lying amendment. Congressman Vento is a cosponsor of our resolution as well from which this amendment comes.

So again this is not an effort-and I do respect the sentiments of my friend and colleague Congressman Bereuter-this is not an effort to condemn an Ambassador trying to reform a function. Instead, this is trying to point out the simple reality that the State Department has not cooperated, not come forward in this, and our constituents are still hanging out there with very little to show for all of their efforts.

Chairman GILMAN. Thank you.

Mr. Gejdenson.

Mr. GEJDENSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me just suggest two things, and I think our friend Mr. Radanovich said it when he was talking about the FBI statement; he said it wasn't substantiated, the reference to these two individuals from the United States as being drug dealers. I think that is the issue: What can we substantiate?

What I would recommend is if we really want to move forward, and I am happy to play a more active role, frankly, than I have today, because a lot of things are before us-I would recommend that we move with Mr. Bereuter's underlying resolution-I guess it is Mr. Vento's resolution to begin with, and move that.

If Mr. Bereuter has some more language that frankly would meet you some of the way, we ought to take that. Then I will personally try to get more information to see if there is substantiation of the charges.

The reason I say that is, in some ways it is very easy for us in Congress to vote almost anything out, but the information that I have at this stage doesn't give me, even for a government that I think does very terrible things and clearly is not democratic-no debate on that clearly I think we all agree on that, but we don't want to rush forward with a conclusion that we can't substantiate. If we find after a briefing for Committee Members, the kind of evidence that I think the two of you believe they have, we will work with you to try to take a step forward. I think you will be better off in that process. But obviously you have your prerogatives, and I wouldn't ask you not to do it just on that basis, but I think we will be more effective if we start with the underlying Vento Resolution, with Mr. Bereuter's pushing forward, maybe adopt some of the language that he has offered, trying to reach as far as he feels he is comfortable doing today.

Then I will go and I am sure Mr. Bereuter joins me will go, will see if you can convince us, we will be your strongest advocates here.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman.

Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Bereuter.

Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I would like to try a unanimous consent request.

Chairman GILMAN. Without objection.

Mr. BEREUTER. I believe these two gentlemen and others who have offered this resolution, which in part is being offered here as a substitute, are doing their very best to try to serve their constituents, and appropriately so.

I want to suggest the following. It is a little complicated, but I think if I am careful in giving directions you can understand what I am going to suggest, that we add as part of unanimous consent under a separate section within the underlying Vento Bill.

If you turn to page 3, the last whereas clause, I will pick up that entire clause: "Whereas the Congress will not tolerate any unjustified arrest, abduction, imprisonment, disappearance, or other act of aggression against United States citizens by a foreign government: Now, therefore be it"-and then we would move down to lines 1 through 4 in the first of the clauses, "That the House of Representatives decries the

Chairman GILMAN. Would the gentleman yield? What section are you referring to now, and what page?

Mr. BEREUTER. Page 3, moving down to the first clause found on lines 1 through 4.

Chairman GILMAN. Are we now referring to the Vento Bill?

Mr. BEREUTER. We are now referring to the amendment which is under consideration, the substitute offered by Mr. Radanovich. Chairman GILMAN. The Radanovich Amendment?

Mr. BEREUTER. Yes, sir. Instead of "abduction," it would say "decries the disappearance of Houa Ly and Michael Vang. recognizing it as an incident worthy of congressional attention."

Move to the next page, page 4 of the Radanovich substitute, pick up what was number 4 there, now labeled number 3, on lines 6 through 9 saying, “urges the Lao Government to return Messrs. Ly and Vang, or their remains, to the United States authorities and their families in America at once," if it is determined that they have or are responsible—and pick up then the next subsection, "warns the Lao Government of the serious consequences, including sanctions, of any unjustified arrest, abduction, imprisonment, disappearance or other act of aggression against United States citi

zens."

Finally, to have a new subsection which says: "Urges the State Department and other U.S. agencies to share the maximum amount of information with interested parties concerning the disappearance of," and we can name these two gentlemen.

I would ask unanimous consent that we accept that as a separate new subsection within the Vento Resolution before us.

Mr. RADANOVICH. I have a question.

Chairman GILMAN. Is there objection?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Not an objection-just a question, if I may, to clarify.

Chairman GILMAN. Are you reserving the right to object?
Mr. RADANOVICH. Yes.

Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Radanovich.

Mr. RADANOVICH. OK. Mr. Bereuter, going back to page 3 at the top, there was mention regarding Ambassador Chamberlain's statement-and the whereas below that, the Ly and Vang families not being able to learn much in the U.S. Government regarding that. In your unanimous consent, were those included or not?

Mr. BEREUTER. I didn't, but I am willing to. That was an oversight on my part. We could accept that.

Mr. RADANOVICH. OK.

Mr. BEREUTER. You are talking about the "Whereas the families of Messrs. Ly and Vang"?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Yes.

Mr. BEREUTER. I am certainly willing to add that to the unanimous consent.

Mr. RADANOVICH. And the one above that regarding the Ambassador?

Mr. BEREUTER. I think that is again criticizing our government inappropriately, and it is not germane.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Being sympathetic to the issues brought about by the Ambassador, I would be willing to strike that portion, then. I agree with you.

Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you.

Chairman GILMAN. Reserving the right to object. Is there any of the page 2 material being included in Mr. Bereuter's proposal? Mr. BEREUTER. No.

Chairman GILMAN. There is no reference to these people prior to your new paragraphs. I suggest you may want to include the provisions on page 2.

Mr. BEREUTER. I take your point. So the fifth whereas clause, "Whereas two U.S. citizens," then they name them and their location, "were traveling along the border between Laos and Thailand on April 19, 1999," and we go, of course, that the families of these people have learned very little from the U.S. Government concerning the whereabouts and the circumstances of their loved ones, which is Mr. Radanovich's proposal.

So I would add, if the Chairman wishes, the fifth whereas clause on page 2.

Chairman GILMAN. And nothing else on page 2, Mr. Bereuter? Mr. BEREUTER. I don't think it is necessary.

Chairman GILMAN. Is there any objection to Mr. Bereuter's proposal?

Mr. RADANOVICH. Reserving the right to object. May I ask a question of Mr. Green?

Chairman GILMAN. The gentleman reserves the right to object. The gentleman is recognized.

Mr. RADANOVICH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Mr. Green, you were privy to the classified information. This speaks to the section regarding-it warns that our government, if they were involved-and, the operative word I think is "if" in the unanimous consent request-you have been privy, Mr. Green, to all of the classified information regarding this incident.

What is your opinion of that?

Mr. GREEN. Well, let me just say this. I would remind—a number of the Committee Members are not aware of the long history involved here regarding the disappearance of these two individuals. There are actually four individuals that traveled together; two who disappeared, and their two friends who had, for lots of quirky reasons, gotten off at the time.

The information provided by the two citizens who came back, which I would consider to be the most reliable information that we have I am not privy to all the information-certainly suggested that there was Laos Government complicity.

That is-we didn't just leap to a wild conclusion. This is what has been suggested publicly by these individuals, and I am not aware of it having been refuted. That is where the information comes from.

If I can just, very quickly, in terms of all the language that Congressman Bereuter has suggested, if I may suggest, to put some kind of timeframe in here would help, too. I think it is important that this resolution be aimed at least a little bit at our own government, since the biggest problem that these families seem to be having is that our government isn't giving them information.

So I think it is appropriate to at least reference the fact that it is our government which has declassified information which they are not sharing. Not classified, declassified information, sir. If I can make that suggestion-I think of urging them to do it as quickly as practical, or as soon as possible, whatever that may be. I think that would at least offer a little bit of solace to these people.

Chairman GILMAN. Would you set forth your proposal then, Mr. Green?

Mr. GREEN. I don't know if that is appropriate.

Chairman GILMAN. Mr. Radanovich.

Mr. RADANOVICH. No objection. We will keep the language as is suggested in the unanimous consent.

Chairman GILMAN. All right. Then Mr. Bereuter's proposal is now before the Committee.

Are there any objections to Mr. Bereuter's proposal? Mr. Radanovich has made a suggestion, and Mr. Bereuter accepts that change; is that correct, Mr. Bereuter?

Mr. BEREUTER. Yes, I did; that one paragraph that the gentleman proposed to add back, I certainly did accept.

Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, the amendment is agreed to. Are there any further amendments?

If there are no further amendments, the question is now on the Subcommittee recommendation as amended.

As many are in favor, signify by saying aye.

As many are opposed, say no.

The ayes have it, and the Subcommittee recommendation is agreed to.

The gentlemen from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, is recognized to offer a motion.

Mr. BEREUTER. I thank my colleagues. I move that the Chairman be requested to seek consideration of the pending resolution on the suspension calendar.

Chairman GILMAN. The question as amended.

The question is on the motion of the gentleman from Nebraska.
As many in favor of the motion, signify by saying aye.
Opposed.

The ayes have it and the motion is agreed to.

Further proceedings on this measure are postponed.
The Committee is adjourned. Thank you, gentleman.
[Whereupon, at 7 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]