Doug Bereuter

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in very strong support for H. Con. Res. 319, a resolution congratulating the Republic of Latvia on the 10th anniversary of the reestablishment of its independence from the former Soviet Union. This Member is pleased to be a cosponsor of this important statement of support. Mr. Speaker, the Baltic States of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia had been prosperous and progressive independent nations, a set of three nations, prior to the infamous Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, an agreement that heralded 5 decades of repression. The United States, of course, never recognized this unlawful act of international aggression. By 1990, the Soviet terror machine no longer held sway, and the long-standing courage and determination of the Latvian people was finally rewarded with freedom. Again, it was the United States that was among the first to recognize their independence when they broke free. No one could have predicted the rapid reintegration with the West. Free elections have now become the norm, and the Saeima acts as a fully-functioning parliament. Inflation has been reduced, and Latvia has made major strides in privatization. While the export market to Russia has collapsed, important new trading partnerships have been found in Poland, Germany and the West. Much remains to be done, but Latvians and Latvian-Americans can take justifiable pride at what has thus far been accomplished in Latvia. For our part, the United States continues to work for the Baltic nations to deepen and broaden our relationship. As but one example, NATO military officers, including Americans, continue to work with the Latvian military directly and through NATO's Partnership For Peace program. Latvia-Americans should also be proud of their contributions, with some retired military officers actually serving in key positions in the Latvian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense. As the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C. last year concluded, Latvia joined in the Enhanced and More Operational Partnership, EMOP, a program designed to speed the day when Latvia can become a full contributing member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The goal, which this Member strongly endorses, is to move beyond the expressions of support and facilitate the concrete steps that will result in Latvia's further integration into the West. In other areas of cooperation, Peace Corps volunteers now teach Latvian schools and help Latvian small businessmen and women with such basic tasks as accounting and marketing. This Member is particularly pleased that the United States has created a Baltic American Enterprise Fund designed to underwrite fledgling entrepreneurs from Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Finally, this Member would point out that the House of Representatives has been and is assisting the Latvian Saeima with such basic necessities as law books and computers, various kinds of library assistance. In 1995, this Member was part of a bipartisan House task force which approved and oversaw this assistance to this parliamentary body, as we did in the other two Baltic States, and visited Latvia for that and other foreign policy security purposes. It should be noted, additionally, that such assistance most assuredly is not a hand-out. Rather, we are offering a helping hand to a nation with historically close ties to the United States. We are helping Latvians build a future where their country can continue to progress in its rightful place as a full member of the European family of democratic nations. Mr. Speaker, this Member congratulates, in particular, the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for crafting a resolution that merits the support of all Members of this body. This Member urges support for H. Con. Res. 319. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on H. Con. Res. 319.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I had not intended to participate in this discussion, but as a member of the Cox Select Committee, I do have to say that we developed extraordinary evidence in a unanimous report from that committee, a bipartisan committee, that indeed there were grave security losses from and inappropriate security procedures at the Los Alamos Lab. I would also like to mention that there was no specific reference to Mr. Lee made in that report. An investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation was the way that, I believe, there was the first time his identity was ever mentioned in the media or anyplace else. The Cox Committee made no recommendations. I do think the people who suggest in some fashion that Congress has been identifying particular ethnic group as responsible for espionage or as security risks, is inappropriate and inaccurate.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve a point of order against the amendment.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of a point of order.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. This Member rises out of concern that because of reported executive action that is currently being contemplated by the President, the American taxpayer may soon be required to assume billions of dollars of liability for potential North Korean nuclear accidents. Under the Korean Energy Development Organization program, KEDO, the United States Government committed to the construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in North Korea with major financing from Japan and South Korea. These reactors are designed to diffuse the nuclear development program of the Democrat People's Republic of Korea, the DPRK, that it had operated and, presumably, used to divert weapons grade nuclear material. The new reactors are to be owned and operated by North Korea. Because North Korea is not known for its nuclear safety, some of the essential American construction firms have, quite understandably, refused to participate in the KEDO effort without insurance. Private insurance companies, sensing a lousy risk, want nothing to do with the KEDO program. As a result, the KEDO program could collapse under its own weight. In an effort to keep the KEDO program moving forward, some in the executive branch have proposed that the United States provide insurance guaranties for the KEDO program. Mr. Chairman, this is an enormous legal liability that is being contemplated by Executive Order. While the United States continues to participate in the construction of two light-water nuclear reactors in the DPRK is not the issue, we have been participating in the KEDO program since 1995; and funds are included in this bill to continue that support. The question is whether the United States will assume financial liability for the project if accidents occur. Mr. Chairman, make no mistake, this is potentially a staggering liability. It requires faith in the North Korea engineers, who may or may not have been trained and over whom we have little or no control. It requires faith that North Korea will devote the energy and resources to maintain those reactors. It requires that conflict does not break out on the Korean peninsula. And if North Korea's safety procedures prove inadequate and a Chernobyl-type disaster occurs, it could require tens of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars. If there is a nuclear accident, there is no quicker way to eliminate the current budgetary surplus that many Members of this body have worked so hard to achieve. Mr. Chairman, this Member would remind his colleagues that on May 18 of this year, in an amendment to the defense authorization bill, this body considered and voted overwhelmingly to limit the ability to provide such insurance guaranty. But the executive branch is ignoring or seeking to ignore that overwhelming vote. The amendment before this body today sends a very strong message that extending financial guaranties to rogue nations is a serious matter. If Members of this body are concerned about nuclear proliferation, if my colleagues are concerned about fiscal responsibility, or even if Members are suspicious that North Korea may not be absolutely and irrevocably committed to cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation with the West, they must vote for this amendment.

Mr. BEREUTER. I yield to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox), but I might just say to the gentleman from Connecticut that this has nothing to do with missiles.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for bringing up this subject. I think what has happened in the latter decade of the 20th century, with respect to our assistance programs, internationally and American, to the former Soviet Union, certainly including Russia and the Ukraine, has really been a tremendous blow. It has, I think, been counterproductive for causing them to move to a market-oriented economy. It has been counterproductive for democracy. In fact, it has contributed further to the corruption that has pervaded so many of the former Republics of the Soviet Union, including, unfortunately, Ukraine. We have, as the gentleman knows, and I am sure the gentlewoman is involved directly, so many positive contexts with the people of Ukraine, but to see so much of our resources diverted. Recently, it was suggested by a reputable source, an independent source in this country, that as much as $1 billion to $1.5 billion in assistance, international, including American, is diverted each month to private bank accounts, at least exported from that country at a time when those countries really need to have capital, their own and to attract foreign capital. We have this huge outflow through Cyprus and other points, and it is a robbery of the assets and the potential and the future for the Ukrainian people and for the Russian people and for some of the smaller republics of the former Soviet Union. I think we really have to be more insistent; we need to be more careful in having auditing of exactly where these international funds have gone. It seems to me in the past we have had too many decisions made on supporting various leaders of the former Soviet Union, certainly in the case of Yeltsin, when, in fact, we should have been building institutions from the bottom up, and working with those governors and local officials where, in fact, we have something approaching honest government and accounting for the resources presented to them by the international community. Mr. Chairman, the IMF resources have been misused. In fact, the leadership direction to the IMF has come unfortunately from this country and from this administration. So I regret greatly that we have lost this opportunity in so many of the taxpayers' funds and funds from the world's community have been diverted to improper means. The gentlewoman raises questions about those Caterpillar tractors. I have heard the same story how they ended up in garages of the local officials there in a very corrupt process. American companies many times are left holding the bills, as well as our taxpayers. So I appreciate the gentlewoman bringing this up. We need to have reform. We need to be more insistent to make sure that the funds we do provide are properly spent and accounted for; and I thank the gentleman from New York for yielding me the time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. BEREUTER. Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I would say that, indeed, the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox) has been extremely active. He does have an amendment filed, and I will give him the opportunity to close in a minute. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises today to express his support for H.R. 4810, the Marriage Penalty Tax Elimination Reconciliation Act. This bill will have a positive effect, in particular, on middle and lower income married couples. At the outset, this Member would like to thank the distinguished Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee from Texas [Mr. Archer], for introducing this legislation. It is important to note that H.R. 4810 has the same provisions as H.R. 6, which passed on the floor of the House on February 10, 2000, by a vote of 268-158, with this Member's support. However, the Senate has been unable to reach the 60 vote threshold on a cloture vote to close debate on marriage penalty legislation. As a result, the House is now considering the marriage tax penalty as the first reconciliation bill, a status which will allow debate and amendments to be limited in the Senate. While there are many reasons to support H.R. 4810, this Member will enumerate two specific reasons. First, H.R. 4810 takes a significant step toward eliminating the current marriage penalty in the Internal Revenue Code. Second, H.R. 4810 follows the principle that the Federal income tax code should be marriage-neutral. 1. First, this legislation, H.R. 4810, will help eliminate the marriage penalty in the Internal Revenue Code in the following significant ways: standard deduction It will increase the standard deduction for married couples who file jointly to double the standard deduction for singles beginning in 2001. For example, in 2000, the standard deduction equals $4,400 for single taxpayers but $7,350 for married couples who file jointly. If this legislation was effective in 2000, the standard deduction for married couples who file jointly would be $8,800 which would be double the standard deduction for single taxpayers. the 15 percent tax bracket It will increase the amount of married couples' income (who file jointly) subject to the lowest 15 percent marginal tax rate to twice that of single taxpayers beginning in 2003, phased in over six years. Under the current tax law, the 15 percent bracket covers taxpayers with income up to $26,250 for singles and $43,850 for married couples who file jointly. If this legislation was effective in 2000, married couples would pay the 15 percent tax rate on their first $52,500 of taxable income, which would be double the aforementioned current income amount for singles. 2. Second, H.R. 4810 will help the Internal Revenue Code become more marriage-neutral. Currently, many married couples who file jointly pay more Federal income tax than they would as two unmarried singles. The Internal Revenue Code should not be a consideration when individuals discuss their future marital status. Therefore, for these reasons, and many others, this Member urges his colleagues to support the Marriage Penalty Tax Elimination Reconciliation Act.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to compliment the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), who just spoke, for focusing on the policy implications and the direction that we should take in our relationship with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Certainly all of us want to work closely with our distinguished former colleague, Ambassador Pete Peterson, and we have been doing that on a variety of programs and votes in this effort here. We would hope that our policies and actions regarding the government of Vietnam might bring some better results. We have at the current time trade negotiations ongoing in this city, and we hope that, in fact, the kind of response from the Vietnamese will be forthcoming and will result in a better human rights record in Vietnam and an opportunity, therefore, to improve our relationship with that country. I thank my colleague for his outstanding statement, I thank the gentleman from American Samoa for his role, and I particularly wish to thank my staff director from the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Mike Ennis, for his outstanding work in this effort, in working with the staff of the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis). Madam Speaker, I urge support of the resolution.

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of H. Con. Res. 322, a resolution that recognizes the sacrifices made by Vietnamese Americans who served in the armed forces of the former Republic of Vietnam. This Member congratulates the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) to recognize the Vietnamese who fought bravely side by side with U.S. forces in Vietnam and to applaud all those whose efforts focus international attention on human rights violations in Vietnam. This Member is pleased to be a cosponsor of the legislation. Each year on June 19, the Vietnamese-American community traditionally commemorates those who gave their lives in the struggle to preserve the freedom of the former Republic of Vietnam. During the war, the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam suffered enormous casualties including over 250,000 killed and more than 750,000 wounded. They continued to suffer after the fighting ended when many were imprisoned and forced to undergo so-called reeducation. They continue their efforts even now playing an important role in raising international awareness of human rights violations in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Moreover, Vietnamese Americans, many of whom arrived as refugees with little but the clothes on their backs, have made tremendous achievements and have contributed greatly to this country. Earlier this year, this body approved H. Con. Res. 295 on Human Rights and Political Oppression in Vietnam. There was inevitably some duplication in the two initiatives. Therefore this Member, with the concurrence of the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis), the sponsor of the resolution, amended H. Con. Res. 322 only to eliminate duplication. The resolution now focuses on commemorating the service and sacrifices of the former members of the armed forces of the Republic of Vietnam. This Member urges all his colleagues to support this laudable resolution. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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, and include extraneous material.)

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 322) expressing the sense of the Congress regarding Vietnamese Americans and others who seek to improve social and political conditions in Vietnam, as amended.

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for his insightful statement. As a Vietnam-era veteran, I certainly appreciate the wisdom of what he has just said regarding appropriate foreign and security policy. I would also like to compliment the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray) for his insightful statement, very much focused on the many contributions that Vietnamese, who happen now to be American citizens, are making to this country and to all of those who are striving for citizenship. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), vice chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific. Madam Speaker, I have on two occasions seen the rapport and the attention that the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) gives to Asians who are living in his district, immigrants, refugees, and to those many who have become citizens actively participating in the economy and the politics of California.

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. Con. Res. 322.

Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Bilbray), who has followed Vietnamese-American relations very carefully and has a direct knowledge of the contributions of the Vietnamese- American community to this country in his part of the Nation.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, this Member rises in support of H.R. 4461, the Agriculture Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001. This Member would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen), the Chairman of the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee, and the distinguished gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur), the ranking member of the Subcommittee for their hard work in bringing this bill to the Floor. Mr. Chairman, this Member certainly recognizes the severe budget constraints under which the full Appropriations Committee and the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee operated. In light of these constraints, this Member is grateful and pleased that this legislation includes funding for several important projects of interest to the State of Nebraska. First, this Member is pleased that H.R. 4461 provides $500,000 for the Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance (MAFMA). The Alliance is an association of twelve leading research universities and corporate partners. Its purpose is to develop and facilitate the transfer of new food manufacturing and processing technologies. The MAFMA awards grants for research projects on a peer review basis. These awards must be supported by an industry partner willing to provide matching funds. In the first six years of funding, MAFMA has directed $2,142,317 toward a research competition at the 12 universities. Projects must receive matching funds. Over the first six years, matching funds of $2,666,129 plus in-kind contributions of $625,407 were received for MAFMA funded projects from 105 companies or organizations. These figures convincingly demonstrate how successful the Alliance has been in leveraging support from the food manufacturing and processing industries. Mr. Chairman, the future viability and competitiveness of the U.S. agricultural industry depends on its ability to adapt to increasing world-wide demands for U.S. exports of intermediate and consumer good exports. In order to meet these changing world-wide demands, agricultural research must also adapt to provide more emphasis on adding value to our basic farm commodities. The Midwest Advanced Food Manufacturing Alliance can provide the necessary cooperative link between universities and industries for the development of competitive food manufacturing and processing technologies. This will, in turn, ensure that the United States agricultural industry remains competitive in a increasingly competitive global economy. This Member is also pleased that this bill includes $200,00 to fund the National Drought Mitigation Center (NDMC) at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This project is in its fourth year and has assisted numerous states and cities in developing drought plans and developing drought response teams. Given the nearly unprecedented levels of drought in several parts of our country, this effort is obviously important. On March 13, 2000, the Federal Government issued its first-ever spring drought forecast. It anticipates drought across the southern U.S. and in the central part of the nation. These drought conditions clearly pose a threat to individuals, agriculture and industry throughout the nation. As the drought continues, the NDMC will play an increasingly important role in helping people and institutions develop and implement measures to reduce societal vulnerability to this danger. Most of the NDMC's services are directed to state, Federal, regional and tribal governments that are involved in drought and water supply planning. Another important project funded by this bill is the Alliance for Food Protection, a joint project between the University of Nebraska and the University of Georgia. The mission of this Alliance is to assist the development and modification of food processing and preservation technologies. This technology will help ensure that Americans continue to receive the safest and highest quality food possible. This Member is also pleased that the legislation has agreed to fund the following ongoing Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) projects at the University of Nebraska- Lincoln: Food Processing Center..........................................$42,000 Non-food agricultural products...................................64,000 Sustainable agricultural systems.................................59,000 Rural Policy Research Institute (RUPRI) (a joint effort with Iowa State University and the University of Missouri)............1,000,000 Also, this Member is pleased that H.R. 4461 includes $100 million for the Section 538, the rural rental multi-family housing loan guarantee program. The program provides a Federal guarantee on loans made to eligible persons by private lenders. Developers will bring ten percent of the cost of the project to the table, and private lenders will make loans for the balance. The lenders will be given a 100% Federal guarantee on the loans they make. Unlike the current Section 515 direct loan Program, where the full costs are borne by the Federal Government, the only costs to the Federal Government under the 538 Guarantee Program will be for administrative costs and potential defaults. Mr. Chairman, this Member appreciates the Subcommittee's support for the Department of Agriculture's 502 Unsubsidized Loan Guarantee Program. The program has been very effective in rural communities by guaranteeing loans made by approved lenders to eligible income households in small communities of up to 20,000 residents in non-metropolitan areas and in rural areas. The program provides guarantees for 30 year fixed-rate mortgages for the purchase of an existing home or the construction of a new home. Mr. Chairman, in conclusion, this Member supports H.R. 4461 and urges my colleagues to approve it.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, this Member would like to commend the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Packard), the chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member of the subcommittee for their exceptional work in bringing this bill to the Floor. This Member recognizes that extremely tight budgetary constraints made the job of the subcommittee much more difficult this year. Therefore, the subcommittee is to be commended for its diligence in creating such a fiscally responsible bill. In light of these budgetary pressures, this Member would like to express his appreciation to the subcommittee and formally recognize that the Energy and Water Development appropriations bill for fiscal year 2001 includes funding for several water projects that are of great importance to Nebraska. This Member greatly appreciates the $12 million funding level provided for the four-state Missouri River Mitigation Project. The funding is needed to restore fish and wildlife habitat lost due to the federally sponsored channelization and stabilization projects of the Pick-Sloan era. The islands, wetlands, and flat floodplains needed to support the wildlife and waterfowl that once lived along the river are gone. An estimated 475,000 acres of habitat in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas have been lost. Today's fishery resources are estimated to be only one-fifth of those which existed in predevelopment days. In 1986, the Congress authorized over $50 million to fund the Missouri River Mitigation Project to restore fish and wildlife habitat lost due to the construction of structures to implement the Pick-Sloan plan. In addition, this bill provides additional funding for flood-related projects of tremendous importance to residents of Nebraska's 1st Congressional District. Mr. Chairman, flooding in 1993 temporarily closed Interstate 80 and seriously threatened the Lincoln municipal water system which is located along the Platte River near Ashland, NE. Therefore, this Member is extremely pleased the committee agreed to continue funding for the Lower Platte River and Tributaries Flood Control Study. This study should help formulate and develop feasible solutions which will alleviate future flood problems along the Lower Platte River and tributaries. This Member is also particularly pleased that this bill includes $220,000 for the planning, engineering and design phase of the Sand Creek Watershed project in Saunders County, NE. Mr. Chairman, additionally, the bill provides $275,000 for the ongoing flood control project for Antelope Creek which runs through the heart of Nebraska's capital city, Lincoln. The funding is to be used for preconstruction engineering and design work. The purpose of the project is to implement solutions to multi-faceted problems involving the flood control and drainage problems in Antelope Creek as well as existing transportation and safety problems all within the context of broad land use issues. This Member continues to have a strong interest in the project since he was responsible for stimulating the city of Lincoln, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to work jointly and cooperatively with the Army Corps of Engineers to identify an effective flood control system for downtown Lincoln. Antelope Creek, which was originally a small meandering stream, became a straightened urban drainage channel as the city of Lincoln grew and urbanized. Resulting erosion has deepened and widened the channel and created an unstable situation. A ten-foot by twenty-foot (height and width) closed underground conduit that was constructed between 1911 and 1916 now requires significant maintenance and major rehabilitation. The current situation represents a dangerous flood threat to adjacent public and private facilities. The goals of the project are to construct a flood overflow conveyance channel which would narrow the flood plain from up to seven blocks wide to the 150-foot wide channel. The project will include trails and bridges and improve bikeway and pedestrian systems. Finally, this Member is also pleased that the bill provides funding for the Missouri National Recreational River Project. This project addresses a serious problem by protecting the river banks from the extraordinary and excessive erosion rates caused by the sporadic and varying releases from the Gavins Point Dam. These erosion rates are a result of previous work on the river by the Federal Government. Again Mr. Chairman, this Member commends the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Packard), the chairman of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee, and the distinguished gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), the ranking member of the subcommittee for their support of projects which are important to Nebraska and the 1st Congressional District, as well as to the people living in the Missouri River Basin. To Chairman Packard, who is retiring from Congress at the end of this term, this Member wants you to know what your courteous and conscientious contact with this Member and all of our colleagues is very widely recognized. You and your contributions to the public interest through your service in the House will be greatly missed.