[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 97 (Monday, July 24, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H6730-H6734]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DEFENSE AND SECURITY ASSISTANCE ACT OF 2000
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4919) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the
Arms
[[Page H6731]]
Control Export Control Act to make improvements to certain defense and
security assistance provisions under those Acts, to authorize the
transfer of naval vessels to certain foreign countries, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4919
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Defense and Security
Assistance Act of 2000''.
TITLE I--SECURITY ASSISTANCE
SEC. 101. ADDITIONS TO UNITED STATES WAR RESERVE STOCKPILES
FOR ALLIES.
Section 514(b)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2321h(b)(2)) is amended to read as follows:
``(2)(A) The value of such additions to stockpiles of
defense articles in foreign countries shall not exceed
$50,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
``(B) Of the amount specified in subparagraph (A) for
fiscal year 2001, not more than $50,000,000 may be made
available for stockpiles in the Republic of Korea.''.
SEC. 102. TRANSFER OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE OR SURPLUS DEFENSE
ARTICLES IN THE WAR RESERVE STOCKPILES FOR
ALLIES TO ISRAEL.
(a) Transfers to Israel.--
(1) Authority.--Notwithstanding section 514 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321h), the President is
authorized to transfer to Israel, in return for concessions
to be negotiated by the Secretary of Defense, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, any or all of the
items described in paragraph (2).
(2) Items covered.--The items referred to in paragraph (1)
are munitions, equipment, and material such as armor,
artillery, automatic weapons ammunition, and missiles that--
(A) are obsolete or surplus items;
(B) are in the inventory of the Department of Defense;
(C) are intended for use as reserve stocks for Israel; and
(D) as of the date of enactment of this Act, are located in
a stockpile in Israel.
(b) Concessions.--The value of concessions negotiated
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be at least equal to the
fair market value of the items transferred. The concessions
may include cash compensation, services, waiver of charges
otherwise payable by the United States, and other items of
value.
(c) Advance Notification of Transfer.--Not less than 30
days before making a transfer under the authority of this
section, the President shall transmit to the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate, and the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives a
notification of the proposed transfer. The notification shall
identify the items to be transferred and the concessions to
be received.
(d) Expiration of Authority.--No transfer may be made under
the authority of this section 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 103. EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES FOR MONGOLIA.
(a) Uses for Which Funds Are Available.--Notwithstanding
section 516(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2321j(e)), during each of the fiscal years 2000 and
2001, funds available to the Department of Defense may be
expended for crating, packing, handling, and transportation
of excess defense articles transferred under the authority of
section 516 of that Act to Mongolia.
(b) Content of Congressional Notification.--Each
notification required to be submitted under section 516(f) of
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j(f)) with
respect to a proposed transfer of a defense article described
in subsection (a) shall include an estimate of the amount of
funds to be expended under subsection (a) with respect to
that transfer.
SEC. 104. SENSE OF CONGRESS RELATING TO MILITARY EQUIPMENT
FOR THE PHILIPPINES.
(a) In General.--It is the sense of Congress that the
United States Government should work with the Government of
the Republic of the Philippines to enable that Government to
procure military equipment that can be used to upgrade the
capabilities and to improve the quality of life of the armed
forces of the Philippines.
(b) Military Equipment.--Military equipment described in
subsection (a) should include--
(1) naval vessels, including amphibious landing crafts, for
patrol, search-and-rescue, and transport;
(2) F-5 aircraft and other aircraft that can assist with
reconnaissance, search-and-rescue, and resupply;
(3) attack, transport, and search-and-rescue helicopters;
and
(4) vehicles and other personnel equipment.
SEC. 105. ANNUAL MILITARY ASSISTANCE REPORT.
Section 655(b)(3) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22
U.S.C. 2415(b)(3)) is amended by inserting before the period
at the end the following: ``, including those defense
articles that were exported''.
SEC. 106. REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO COUNTRY EXEMPTIONS FOR
LICENSING OF DEFENSE ITEMS FOR EXPORT TO
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
(a) Requirements of Exemption.--Section 38 of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(j) Requirements Relating to Country Exemptions for
Licensing of Defense Items for Export to Foreign Countries.--
``(1) Requirement for bilateral agreement.--
``(A) In general.--The President may utilize the regulatory
or other authority pursuant to this Act to exempt a foreign
country from the licensing requirements of this Act with
respect to exports of defense items only if the United States
Government has concluded an agreement described in paragraph
(2) with the foreign country that is legally-binding as a
matter of domestic and international law on both the United
States and that country.
``(B) Exception.--The requirement to conclude a bilateral
agreement in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall not apply
with respect to an exemption for Canada from the licensing
requirements of this Act for the export of defense items.
``(2) Requirements of bilateral agreement.--A bilateral
agreement referred to paragraph (1)--
``(A) shall, at a minimum, require the foreign country, as
necessary, to revise its policies and practices, and
promulgate or enact necessary modifications to its laws and
regulations to establish an export control regime that is at
least comparable to United States law, regulation, and policy
regarding--
``(i) handling of all United States-origin defense items
exported to the foreign country, including prior written
United States Government approval for any reexports to third
countries;
``(ii) end-use and retransfer control commitments,
including securing binding end-use and retransfer control
commitments from all end-users, including such documentation
as is needed in order to ensure compliance and enforcement
with respect to such United States-origin defense items;
``(iii) establishment of a procedure comparable to a
`watchlist' (if such a watchlist does not exist) and full
cooperation with United States Government law enforcement and
intelligence agencies to allow for sharing of export and
import documentation and background information on foreign
businesses and individuals employed by or otherwise connected
to those businesses; and
``(iv) establishment of a list of controlled defense items
to ensure coverage of those items to be exported under the
exemption; and
``(B) should, at a minimum, require the foreign country, as
necessary, to revise its policies and practices, and
promulgate or enact necessary modifications to its laws and
regulations to establish an export control regime that is at
least comparable to United States law, regulation, and policy
regarding--
``(i) controls on the export of tangible or intangible
technology, including via fax, phone, and electronic media;
``(ii) appropriate controls on unclassified information
exported to foreign nationals;
``(iii) controls on arms trafficking and brokering; and
``(iv) violations and penalties of export control laws.
``(3) Advance notification.--Not less than 30 days before
authorizing an exemption for a foreign country from the
licensing requirements of this Act for the export of defense
items, the President shall transmit to the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
notification that--
``(A) the United States has entered into a bilateral
agreement with that foreign country satisfying all
requirements set forth in paragraph (2);
``(B) the foreign country has promulgated or enacted all
necessary modifications to its laws and regulations to comply
with its obligations under the bilateral agreement with the
United States; and
``(C) confirms that the appropriate congressional
committees will continue to receive notifications pursuant to
the authorities, procedures, and practices of section 36 of
this Act for defense exports to a foreign country to which
that section would apply and without regard to any form of
defense export licensing exemption otherwise available for
that country.
``(4) Definitions.--In this section:
``(A) Defense item.--The term `defense item' means defense
articles, defense services, and related technical data.
``(B) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term
`appropriate congressional committees' means--
``(i) the Committee on International Relations and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;
and
``(ii) the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate.''.
(b) Notification of Exemption.--Section 38(f) of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2778(f)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(f)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) The President may not authorize an exemption for a
foreign country from the licensing requirements of this Act
for the export of defense items under subsection (j) or any
other provision of this Act until 45 days after the date on
which the President has transmitted to the Committee on
International Relations of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate a
notification that includes--
[[Page H6732]]
``(A) a description of the scope of the exemption,
including a detailed summary of the defense articles, defense
services, and related technical data proposed to be exported
under the exemption; and
``(B) a determination by the Attorney General that the
bilateral agreement requires sufficient documentation
relating to the export of United States defense articles,
defense services, and related technical data under an
exemption which will be compiled and maintained in order to
facilitate law enforcement efforts to detect, prevent, and
prosecute criminal violations of any provision of this Act,
including the efforts on the part of countries and factions
engaged in international terrorism to illicitly acquire
sophisticated United States weaponry.''.
(c) Notification Relating to Export of Commercial
Communications Satellite.--Section 36(c)(1) of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2776(c)(1)) is amended in the
first sentence by inserting at the end before the period the
following: ``, except that a certification shall not be
required in the case of an application for a license for
export of a commercial communications satellite designated on
the United States Munitions List for launch from, and by
nationals of, the United States, or the territory of a member
country of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the
Russian Federation, Ukraine, Australia, Japan, or New
Zealand''.
SEC. 107. REPORT ON GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT ARMS SALES END-
USE MONITORING PROGRAM.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the President shall prepare and transmit to the
Committee on International Relations and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate a report that contains a
summary of the status of the efforts of the Defense Security
Cooperation Agency to implement the End-Use Monitoring
Enhancement Plan relating to government-to-government
transfers of defense articles, defense services, and related
technologies.
SEC. 108. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COSTS.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President
may waive the requirement to impose an appropriate charge for
a proportionate amount of any nonrecurring costs of research,
development, and production under section 21(e)(1)(B) of the
Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761(e)(1)(B)) for the
November 1999 sale of 5 UH-60L helicopters to the Republic of
Colombia in support of counternarcotics activities.
TITLE II--TRANSFERS OF NAVAL VESSELS
SEC. 201. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER NAVAL VESSELS TO CERTAIN
FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
(a) Brazil.--The President is authorized to transfer to the
Government of Brazil the ``THOMASTON'' class dock landing
ships ALAMO (LSD 33) and HERMITAGE (LSD 34) and the
``GARCIA'' class frigates BRADLEY (FF 1041), DAVIDSON (FF
1045), SAMPLE (FF 1048), and ALBERT DAVID (FF 1050). Such
transfers shall be on a grant basis under section 516 of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j).
(b) Chile.--The President is authorized to transfer to the
Government of the Chile the ``OLIVER HAZARD PERRY'' class
guided missile frigates WADSWORTH (FFG 9) and ESTOCIN (FFG
15). Such transfers shall be on a combined lease-sale basis
under sections 61 and 21 of the Arms Export Control Act (22
U.S.C. 2796, 2761).
(c) Greece.--The President is authorized to transfer to the
Government of Greece the ``KNOX'' class frigates VREELAND (FF
1068) and TRIPPE (FF 1075). Such transfers shall be on a
grant basis under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j).
(d) Turkey.--The President is authorized to transfer to the
Government of Turkey the `OLIVER HAZARD PERRY` class guided
missile frigates JOHN A MOORE (FFG 19) and FLATLEY (FFG 21).
Such transfers shall be on a combined lease-sale basis under
sections 61 and 21 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C.
2796, 2761).
SEC. 202. INAPPLICABILITY OF AGGREGATE ANNUAL LIMITATION ON
VALUE OF TRANSFERRED EXCESS DEFENSE ARTICLES.
In the case of the transfer of a naval vessel authorized
under section 201 of this Act to be transferred on a grant
basis under section 516 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2321j), the value of the vessel transferred shall
not be included for purposes of subsection (g) of that
section in the aggregate value of excess defense articles
transferred to countries under that section in any fiscal
year.
SEC. 203. COSTS OF TRANSFERS.
Any expense incurred by the United States in connection
with a transfer authorized by this title shall be charged to
the recipient.
SEC. 204. CONDITIONS RELATING TO COMBINED LEASE-SALE
TRANSFERS.
A transfer of a vessel on a combined lease-sale basis
authorized by section 201 shall be made in accordance with
the following requirements:
(1) The President may initially transfer the vessel by
lease, with lease payments suspended for the term of the
lease, if the country entering into the lease for the vessel
simultaneously enters into a foreign military sales agreement
for the transfer of title to the vessel.
(2) The President may not deliver to the purchasing country
title to the vessel until the purchase price of the vessel
under such a foreign military sales agreement is paid in
full.
(3) Upon payment of the purchase price in full under such a
sales agreement and delivery of title to the recipient
country, the President shall terminate the lease.
(4) If the purchasing country fails to make full payment of
the purchase price in accordance with the sales agreement--
(A) the sales agreement shall be immediately terminated;
(B) the suspension of lease payments under the lease shall
be vacated; and
(C) the United States shall be entitled to retain all funds
received on or before the date of the termination under the
sales agreement, up to the amount of lease payments due and
payable under the lease and all other costs required by the
lease to be paid to that date.
(5) If a sales agreement is terminated pursuant to
paragraph (4), the United States shall not be required to pay
any interest to the recipient country on any amount paid to
the United States by the recipient country under the sales
agreement and not retained by the United States under the
lease.
SEC. 205. FUNDING OF CERTAIN COSTS OF TRANSFERS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Defense
Vessels Transfer Program Account such funds as may be
necessary to cover the costs (as defined in section 502 of
the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) of the
lease-sale transfers authorized by section 201. Funds
appropriated pursuant to the authorization of appropriations
under preceding sentence for the purpose described in such
sentence may not be available for any other purpose.
SEC. 206. REPAIR AND REFURBISHMENT IN UNITED STATES
SHIPYARDS.
To the maximum extent practicable, the President shall
require, as a condition of the transfer of a vessel under
section 201, that the country to which the vessel is
transferred have such repair or refurbishment of the vessel
as is needed, before the vessel joins the naval forces of
that country, performed at a shipyard located in the United
States, including a United States Navy shipyard.
SEC. 207. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TRANSFER OF NAVAL
VESSELS ON A GRANT BASIS.
It is the sense of Congress that naval vessels authorized
under section 201 of this Act to be transferred to foreign
countries on a grant basis under section 516 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2321j) should be so
transferred only if the United States receives appropriate
benefits from such countries for transferring the vessel on a
grant basis.
SEC. 208. EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY.
The authority granted by section 201 of this Act shall
expire 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
General Leave
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks on H.R. 4919.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
(Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, this Member rises in support of H.R.
4919, the Defense and Security Assistance Act of 2000.
This legislation modifies authorities with respect to the provision
of security assistance under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the
Arms Export Control Act. It is authored by the distinguished chairman
of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman), who was unavoidably detained and could not be here
today for this legislation.
Most of the provisions have been requested by the administration.
Specifically, these provisions address the transfer of excess defense
articles, notification requirements for arms sales and authorities to
provide for the stockpiling of defense articles in foreign countries.
The bill also includes an important bipartisan provision to address the
administration's initiative regarding exemptions for defense export
licenses to foreign countries.
This Member wishes to thank the ranking member of the Committee on
International Relations, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr.
Gejdenson), for his cooperation on these provisions, as well as the NGO
community for their hard work.
[[Page H6733]]
In addition, this bill authorizes the transfer of two Naval vessels
to Chile and provides authority to the President to convert existing
leases for 10 ships which have already been transferred to Brazil,
Greece, and Turkey.
This Member is pleased to note that this body has successfully
enacted into law, over the past 4 years, each of our bills addressing
security assistance matters. It is the hope of this Member that the
legislative branch is able to continue this record with approval of
this measure, H.R. 4919.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SHERMAN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4919, in order to assist the
committee. This bill is an annual authorization for certain activities
related to the U.S. assistance for national defense of our friends and
allies overseas. The bill authorizes the President to transfer obsolete
U.S. ships to friendly countries either through grants or sale/lease
arrangements to support their legitimate defense needs. These ships
have reached or exceeded their service life and would cost considerable
amount for the U.S. to refurbish them or scrap them.
{time} 1445
Transferring most of these ships will serve our foreign policy
interests. The bill authorized transfer of obsolete U.S. defense
equipment and other articles to the stockpiles of South Korea and
Israel. These transfers directly support the U.S. plans for the defense
of Korea as well as increasing the capacity and readiness of the South
Korean and Israeli forces to defend themselves.
Madam Speaker, I believe the bill was quite well summarized by the
gentleman from Nebraska. I should point out that I will personally have
some concerns with title II of the bill, in particular subsection D of
section 201 of the act, which as I may have mentioned is part of title
II. But to facilitate the work of this House and of the committee, I
stand in support of H.R. 4919.
Madam Speaker, seeing no requests for time, I yield back the balance
of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, in closing I want to recognize the fact this
legislation includes two important priorities of this Member as the
chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. The first is
section 103 which relates to excess defense articles to be provided to
Mongolia.
Additionally, there is a sense of the Congress expressed in section
104 related to our work with the Republic of the Philippines with
respect to the procurement of military equipment, and I am pleased to
see those provisions included.
Madam Speaker, I urge support of the resolution.
Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, this bill modifies authorities with
respect to the provision of security assistance under the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act. Most of the
provisions have been requested by the administration. Specifically,
these provisions address the transfer of excess defense articles,
notification requirements for arms sales and authorities to provide for
the stockpiling of defense articles in foreign countries. The bill also
includes an important bipartisan provision to address the
administration's initiative regarding exemptions for defense export
licensing to foreign countries. I want to thank the ranking Democrat
member for his cooperation on this provision as well as the NGO
community for their hard work.
The provision in question here goes to the heart of our jurisdiction
and role as an authorizing committee. For the past year and a half the
administration fought internally to resolve the question of whether we
should provide exemptions from licensing for defense exports to foreign
countries. The State Department fought the exemption all the way up to
the President. They opposed it at the deputies level. They opposed it
at the principals level. They opposed it until the President sided with
the Department of Defense and overruled them. Now the State Department
is putting on its game face and saying the administration is all one
big happy family. That's their story and they are sticking to it.
Now it is time for the Congress to have its say. As most of you know,
I have not been an enthusiastic supporter of new International Traffic
in Arm Regulations [ITAR] exemptions. I believe that the Arms Export
Control Act [AECA] provides the appropriate structure under which the
United States should continue to advance our foreign policy, national
security and non-proliferation interests. Moreover, it is absolutely
clear that State Department regulations and practice in implementing
U.S. munitions laws, including the AECA, have long provided for
individual, case-by-case licenses for defense exports.
Further, it is my view that any decision to extend exemptions should
only be made when the recipient countries have in place an export
control system comparable to that in the United States. This means that
such exemptions shall only be provided if a country has provided
assurances in a legally binding fashion that details how such a country
will enact export control procedures that sufficiently conform to those
of the United States and has drafted, promulgated and enacted necessary
modifications to its laws and regulations.
I have applied this rationale in fashioning section 108 of this bill.
We require a legally binding bilateral agreement. We list the overall
requirements of what should be in the bilateral agreement but require
only that certain of those requirements be certified. We then require a
separate notification detailing the scope of the proposed exemption.
This is a reasonable compromise on this issue. It allows the
administration to proceed with exemptions but requires that it is done
in a fashion that does not undercut our current practices and policies
and preserves the rationale and logic of the AECA. Now the Department
of Defense and some in the defense industry would tell you that real
problems would emerge if this language is agreed to. They argue that no
country will ever agree to modify their export control laws and
practices to protect U.S. defense exports as we do in the United
States.
That is not exactly correct. Let me explain. Everyone should
understand that section 108 requires nothing more than what the
Pentagon has already said it is willing to do. They agree there should
be bilateral agreement. They agree it should be legally binding. The
agree there should be end-use and retransfer assurances. They agree
that there should be harmonization of export control lists and
penalties for violations. They agree that this initiative should only
be applied to countries that adopt and demonstrate export controls and
technology security systems that are comparable in scope and
effectiveness to those of the United States.
What they don't agree with is that we, the Congress, should codify
the requirements. I disagree with that position and believe that this
provision protects what is embodied in the AECA. The administration
argues that the scope of this exemption should not be troubling. They
argue that it applies only to unclassified exports. Let's consider that
for a moment. Let's be sure that everyone understands this point.
Last year the Office of Defense Trade Controls processed over 45,000
licenses; 45,058 to be exact. Guess how many of those involved
classified exports. 258. That's right. That means that 99.995 percent
of the license amounting to over $25 billion were for unclassified
exports.
Now let's consider what kind of weapons systems are deemed
unclassified. One example is an armored personnel carrier [APC]. This
is a good example because a couple of years ago Canada transferred
United States-provided APCs to Iran. Guess how we provided them to
Canada. Under an exemption. That's why, in part, the State Department
yanked their exemption and Canada is still trying to get it back.
Another example. F-16s. Unclassified except for the technology
incorporated in the nose cone. And my personal favorite. Super cobra
attack helicopters. Under the exemption that administration could
transfer any of these weapons systems to a foreign country.
That is why we need countries to agree to control our defense exports
like we do. We don't want defense items provided under an exemption to
wind up in the hands of our enemies. I would also like to note that the
Justice Department has raised its concerns about the effect of the
exemption on its efforts to ensure that it will not impede the ability
of the law enforcement community to detect, prevent and prosecute
criminal violations of the AECA. Further they have concerns that the
exemption may facilitate efforts on the part of countries and factions
engaged in international terrorism to illicitly acquire sophisticated
U.S. weaponry.
Accordingly, this provision requires a determination by the Attorney
General that any bilateral agreement negotiated between the United
States and a foreign country include sufficient documentation on
defense items provided under the exemption so that our law enforcement
agencies can ensure compliance and enforcement with our laws. In
addition this bill authorizes the transfer of two naval vessels to
Chile and provides authority to the President to convert existing
leases for 10 ships which have already been transferred to Brazil,
Greece, and Turkey. I am pleased to
[[Page H6734]]
note that we have successfully enacted into law over the past 4 years
each of our bills addressing security assistance matters. I hope we are
able to continue our record with this measure.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4919.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________