Doug Bereuter

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his courtesy in yielding. I would say to the gentleman that I disagree with him. The fact that it is in the paper is no confirmation it existed. As I suggested to the gentleman, about two-thirds what I read in the paper was in fact not borne out in what the facts were before the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. I just wanted to give my alternative view on that.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to make the point once more. There is a big difference between complicity in permitting Iranian arms to come in to Bosnia or permitting it to happen on one hand, and accepting newspaper reports which indicate that arms are coming in from the Arab world or even specifically from Iran. This Congress was not informed and certainly had no expectations that anybody would be dumb enough in the White House to permit Iranian arms and troops to come into Bosnia.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the legislation before us today, House Resolution 2406. I wanted to mention three or four specific items that I think thus far have not been enumerated. They are very important provisions. Mr. Chairman, we have one which creates home ownership opportunities, that would clarify the home ownership opportunities offered under the legislation and the ability of the housing authority and other low- income housing providers to undertake the process of preparation and sale of units to residents who are eligible for home ownership. Second, we have a provision in here which clarifies and provides guidance on the factors necessary to require conversion of public housing assistance to vouchers, including some conditions and certain situations that are specified under the law. I think that is very important. The financial assistance for severely distressed buildings with no eventual useful life will be terminated and, therefore, converted to housing voucher assistance. There is a section here which is directed to voluntary vouchering out of public housing. That should be important to local housing and management authorities. Mr. Chairman, let me move to two other items. We have one which we might refer to as shopping incentives for assisted families. This provision allows for shopping incentives for assisted families under a choice-based housing which rewards the market-rate selection of rental units that fall below the payment standard for that community. Finally, a section which relates to homeless and surplus property community participation and self-help housing. This will amend section 203 of the Federal Property Administrative Services Act by providing communities with an opportunity to participate in the disposition of significant surplus property. Mr. Chairman, these are a few of the important provisions that perhaps have not been mentioned, but they are important provisions that make an advance in housing for people across the country.

Mr. BEREUTER. I yield to the gentleman from Missouri.

Mr. BEREUTER. I yield to the gentleman from Massachusetts.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield again to the gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Talent].

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

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I wonder if I might be able to engage in a colloquy with the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt]. I know you are the maker of the amendment. I am just becoming familiar with the amendment and what it attempts to do. My problem, speaking only for myself, is not what you are suggesting and adding in the way of national goals. I think they are entirely appropriate. There is a long history for it. The problem I have and I suspect that most Members have is what you are deleting. Some Members on this side of the aisle, including myself, feel very strongly that the language which says ``the Federal Government cannot, through direct action or involvement, provide for the housing of every American citizen or even a majority'' is an important change. But there is absolutely nothing that is contestable, in my judgment, with what you are suggesting in the way of the goal of our Nation that all citizens have decent, affordable housing. Our Nation should promote the goal of providing decent, affordable housing and so on and so forth, through State, local, Federal action and private action which you describe in several ways. Is it not possible for us to reach an agreement on this subject or do we have an impossible difference of opinion here so that you simply do not strike line 20 on page 5 through line 2 on page 6, but you add back or you add language which we have accepted in this country for a long period of time. Does the gentleman find that as a possible amendment?

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, if the gentleman will continue to yield. I would ask the gentleman a question then. I would make a unanimous consent request at this point, and we will see if the gentleman finds it acceptable. Mr. Chairman, I would ask unanimous consent that the section in the gentleman's amendment, the amendment offered by Mr. Watt, where he strikes line 20 and all that follows through page 6, on line 2, and insert the following new paragraph: The striking portion be deleted from the gentleman's amendment and that the appropriate re-numbering follow so that, in fact, we are adding all of the gentleman's new language to the existing language on page 5 and 6. I would make that unanimous-consent request.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw the unanimous-consent request until we have time to deliberate on it.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, I am hoping that the chairman returns soon because I think we are close to an agreement here. Just to reiterate what we are attempting to do: We are attempting to keep the language, page 5, line 20, through line 2, page 6, to make it clear that, ``the Federal Government cannot through its direct action or involvement provide for the housing of every American citizen,'' and the gentleman is offering a few changes there so we will delete the words ``or involvement'' and instead it would read, ``the Federal Government cannot through its direct action only provide for the housing for every American or even a majority of its citizens, but it is the responsibility of the government to promote and protect the independent and collective actions of private citizens to develop housing and strengthen their own neighborhoods;''. That would stay as opposed to being deleted by the gentleman from North Carolina. But in addition, the gentleman would add the following language which we do not contest, it appears, on this side, and I do not think we should, which indicates the following subparagraph, subparagraph (2): It is a goal of our Nation that all citizens have decent and affordable housing; No. 3, our Nation should promote the goal of providing decent and affordable housing for all citizens through the efforts and encouragement of Federal, State and local governments and by promoting and protecting the independent and collective action of private citizens, organizations and the private sector to develop housing and strengthen their own neighborhood. We have reached that point of agreement, I believe now, between the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt] and Members on this side of the aisle, and I believe that we have a unanimous-consent request to proceed. There is one remaining item that the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Watt] has brought up which may yet be controversial, and so I would ask the gentleman from North Carolina if he wishes to proceed, and we would have a replacement which does accomplish what we have already attempted to do, or should we pass over this for the moment until they can resolve the final point?

Mr. BEREUTER. Reserving the right to object, Mr. Chairman, I will not object. I want to thank the gentleman for his work on it, and the chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from New York [Mr. Lazio], on following through on a suggestion we made in a colloquy here. I urge my colleagues to support the unanimous consent request and the amendment that the gentleman from North Carolina will subsequently offer. Mr. Chairman, I withdraw my reservation of objection.

Mr. BEREUTER. I yield to the gentleman from Louisiana.

Mr. BEREUTER. Reclaiming my time, I would say that under State law public housing authorities in my State have 5 members. You are mandating that at least one of those members automatically, despite the recommendations of the city council or the village board of trustees in my State that appoints the housing authority, must appoint one person from the residency of that public housing. In many cases these housing units are exclusively for senior citizens. In most cases they really are. This is too much intrusion in local control and decisions about who that city council, that village board of trustees wants to have on the housing authority. In many cases they in fact do appoint it but that ought to be a decision that is made by the city council, the governing body of that particular community. That is why I object to the gentleman's amendment.

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

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member is pleased to be a cosponsor of H.R. 2137, Megan's Law and would urge his colleagues to support this bill. This measure builds on an earlier law, also supported by this Member, that requires convicted sex offenders and kidnapers of children to register their addresses with law enforcement authorities for 10 years after their release from prison. Since such a high percentage of child abusers are repeat offenders, this registration requirement has been very helpful to police in solving crimes involving child abuse. However, the Jacob Wetterling law only permits States to release this information. Megan's law requires States to release this information to local law enforcement officials when a known criminal sex offender is released from prison and settles within their jurisdiction. States may also determine whether a criminal's personal information can be available to the general public. Mr. Speaker, it is this Member's hope that this legislation will quickly become law in order to provide better information to police, neighborhoods, and communities regarding the existence of convicted sex offenders which in turn should prevent crimes and protect citizens.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Chairman, this Member rises today in support of H.R. 3120, legislation to prevent jury and witness tampering and witness retaliation. This Member was a cosponsor of each of these separate bills as they were originally introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. Fox] before they were placed in one piece of legislation and also a cosponsor of the H.R. 3019. Existing penalties for these crimes do not create a deterrent for criminals often facing life imprisonment or the death penalty for their crimes. Criminals will risk a small fine in order to be declared not guilty. A Nebraska jury tampering case, involving the murder trial of Roger Bjorklund in 1993, demonstrates the need for changes in the Federal jury tampering law. We have no teeth in our jury tampering laws. The present weak laws actually encourage accused individuals to interfere with a jury or witnesses. They have very little to lose. This is a loophole that must be closed. Mr. Chairman, this Member urges his colleagues to support this important measure.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of H.R. 3008, the Helium Privatization Act of 1996. This legislation represents a small but important step toward a more commonsense approach toward developing the proper role of the Federal Government. The Federal Helium Program is clearly an anachronism which deserves elimination. While it may have served a purpose during the first part of this century, the justification for the Federal Helium Program has certainly run out of gas. This Member has long recognized the need to eliminate this wasteful and nonessential governmental program. In 1993, this Member wrote to the President suggesting spending cuts which would help reduce the Federal deficit. This list included a proposal to sell the national helium reserves as a way to save taxpayer dollars. This Member also cosponsored helium privatization legislation introduced by the distinguished gentleman from California [Mr. Cox] in this Congress as well as the previous Congress. The healthy private helium industry offers strong evidence that the Federal Government should get out of the business. The private sector currently provides more than 90 percent of the Nation's helium needs. In fact, as a result of the efficiency of the private helium industry, the United States now produces eight times more helium than the rest of the countries combined. It is unnecessary and improper for the Federal Government to retain its current monopoly on the sale of helium to Federal agencies. H.R. 3008 offers an effective approach toward the privatization of the Federal Helium Program. This legislation will save taxpayers money by ending the production, refining, and marketing at the Federal helium facility in Texas. It will also require the sale of the Federal Helium Program's production facilities and other equipment and privatize the current helium stockpile. The proceeds from these asset sales will then be applied toward the program's massive debt to the taxpayers. Mr. Speaker, this Member urges his colleagues to vote for H.R. 3008, the Helium Privatization Act of 1996. It's commonsense legislation which will benefit private business and the American taxpayers.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, this Member commends to his colleagues the following exchange of letters concerning the efforts of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to improve the plight of orphans in the People's Republic of China. The exchange of letters was precipitated by a well-documented investigation by Human Rights Watch-- Asia, published in January 1996 under the title, ``Death by Default.'' Earlier this year, this Member wrote to Carol Bellamy, Executive Director of UNICEF, urging that agency to expand its programs in China and to work with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child to examine China's performance in implementing its responsibilities under the UN Convention. In Ms. Bellamy's response, she describes UNICEF's program in China and provides some useful information on steps the Chinese Government is taking to improve conditions in the orphanages. Congress of the United States, Committee on International Relations, Washington, DC, February 2, 1996. Ms. Carol Bellamy, Executive Director, United Nations Children's Fund, New York,

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, this Member introduced legislation to designate the American Discovery Trail as a component of the National Trails System. The bill, H.R. 3250, also creates a new category in the system--National Discovery Trails. The bill is already supported by a bipartisanly balanced 44 cosponsors. This legislation represents an exciting step forward in the development and connection of trails in the United States. The multiuse ADT provides the connections which are needed to link existing trails and create a backbone for the National Trails System. While stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, it connects large cities and small communities with forests and remote areas. The American Discovery Trail will provide outstanding, family oriented recreation for all Americans. It will also offer important economic development opportunities to the communities along its route. The ADT also takes into account private property concerns since almost all of the trail is on public lands. The few exceptions are in locations where there are existing rights-of-way or agreements with existing trails or by invitation. The bill also mandates that no lands or interests outside the exterior boundaries of federally administered areas may be acquired by the United States solely for the American Discovery Trail. The American Discovery Trail is national in scope, but it is made possible by the grassroots efforts on the State and local level. This Member urges his colleagues to support these local efforts by cosponsoring the American Discovery Trail bill.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Connecticut [Mrs. Johnson].

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for focusing on the changes and the reforms that are a part of this bill. The gentleman has been active as well as Chairman Gilman and the ranking member.

Mr. BEREUTER

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, as mentioned already with some examples here, Ron Brown was an extraordinarily multitalented man who brought great intensity and scope to his interests and his activities. You heard about his mentoring activities here and how much he stimulated so many Americans, especially young Americans, to take an active role in Government. But I did want to focus my remarks on the tremendous achievements that Secretary Brown brought during his tenure at the Commerce Department to the expansion of our trade and investment opportunities abroad. On August 4 of last year, when we held hearings in the committee on International Relations about the future of the Department of Commerce, I said during the course of that debate that I was proud to enthusiastically and sincerely commend our late Secretary for his hard work and promotion of American commercial interests. Secretary Brown correctly realized that if the United States economy is to remain strong and vibrant in the 21st century, the United States Government must maintain and fund a comprehensive national export strategy. And he served as a very competent innovative chairman of the trade promotion coordinating committee. In that capacity he recognized, of course, and made it clear to many Americans that the United States economy is already very dependent on exports. He clearly understood that during this decade exports have to account for a much larger part of our economic growth. Secretary Brown fought tirelessly for American commercial interests, both within the cabinet and abroad. Since taking office, Secretary Brown hit the ground running and immediately received the wrath of the Europeans for an important United States commercial airplane deal with Saudi Arabia, 15 high-level trade and investment missions. And billions of dollars of U.S. export and investment later, we bid the honorable Ron Brown, the former Secretary of Commerce, a fond farewell and thank him for his unmatched advocacy and dedication to American commercial interests. I think he set an important precedent for the Commerce Department and for our cabinet members generally in his focus on international trade and expanding our export base. As I said, he was a man of multitalented background, a wonderful man, sincere in his working with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle. I look back with great fondness at the relationship we had in working for expanding the export base. I thank the gentlewoman for taking this special order and for allowing me to say a few words about one aspect of Secretary Brown's life.