[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 115 (Monday, September 25, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H8029-H8031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PACIFIC CHARTER COMMISSION ACT OF 2000
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 4899) to establish a commission to promote a consistent and
coordinated foreign policy of the United States to ensure economic and
military security in the Pacific region of Asia through the promotion
of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, free trade, and open
markets, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 4899
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 ``Pacific Charter Commission
Act of 2000''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to promote a consistent and coordinated foreign policy
of the United States to ensure economic and military security
in the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) to support democratization, the rule of law, and human
rights in the Asia-Pacific region;
(3) to promote United States exports to the Asia-Pacific
region by advancing economic cooperation;
(4) to combat terrorism and the spread of illicit narcotics
in the Asia-Pacific region; and
(5) to advocate an active role for the United States
Government in diplomacy, security, and the furtherance of
good governance and the rule of law in the Asia-Pacific
region.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.
There is established a commission to be known as the
Pacific Charter Commission (hereafter in this Act referred to
as the ``Commission'').
SEC. 4. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
(a) Duties.--The Commission shall establish and carry out,
either directly or through nongovernmental organizations,
programs, projects, and activities to achieve the purposes
described in section 2, including research and educational or
legislative exchanges between the United States and countries
in the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) Monitoring of Developments.--The Commission shall
monitor developments in countries of the Asia-Pacific region
with respect to United States foreign policy toward such
countries, the status of democratization, the rule of law and
human rights in the region, economic relations among the
United States and such countries, and activities related to
terrorism and the illicit narcotics trade.
(c) Policy Review and Recommendations.--In carrying out
this section, the Commission shall evaluate United States
Government policies toward countries of the Asia-Pacific
region and recommend options for policies of the United
States Government with respect to such countries, with a
particular emphasis on countries that are of importance to
the foreign policy, economic, and military interests of the
United States.
(d) Contacts With Other Entities.--In performing the
functions described in subsections (a) through (c), the
Commission shall, as appropriate, seek out and maintain
contacts with nongovernmental organizations, international
organizations, and representatives of industry, including
receiving reports and updates from such organizations and
evaluating such reports.
(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and not later than the end of
each 12-month period thereafter, the Commission shall prepare
and submit to the President and the Congress a report that
contains the findings of the Commission during the preceding
12-month period. Each such report shall contain--
(1) recommendations for legislative, executive, or other
actions resulting from the evaluation of policies described
in subsection (c); and
(2) a description of programs, projects, and activities of
the Commission for the prior year; and
(3) a complete accounting of the expenditures made by the
Commission during the prior year.
(f) Congressional Hearings on Annual Report.--The Committee
on International Relations of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, shall,
not later than 45 days after the receipt by the Congress of
the report referred to in subsection (c), hold hearings on
the report, including any recommendations contained therein.
(g) Advisory Committees.--The Commission may establish such
advisory committees as the Commission determines to be
necessary to advise the Commission on policy matters relating
to the Asia-Pacific region and to otherwise carry out this
Act.
SEC. 5. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSION.
(a) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 7
members all of whom--
[[Page H8030]]
(1) shall be citizens of the United States who are not
officers or employees of any government, except to the extent
they are considered such officers or employees by virtue of
their membership on the Commission; and
(2) shall have interest and expertise in issues relating to
the Asia-Pacific region.
(b) Appointment.--
(1) In general.--The individuals referred to in subsection
(a) shall be appointed--
(A) by the President, after consultation with the Speaker
and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the
Chairman and ranking member of the Committee on International
Relations of the House of Representatives, the Majority
Leader and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Chairman
and ranking member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate; and
(B) by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.
(2) Political affiliation.--Not more than 4 of the
individuals appointed under paragraph (1) may be affiliated
with the same political party.
(c) Term.--Each member of the Commission shall be appointed
for a term of 6 years.
(d) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the same manner in which the original appointment was
made.
(e) Chairperson; Vice Chairperson.--The President shall
designate a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the
Commission from among the members of the Commission.
(f) Compensation.--
(1) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
members of the Commission shall serve without pay.
(2) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Commission may
receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of
title 5, United States Code.
(g) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the
Chairperson.
(h) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission
shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number of members may
hold hearings.
(i) Affirmative Determinations.--An affirmative vote by a
majority of the members of the Commission shall be required
for any affirmative determination by the Commission under
section 4.
SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
(a) Hearings and Investigations.--The Commission may hold
such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take
such testimony and receive such evidence, and conduct such
investigations as the Commission considers advisable to carry
out this Act.
(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may
secure directly from any Federal department or agency such
information as the Commission considers necessary to carry
out this Act. Upon request of the Chairperson of the
Commission, the head of any such department agency shall
furnish such information to the Commission as expeditiously
as possible.
(c) Contributions.--The Commission may accept, use, and
dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or
property, both real and personal, for the purpose of
assisting or facilitating the work of the Commission. Gifts,
bequests, or devises of money and proceeds from sales of
other property received as gifts, bequests, or devises shall
be deposited in the Treasury and shall be available for
disbursement upon order of the Commission.
(d) Mails.--The Commission may use the United States mails
in the same manner and under the same conditions as other
departments and agencies of the United States.
SEC. 7. STAFF AND SUPPORT SERVICES OF COMMISSION.
(a) Executive Director.--The Commission shall have an
executive director appointed by the Commission after
consultation with the Speaker and Minority Leader of the
House of Representatives and the Majority Leader and Minority
Leader of the Senate. The executive director shall serve the
Commission under such terms and conditions as the Commission
determines to be appropriate.
(b) Staff.--The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of
such additional personnel, not to exceed 10 individuals, as
it considers appropriate.
(c) Staff of Federal Agencies.--Upon request of the
chairperson of the Commission, the head of any Federal agency
may detail, on a nonreimbursable basis, any of the personnel
of the agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in
carrying out its duties under this Act.
(d) Experts and Consultants.--The chairperson of the
Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services
under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code.
SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
The Commission shall terminate not later than 5 years after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
carry out this Act $2,500,000 for each of the fiscal years
2001 and 2002.
(b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are
authorized to remain available until expended.
SEC. 11. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall take effect on February 1, 2001.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Gilman) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).
General Leave
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on this measure.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
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, shortly after World War II, the great
American soldier and statesman George Marshall said that a safe and
free America depends on a safe and free Europe. Marshall, of course,
was emphasizing the importance of Europe to the United States at that
time. Permit me to suggest that Marshall's paradigm has changed. Today,
he could have stated that a safe and free America depends upon a
democratic, safe and free Asia.
Before the summer recess, I introduced H.R. 4899, legislation to
establish a Pacific Charter Commission. The purpose of the commission
would be to create a charter that would promote a consistent and
coordinated foreign policy which would ensure economic and military
security in the Pacific region of Asia.
The charter would attempt to obtain those goals through the promotion
of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, free trade, and open
markets. Obviously, this region is vital to the future of our Nation.
Over the past 50 years, Asia has become a significant center of
international economic and military power. Our Nation has seen the
blood of its sons and daughters shed on Asian soil in defense of our
national interests and in fighting tyranny. America has fought three
wars in Asia since 1941 and American military personnel, our soldiers,
our sailors, our airmen and Marines, have been engaged in ensuring
peace across the Pacific.
In 1941, our Nation and Great Britain laid down a set of principles
of foreign policy conduct. That was called the Atlantic Charter.
Similarly, I propose that we establish a Pacific Charter Commission
that would assist our government in laying out the principles for our
policies in Asia in the 21st century.
Such a Pacific Charter would articulate America's long-term goals and
objectives in the Pacific and link them with the means for
implementation. It would be a comprehensive model for our involvement
in that region supporting our national interests and assuring others of
our intention to remain a Pacific power. Further, it would demonstrate
that our Nation is placing its relations with Asia in the 21st century
on a par comparable to that which has informed its relations with
Europe over the latter half of the 20th century.
The time has come to lay out an architecture of policy that will
establish our intention to remain engaged in Asia and the terms of our
continued engagement. A commission to establish a Pacific Charter for
the 21st century would provide the framework for such a policy and
would ensure the entire region, allies and otherwise, of the
continuation of a leadership that is consistent, coherent and
coordinated.
Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 4899.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of this resolution.
I would first like to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Gilman) for introducing the legislation before the House today. The
U.S. is facing many foreign policy challenges in the Asia-Pacific
region, challenges which are certain to grow in importance in the years
ahead.
On the human rights side, political dissidents and religious
minorities continue to be persecuted in China. Burma has tightened its
control on political dissidents, and East Timorese refugees are living
under horrible conditions in camps ruled by armed militias.
On the security side, North Korea missile and nuclear programs
continue to pose a threat to the U.S.; managing the defense
relationship with Japan requires high level attention; Taiwan's
[[Page H8031]]
security is under increasing threat from the PRC; and we must decide
whether to cover certain Asian countries under a theater missile
defense.
On the economic side, our trade deficit with China continues to grow
to unprecedented levels; U.S. firms continue to face great difficulties
operating in the Japanese market; and we must decide how the U.S. will
deal with calls for greater economic integration among the Asian
nations.
The Pacific Charter Commission created by the legislation before the
House today could help the administration and Congress get the
information and analysis needed to craft effective and informed foreign
policy in that region.
The commission will also closely review U.S. policy toward the Asia-
Pacific region and make recommendations to increase its effectiveness.
Given the complexity of the political, security and economic problems
facing U.S. policymakers in the region, the commission can help give
voice to Asia-Pacific experts outside of the executive and
congressional branches of government as well.
Obviously, the commission will only be as effective as its chairman
and commissioners, but with strong leadership, the commission could
help the U.S. pursue human rights, democracy, trade and security
matters in Asia.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4889.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the Extension of remarks
accompanying the introduction of H.R. 4899, there seems to be a desire
for the proposed Commission to prefer one nation to another. India over
China.
There is always a danger that we will codify a temporary mindset so
as to put ourselves in a policy box where the principles and boundaries
of our foreign policy becomes rigid; where a future Congress and chief
Executive will be unable to alter course as our national interest
compels; and where we may surrender our freedom of choice.
Lastly, I question the good that this nation can derived by so
explicitly preferring India over China, whereby prompted by our
affection for India, we may withhold criticism of India's actions and
policies in the regional conflicts of South Asia. This can be seen as
hostile to the people of Pakistan.
Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4899, The
Asian Pacific Charter Commission Act of 2000. This legislation will
establish a commission to promote a consistent and coordinated foreign
policy of the United States to ensure economic and military security in
the Pacific region of Asia through the promotion of democracy, human
rights, the rule of law, free trade, and open markets.
I would first like to thank the gentleman from New York, Chairman Ben
Gilman, for his leadership in introducing this measure. I don't need to
remind my Colleagues about Congressman Gilman's courageous service in
World War II in the Pacific theater. Serving as a Staff Sergeant in the
19th Bomb Group of the 20th Army Air Force, Congressman Gilman flew 35
missions over Japan and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and the
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters. Furthermore, I want to commend
Chairman Gilman's dedication to promoting democracy and the rule of law
in the Pacific region throughout his entire career.
As the proud Representative from Guam, which is located only 1,600
miles away from the Philippines, I strongly believe that H.R. 4899 is a
step in the right direction in bringing together a commission which is
designed to reinforce the United States commitment to a stable Pacific
Region. Such a commission must clearly focus on human rights, the
promotion of free and fair elections, constructive military
partnerships, and basic coordination and communication between the
United States and our friends and allies in the Pacific. Given Guam's
strategic location within the Pacific Basin, I would like to contribute
and play a constructive role in this new commission.
Congress must promote a consistent foreign policy which seeks to
spread democracy through peaceful and constructive means. H.R. 4899
clearly serves this purpose. I encourage all Members to support this
important resolution.
Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 4899, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
establish a commission to promote a consistent and coordinated foreign
policy of the United States to ensure economic and military security in
the Asia-Pacific region through the promotion of democracy, human
rights, the rule of law, and for other purposes.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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