Indeed, in 1994, when President Clinton delinked human rights from most favored nation status for China, an annual resolution at Geneva was the centerpiece of what he promised to do in the event that the egregious human rights violations continued. As of today, the Administration has not yet decided-perhaps they can inform us otherwise but to the best of our knowledge, they have not decided yet to offer a resolution, even though the Human Rights Commission session begins on March 22. The PRC can be expected to wage a vigorous campaign, using foreign aid, trade concessions, and, yes, economic sanctions to buy its way out of the consequences of its bad conduct. Mr. Chairman, the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights has reported the Gilman-Gephardt Resolution favorably to the Full Committee with an amendment. The amendment was suggested by Representative Sanders. It simply includes an explicit reference to the case of Ngwang Choephel, a resident of Vermont who is a Fulbright Scholar, but was unjustly arrested in Tibet and sentenced to 18 years in prison on trumped-up charges. I understand the amendment is included in the base text for our consideration. I hope this resolution gets the full support of the Committee, and I thank the Chairman for yielding. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BEREUTER. Are there any other Members who would like to be recognized on the resolution? Seeing none, then I call upon the gentleman from New Jersey to make Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chairman Mr. BEREUTER. Would the gentleman withhold? I'm sorry. The question is on the amendment in nature of a substitute. All those in favor of the amendment in the nature of a substitute say aye. All those opposed say no. The ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to. Now the gentleman from New Jersey is recognized for the purpose of a motion. Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Chairman be requested to seek consideration of the pending resolution as amended on the suspension calendar. Mr. BEREUTER. The question is on the motion from the gentleman from New Jersey. All those in favor will say aye. All those opposed will say no. The ayes have it, and the motion is agreed to. Further proceedings on this measure are postponed. The last matter on the agenda of the Committee today is consideration of the Committee's views and estimates on the President's budget for Fiscal Year 2000. The next order of business is the consideration of the Committee's views and estimates on the budget, which were unveiled a little over a month ago. I would propose that we follow the same procedure that we have for some years. Mr. Gilman is suggesting this. A draft letter is before the Members. It indicates support for a very modest reduction in the President's budget request-$100 million-or about one half of 1 percent of that part of the President's budget that is under our jurisdiction. It would still permit growth of about 4 percent in these accounts. In the Chairman's view, we would certainly fund all priority programs. This proposal is based on our estimate that specific cuts or combination of cuts and add-ons could be found to arrive at these budget levels overall. We are not detailing them because it is far too early in Congress' consideration of the budget to do so authoritatively. Mr. Gejdenson, also following the recent practice of the Committee, will be sending his own letter along with Chairman Gilman's. The Chairman is going to add a sentence that he will work with the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. Smith, thus alerting the Chairman of the Budget Committee that there will be additional views coming from our Members and that the Chairman will wait until Monday to file the views of the Committee. That will allow other views to arrive simultaneously. Are any Members wishing to be recognized? Any Democratic Member on behalf of Mr. Gejdenson, for example? I recognize Mr. Payne from New Jersey, even if it's on his own recognition. Mr. PAYNE. Right. It's my own recognition, not Mr. Gejdenson. I really never know what's on his mind. [Laughter.] Let me just say that I certainly support the appropriations although I do feel that at a time when there are more and more problems in the world, I could not see how we could justify even a very small cut. It would appear to me that there were tremendous reductions several years ago, after the 1994 team took over, and I think that we have really reduced our operations overseas to the point where we can question the effectiveness of some of the operations because of the severe cuts. And I will certainly be talking to appropriators and Mr. Gejdenson about the very low level of support in Africa. The amounts are still below $700 million. We have over 800 million people. Comes to less than a dollar a person. As we continue to see other areas grow, we still see the reduction and coming nowhere near what I think the assistance levels should be in sub-Saharan Africa. So I actually feel that there should be a request for additional funds in the development fund for Africa. Seven or 8 years ago we had an authorization for $1.2 billion. It was only appropriated for $800 million. But for us, 6 or 7 years later, to have a reduced amount to be requested, I think that it's a move in the wrong direction. The ADF is needed. We still haven't seen that appropriated. So I'm going to attempt to influence this side of the aisle to see if we can look toward increases as relates to the least among the nations, those in sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. BEREUTER. Are there other Members who wish to be heard on the budget estimate? I would just say to the gentleman from New Jersey that I am among the original co-sponsors of the African Development Fund with the initiative of Mr. Wolf, and I believe that the development aid part is up $200 million. I certainly am supportive of adequate funding in the Administration's request on the African Development Fund. Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Chairman, if you would yield for a moment? Mr. PAYNE. I do think too that we ought to seriously consider our position with U.N. dues. As you know, we are still over $1 billion in arrears. We certainly as a nation go after deadbeat dads who don't pay their child support around the country. And I think for us to be a deadbeat nation, refusing to pay our fair share, particularly when it is for peacekeeping, countries who have put forth peacekeepers, who have not been reimbursed. As a matter of fact, practically all of the areas are for peacekeeping. So I just think that it is still a shame and a pity that we have decided to hold the U.N. hostage. We say the same thing year in and year out. It's the same old script. Nothing has been done. There have been no improvements, no restructuring. They have reduced that by 10 to 15 percent. There have restructuring. But just the other day I heard once again the same old broken record about nothing has been done. And so I would hope that we could, in clear conscience, step up to the plate like a first-class nation ought to and try to pay our dues. I think that it is long overdue. Enough is enough. We should be ashamed of ourselves. And hopefully this year we can take a serious look at it. Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Payne. Are there any other comments anyone wishes to make? If not, I would now like to ask unanimous consent to send our letter on the Committee's position over to the Administration and to have Mr. Gejdenson send his letter as a dissenting or additional view. Is there any objection? If not, without objection, so ordered. The Committee stands adjourned. [Whereupon, at 11:40 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 58-781 99-2 APPENDIX Remarks of Benjamin A. Gilman H.RES. 32 March 4, 1999 I want to commend the gentleman from Nebraska, the distinguished Chairman of our Asia-Pacific Subcommittee, Mr. Bereuter, for introducing this timely resolution calling for free, fair, and transparent elections in Indonesia. Mr. Bereuter, I would ask that you add my name as a co sponsor to H.RES. 32. H.RES. 32 rightfully calls for free and fair elections in Indonesia this June and supports the aspirations of the Indonesian people for democratic elections. Indonesia is a country in transition and I think it is incumbent upon the United States - as a world leading democracy - to provide the necessary assistance to the Indonesian government and hopeful people of Indonesia to bring about credible elections. This will be no small task. |