Doug Bereuter

Mr. BEREUTER

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

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3759. This legislation does not only deal with OPIC; it reauthorizes some of the most important export promotion programs including OPIC, the Trade and Development Agency, and the International Trade Administration. I have heard some of my colleagues from Illinois, from Ohio, from California speak about this legislation. I would say I have always admired my colleague from Ohio. He is articulate. He is tenacious. He is also tenacious in holding onto a myth. Somebody has convinced him there is corporate welfare here. If you whisper, you shout that word, people get frightened. And, like mindless buffaloes, they stampede off the cliff or, like lemmings, they march into the sea. We have to look out for what is in the best interests of the United States and our workers and our exporters. We have heard mention that OPIC might default. We have heard the old bugaboo raised about the savings and loan institutions. There is not a risk-free environment in the world. But OPIC has been operating for 25 years. What kind of a record do you want? There has been no default. In fact, if you take a look at the conference report, I can tell you with verifiable numbers the following: During the 25 years of its operation, OPIC estimates it has created $43 billion in exports to 140 countries. In direct jobs it has created at least 200,000 U.S. jobs, and they are good-paying jobs. And significantly, it is self-financing. There is no operation fund coming out of the U.S. Treasury. Through its own operations, it has funded them and it has built up in the process $2.5 billion in reserves to cover contingent liability, including deposits at the U.S. Treasury which of course we borrow because we are deficit financing government. With a net income last year of $189 million, OPIC is able to cover, as it has always been, all of its own expenses and set reserves aside for insurance and financial risk through its own earnings. For the U.S. economy to remain strong and vibrant in the 21st century, the U.S. Government must maintain and fund a comprehensive national export strategy. Exports currently account for nearly one- third of our Nation's reach growth. Yet stiff competition from export- driven economies in East Asia and the export-hungry countries of Europe constantly threaten the high-paying American jobs that are generated by these exports. My colleague from Ohio mentioned the distinguished economist Milton Friedman. He is distinguished, but he is certainly not in the middle of the mainstream in the economists of the world or even the United States. He lives not apparently in a real world. If we had a real world, we would not need OPIC, but we do not operate in a world in which other governments do not provide assistance to their exporters. They do. And more generously almost always than we do. If you want to retreat to an ivory tower. You can make a statement like the one quoted, but it is not realistic, ladies and gentlemen. As the chairman of the Asia and the Pacific Subcommittee, this member witnessed firsthand how foreign governments take high-paying export jobs away from American workers. If this was bad for American workers, the first people here complaining about it would be organized labor and they are not here. They are supportive of this program. Unclassified U.S. intelligence reports reveal that federal governments have stolen approximately $25 billion in recent years in potential U.S. contracts overseas by their generous assistance programs. How do these foreign governments take our jobs? Most importantly, they do not call export promotion corporate welfare. Political leaders in Germany, France, Japan, Canada, and all the industrialized countries of the world do not hesitate to give their exporters the tools necessary to win bids for lucrative infrastructure contracts in the world's developing countries. No, they are out there working and financing it. Today in my office, this very day, I was visiting with a senior official from Japan's Export-Import Bank, the largest by far in the world. One can be sure that if this body fails to pass this legislation, he will be back in Tokyo and declare that 6 percent of the world's population, that is everybody that lives outside the United States, as Japan's markets, only to be shared with Europeans and the new tigers of Asia. And, he can report that America's political leaders have decided not to challenge Japan's aggressive pro-export government policies. In a perfect world, government should not be required to assist their exporters, investors or their workers. But we do not have that situation. The lucrative rewards in jobs of gaining contracts in the developing world are simply too great for those countries to resist. That is why Japan supports over 36 percent of its total exports with some form of export credit. That's right, Japan supports over 36 percent of its total exports with some form of export credit. Compare that to the United States paltry figure of 2 percent of total exports. Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Congress will severely disadvantage U.S. exporters and investors if we choose to unilaterally disarm. In the highly competitive race for global markets, OPIC and TDA are to American jobs what missiles and tanks are to our national security. Therefore, this Member urges his colleagues to support H.R. 3759, the Exports, Jobs, and Growth Act of 1996.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises to express his strong support for the conference report providing an increased minimum wage. This Member supported the bill when it was originally considered by the House and believes the time is right to increase the wage of working Americans. This Member is also pleased to see that the conferees included many important reforms which are designed to offset any potential costs associated with the increased cost in wages. The minimum wage was last increased on April 1, 1991, from $3.80 to $4.25 per hour. Inflation has increased 15.90 percent since April 1, 1991. At that rate, to have the same purchasing power as the minimum wage did when it was last increased, the minimum wage level today would have to be set at $4.93 per hour. With the buying power of the minimum wage at a 40-year low, this Member has advocated a modest 45-cent-per- hour increase, which would have appropriately returned the minimum wage close to its strength following the latest increase in 1991. Although the measure goes beyond his preferred position, this Member simply could not in good conscience vote against raising the minimum wage up to the level it should be after the effect of inflation. The September 1, 1997, figure of $5.15 per hour will only be 22 cents more than it should be to adjust to the inflation level of July 1, 1996, so the prospective increases put in place are not out of line. This Member is very pleased that a $5,000 tax credit for adoptions is included in this conference report. As you know, the House passed this provision several times in the past 2 years; however, each time the overall bill was vetoed by the President. It is time that this family- friendly tax credit becomes law. Additionally, this Member is extraordinarily pleased to see that conferees agreed to include the so-called Homemakers IRA. This Member joined 34 of his colleagues in sending a letter to the conferees requesting that they include the provision in the conference report. This Member would like to thank the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Archer], for his prompt response to the letter and thank the conferees for including this provision. The Homemakers IRA will allow America's middle-class families to prepare for their future by raising the tax- deductible amount nonworking spouses may contribute to individual retirement accounts. For a family which contributes the new maximum of $2,000 for a nonworking spouse, assuming they begin when they are 30 years old and retire at 65, they would have contributed an additional $63,000 to their retirement. This figure is strictly their contributions and does not take into account earnings on their savings. Mr. Speaker, this Member believes the conference report should be approved and urges his colleagues to vote aye.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, this Member is pleased to express his support for H.R. 123, legislation to declare English as the official language of the United States. This Member not only is a cosponsor of H.R. 123, but also this Member has a long track record of cosponsoring comparable legislation since 1985. Non-English speakers in a society where English is the predominant language are almost certainly doomed to be at an economic disadvantage in this Nation. One only has to look to the continued, divisive problems in Canada, Belgium, or other bilingual nations to realize that the United States would be well advised to avoid such a situation. Despite the lack of political courage among a few Representatives and Senators who represent border States, it is high time that Congress act on this matter. This bill eliminates the existing Federal mandate for bilingual ballots; however, it does not make bilingual ballots illegal. Therefore, a State may continue to provide election ballots in more than one language, but only if the State so chooses. Additionally, H.R. 123 requires that all citizenship naturalization ceremonies be conducted entirely in English. The legislation does not prohibit Members of Congress, Federal Employees, and Federal officials from communicating orally with others in a foreign language. Sensible exemptions are allowed under this bill for teaching of languages, national security issues, international relations, trade and commerce, public health and safety, rights of victims of crimes or criminal defendants, and for census purposes. Mr. Chairman, this Member strongly urges his colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 123.

Mr. BEREUTER

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 the legislation just considered.

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

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this legislation was introduced by this Member. It is hard to believe that in 1996, chattel slavery continues to exist in Mauritania. This gross injustice infringes on the most fundamental of human rights of perhaps thousands of that country's underclass. Members of that group are considered property of masters and expected to perform unpaid labor. This body should applaud the independent investigators, such as American journalist Sam Cotton, who have labored hard to break the conspiracy of silence surrounding this shameful practice. It would be bad enough if slavery were the only abuse perpetrated against a certain class of Mauritania's people. Unfortunately, it is only one element of that country's tragic human rights situation. The government has yet to investigate or punish those responsible for the massacre in 1990 and 1991 of over 500 military and civilian Mauritanians, almost entirely from one ethnic group. Mauritania's refugee population continues to suffer. Only a small number of the 70,000 Mauritanians who were expelled or fled the country from 1989 to 1990 have been resettled. Most of this group continues to eke out a bleak existence in squalid refugee camps on Senegal's border, stripped of their citizenship and their property in their homeland. Finally, although Mauritania's citizens are constitutionally guaranteed the right to elect their government, the multiparty elections held in 1992 that ended 14 years of military rule were considered fraudulent by the U.S. State Department and other international observers. Mr. Speaker, it is the hope of this Member that House Concurrent Resolution 142 will help convince the government of Mauritania to once and for all abolish slavery and vigorously prosecute violators of existing antislavery laws. It is time that all classes of Mauritanians finally be integrated into the full social and economic mainstream of their country, a basic right to which they are fully entitled. This Member further hopes that the attention generated by this resolution will induce Mauritania to schedule free elections and rectify other injustices. Mr. Speaker, this Member would now like to express his deep appreciation to the gentleman from New York, [Mr. Gilman], chairman of the Committee on International Relations, whose efforts were instrumental in moving House Concurrent Resolution 142 to the floor. In addition, this Member would recognize the extraordinary efforts of the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen], the chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, who has been a leader in bringing this issue to the attention of the world. The gentlewoman has held the important hearings on the matter and has done much to expose the continuing practice of slavery. Lastly, this gentleman would recognize the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] who has worked in a bipartisan manner to help craft a common expression of concern and outrage. Finally, this Member would like to parenthetically say he owes a great debt of assistance and help from Ms. Angela Clark, a member of my staff, in effect, who has been serving as a fellow in that capacity. Her work on this issue has been fundamentally important to the Member, and I appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent Resolution 142, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 142) regarding the human rights situation in Mauritania, including the continued practice of chattel slavery, as amended.

Mr. BEREUTER

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

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, the Agency for International Development requested this legislation to help them downsize. The Agency for International Development, AID, has already trimmed 3,000 positions, from 11,000 to 8,000. Unfortunately, AID must reduce its staff at a faster pace and institutes a layoff, or reduction in force, of 200 people to meet its personnel targets. Rather than lay off all 200 employees, AID would like to offer up to 100 employees severance payments, up to $25,000 each, that they would have been able to receive if laid off. It gives AID the flexibility to find volunteers rather than lay off all 200 people. This bill has the support of our Subcommittee on Civil Service chairman, the gentleman from Florida, Mr. Mica and his counterpart in the other body, Mr. Stevens of Alaska. I urge adoption by the House. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this too is legislation introduced by this Member. Accordingly, I want to thank the distinguished chairman of the Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], who is a cosponsor of this legislation and has been extremely helpful in moving this legislation forward. In addition, the gentlewoman from Florida [Ms. Ros-Lehtinen], distinguished chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, was instrumental in ensuring timely consideration of the reauthorization of the DFA. This Member would also note the efforts of the distinguished gentleman from New York [Mr. Houghton] who has labored long and hard on a wide variety of initiatives in response to the suffering in Africa, and has been very active in assisting in the movement of this act to the House floor. This Member would also note the assistance of the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Payne] and the distinguished gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings], both of whom feel very deeply about continuing United States efforts in Africa. With their assistance, the committee has reported out a truly bipartisan bill which all Members can support. This Member would further assure his colleagues, particularly those from the other side of the aisle, that he has had an opportunity to discuss this matter personally with the Secretary of State, Mr. Christopher, and Secretary Christopher has expressed his support for the DFA reauthorization. The Development Fund for Africa [DFA], was established in the mid- 1980's, under the leadership of the gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Wolpe, a former Member, in order to ensure a relatively predictable level of assistance for this troubled corner of the world. That legislation had bipartisan support from the committee. I remember being a cosponsor of it. It was created in a bipartisan manner and has always received bipartisan support. Unfortunately, the authorization for DFA has lapsed and it is in need of reauthorization. H.R. 3735 does just that. It is important for the Members of this body to understand that despite being the source of much of the world's most horrific suffering, sub-Saharan Africa has never been a high priority for the United States foreign assistance programs. Between 1962 and 1989, Africa accounted for just 6.7 percent of all United States foreign assistance, including the United States share of aid channeled through the multilateral organizations. Even in recent years, despite the higher profile accorded to Africa under the DFA, assistance levels rarely have topped 10 percent of U.S. foreign assistance. Of this sum, approximately 30 percent is provided in the form of Public Law 480 food security assistance, and the remainder is allocated largely to development assistance. Thus, reauthorization of the Development Fund for Africa is essential if we are to ensure that Africa continues to receive an appropriate level of assistance. However, H.R. 3735 does not micromanage. The DFA reauthorization does not dictate how those funds will be spent, just that the funds will be spent on programs in Africa. We are not seeking new money in addition to that which has been authorized within the overall foreign assistance authorization. I want to repeat that. We are not seeking new money in addition to that which has been authorized within the overall foreign assistance authorization. We are simply ensuring that a certain portion of the normally authorized foreign aid development assistance go to African programs. As introduced, H.R. 3735 authorizes $539 million a year for 3 years. That would mean that 41 percent of the total DA account would be spent on Africa. However, the legislation was amended in committee, appropriately, I believe, in order to incorporate the projected Africa portion of the Child Survival Fund, which this Member supports and urges his colleagues to support. This was done in order to avoid confusion because, while the House has come out strongly in favor of the Child Survival Fund, the Senate does not include a Child Survival Fund. This legislation simply makes it clear that a portion of the funds that should go to the Child Survival Fund will also support programs in Africa. As amended, the authorization figure reflects the administration's fiscal year 1997 request level. This request level, $704 million, is straight-lined for 3 years, fiscal year 1997 through 1999. Again this Member would remind his colleagues that this authorization level includes some $140 million of the Child Survival Fund. It is also important to remember that even at this level, support for the African programs has been reduced dramatically from a few short years ago when we were considering a $1 billion DFA. Thus, this legislation keeps faith with the ongoing effort to reduce Federal spending, but it is consistent with the administration's request. H.R. 3735 falls within the parameters of the much reduced overall foreign assistance authorization levels that this body voted and approved earlier this year. Mr. Speaker, finally, this Member would take a moment to recognize the efforts of the committee staff who have been instrumental in moving this legislation forward. In particular, this Member would express his personal thanks to Mr. Walker Roberts, Mr. Mark Kirk, and Mr. Michael Ennis, who have done all that was requested of them and more. They are key members of a truly exceptional staff that Chairman Gilman has assembled. This Member would also note the assistance of Maricio Tamarago of Chairman Ros-Lehtinen's staff, as well as the bipartisan assistance from the staff on the other side of the aisle, and I am sure my colleague will want to mention them directly. Their help is sincerely appreciated. Mr. Speaker, this Member would urge his colleagues to support H.R. 3735. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3735) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa under chapter 10 of part I of that act, as amended.

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

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank and congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Engel], for the leadership that he has shown on this issue. It has been extraordinarily important. He approaches these issues related to Albania, the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia, and Kosova in a very responsible and enlightened fashion. I regret the fact he has left the Committee on International Relations for other responsibilities in the Congress, but we will continue to seek and receive, with gratitude, his outstanding efforts in advising us on this troubled part of the world. I think that the relationships between the country of Albania, the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia and Kosova are very much related in the southern Balkan region. The relationships between Albania and the United States are improving rather dramatically. I think we now have that opportunity with the former Yugoslavia Republic of Macedonia. Now we have to focus once more and indeed with additional emphasis, I think, on the abuses that exist toward the Albanian majority in Kosova. Former Members of Congress and Members of Congress have to approach this issue in a very responsible fashion. We have unfortunately, the opportunity also not to do just good and to do what is important in our national interest, but to do things which are provocative and unfortunate. The gentleman from New York leads the way in an enlightened responsible approach toward our relationship to Serbia with respect to Kosova and the Albanian majority that exists there. What we do in this Congress and what we do outside of this Congress is very important in restoring stability in that part of the world, and that is very crucial, or we may find that we have a deep problem within the NATO alliance. So I commend once more my colleague for his leadership and look forward to additional examples of it in this and other areas.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER

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 House Concurrent Resolution 191.

Mr. BEREUTER

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 House Concurrent Resolution 155.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3846) to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the provision of assistance for microenterprises, and for other purposes.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, we have long recognized the value of the microenterprise loans. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I noted the success of the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. Grameen has loaned over $1 billion to over 2 million people with a repayment rate of 98 percent. These clearly fit the model of the microenterprise loan. I have seen it work very effectively in places like Peru, as well. This bill provides two new authorities in the Foreign Assistance Act to provide microgrants and microloans. I am assured that the bill has the support of the minority and the administration. I urge its adoption. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

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

Mr. BEREUTER

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.R. 3735, the bill just passed.