pass the 
agriculture appropriations bill. We have to pass the Interior 
appropriations bill. We have to pass the Housing and Veterans Affairs 
appropriations bill. We have to pass the Commerce-State-Justice 
appropriations bill. We have to pass the Treasury-Postal Service 
appropriations bill. We have a lot of work to do, and none of it is 
insignificant.
  The people's business needs to be taken care of. This is just a part 
of that process. But I understand the Senator's objection. We will keep 
working to see if we can find a time and a way to do it.

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