[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4839]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON LEWIS

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 17, 1999

  Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I would appreciate having the 
following statement printed in the Congressional Record in the 
appropriate place: Mr. Speaker, on March 16, 1999, I was returning from 
Moscow where I participated in meetings with leaders of the Russian 
Duma as part of a Congressional Delegation trip led by my colleague, 
the Honorable Curt Weldon. The purpose of our trip was to discuss 
missile defense issues and specifically H.R. 4. As a result, I missed 
Rollcall votes 51, 52 and 53. Had I been present, I would have voted 
YES on all three votes.
  Rollcall No. 50--H.R. 891, Federal Maritime Commission Authorization 
Act.
  Vote--``Yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, the Maritime Commission provides needed protections for 
U.S. shippers and carriers through its oversight and licensing 
activities. I support this bill which allows the Commission to improve 
services, address the Y2K computer problem, and continue its mission.
  Rollcall No. 52--H.R. 774, Women's Business Center Amendments Act.
  Vote--``Yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 775 which will allow more women to 
benefit from the Women's Business Center program currently operated by 
the Small Business Administration. This measure simplifies matching 
fund requirements and increases authorization levels for the program 
making it easier for communities to establish centers that will educate 
and encourage small business growth.
  Small businesses in this country exemplify the true meaning of what 
is called the ``American Dream''. This measure takes another step 
toward preserving that dream by encouraging more Americans to start 
their own business.
  Rollcall No. 52--H. Con. Res. 25.
  Vote--``Yes.''
  Mr. Speaker, I recently met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other 
Israeli leaders who are working in earnest to gain a peaceful solution 
along the West Bank. These efforts include negotiations about the 
formation of a permanent Palestinian State.
  Recent statements by PLO Leader Yassir Arafat, regarding his 
willingness to declare an independent Palestinian State along the West 
Bank, are threatening those fragile negotiations. Should Mr. Arafat 
follow through on his statement, he will be violating the Oslo accords 
and dragging the peace process towards hostility. I support this non-
binding resolution expressing the sense of Congress that decisions 
about the Palestinian controlled land along the West Bank must be made 
through the negotiation process. It also states that Congress opposes 
any attempts, outside of the negotiation process, to establish a 
Palestinian State. The agreements made through the peace process must 
be upheld by all parties involved.

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