Eni Faleomavaega

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I noted during the general debate of this bill, from my perspective the problem with the Antiquities Act is that the President has the ability to declare national monuments without consulting with the elected officials from the State in which the monument is being considered. Mr. Chairman, my amendment deletes the language of H.R. 1127 and instead amends the Antiquities Act to require that the President consult with the governor of the State in which the proposed monument is to be located at least 60 days in advance of issuance of a proclamation. The only exception to this requirement is if the President publishes a notice that a delayed issuance of the proclamation would jeopardize the values for which the monument is being established. Mr. Chairman, this proposal seems to be the right mix of authority vested in the executive while still giving State officials notification of action being considered. This gives the State an opportunity to take any action it seems appropriate before a proclamation is issued. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California [Mr. Miller].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1460, a bill which will permit the government of Guam to include the candidates for the position of Guam's Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives on the same ballot with candidates running for territorial office. The bill will also extend for 5 years a food assistance program in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Mr. Speaker, we have been trying to help the government of Guam reduce its election expenses for a couple of years now. I want to thank Chairman Don Young and senior Democrat George Miller for scheduling committee action on this legislation so we could address Guam's election problem. For the record, there are similar provisions in the Federal laws which govern the election of congressional delegates in American Samoa and the Virgin Islands, but it is my understanding that the leaders of these two governments prefer not to change the laws governing their elections at this time. Mr. Speaker, I also rise in strong support of extending the food assistance program for the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The United States created a multidimensional disaster when it conducted atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons in the Pacific and the people of the Marshall Islands are still suffering from the aftermath of those tests. We have a moral obligation to provide this food assistance, and much more, for the damage we did to their country with our atmospheric tests. As this is the same provision which passed the Senate as section 1 of S. 210, I am glad to see we are considering at least this small portion of that legislation, so these Pacific islanders can continue to receive this necessary assistance. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Gutknecht]. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Alaska [Mr. Young] that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1460, as amended.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a distinguished Pacific educator and judge, the late Seuvaai ``Mere'' Tuiasosopo Betham, former director of education of American Samoa and an associate judge on the High Court of American Samoa, who passed away recently. A dedicated public servant, educator, and administrator with more than 43 years of public service, Judge Betham was our first American Samoan female judge on the High Court, a true pioneer who was also the first woman of Samoan American ancestry to be appointed Director of Education. It is these and other ``firsts'' for which she will always be remembered by the Samoan people. Judge Betham was someone who cared very much about each and every person she encountered in her personal and professional life, and she was someone for whom I had tremendous respect. She was always courteous and helpful to me, firm and helpful to her students, and fair and just with those who appeared before her in court. She always extended the hand of friendship. Although our careers never crossed paths, we nevertheless shared many similar concerns, and chief among these concerns was the issue of education in American Samoa. I learned from her how to make every person you encounter feel important, and how to make every person feel that he or she, too, had something important to contribute to the process. She was the kind of individual who could put a hostile student or any other person at ease by making that person feel important and included in the process. Perhaps this is why she was so successful as a public servant. Mr. Speaker, Judge Betham exemplified all of the traits of a true Samoan leader. She was decisive yet compassionate, firm yet not inflexible, and she was a woman of wisdom. Most important of all, she was a humble person who remained close to the people she served even after she was appointed to high government posts. Seuvaai Mere Tuiasosopo Betham was born on April 3, 1932, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. She received her elementary school education in Tutuila and graduated from the High School of American Samoa in 1950, where she was the only female to graduate with that class. Shortly after high school, she left American Samoa to attend college in California. She enrolled at Pomona College in Claremont, CA. She later transferred to Geneva College in Beaverfalls, PA where she went on to receive her Bachelor's Degree in the field of economics in 1954. After graduating from Geneva College, Judge Betham returned to American Samoa to begin her career as a secondary school teacher. She taught at Samoana High School from 1954 until 1961, the year in which she was appointed assistant principal. Even after she was appointed assistant principal, Judge Betham continued to teach because she wanted to remain close to her students. Seven years later, in 1968, she was appointed principal of Samoana High School. Two years after becoming principal, in 1970, Judge Betham was transferred to the Department of Education's central office as an education program administrator, where a year later, in 1971, she was again promoted by the DOE to the post of deputy director. Just four short years after being promoted to the post of deputy director, in 1974, Judge Betham was again tapped by the DOE for another promotion, this time to the post of Director of Education. This appointment made her the first Samoan woman to earn this rank and the second Samoan American to undertake this tremendous challenge. Judge Betham held this post for more than 11 years. In 1985, she retired from the Department of Education. Samoa's educational system underwent major changes in teaching practices and philosophies during her tenure, and local educators today credit Judge Betham for having revolutionized ``teaching'' in American Samoa. Even after she retired from the Department of Education, Judge Betham continued to be active in the field of education. A short time after retiring from the DOE, she was appointed director of Catholic Schools. She served as director for several years until she was again called on by the government to serve as an associate judge on the High Court of American Samoa. Judge Betham was sworn in on April 17, 1991, a day which is very significant and special to the people of American Samoa. April 17 marks the date on which the United States first raised its flag over the Islands of American Samoa. The people of American Samoa celebrate the anniversary of this relationship every year on April 17, and it is the biggest holiday of the year. As an educator, Mr. Speaker, Judge Betham touched many lives and she found much joy and pleasure in following the successes of her former students. As a judge, she touched equally as many lives and she found much satisfaction and comfort in making sure that the result reached by the court was just and fair. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my condolences to Judge Betham's husband, James ``Rusty'' Betham, and her children. I am sure that the proud legacy which she left them will live on in their hearts and in the hearts of all the people of American Samoa.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the memory of a distinguished Pacific educator and judge the late Seuvaai ``Mere'' Tuiasosopo Betham, former director of education of American Samoa and an associate judge on the High Court of American Samoa, who passed away recently. A dedicated public servant, educator and administrator with more than 43 years of public service, Judge Betham was our first American Samoan woman judge on the High Court, a true pioneer who was also the first woman of Samoan American ancestry to be appointed as Director of Education. It is these and other firsts for which she will always be remembered by the Samoan people. Judge Betham was someone who cared very much about each and every person she encountered in her personal and professional life. She was someone for whom I had tremendous respect. She was always courteous and helpful to me, firm and helpful to her students and fair and just with those who appeared before her in court. She always extended the hand of friendship. Although our careers never crossed paths, we nevertheless shared many similar concerns, and chief among these concerns was the issue of education in the American Samoa. I learned from her how to make every person you encounter feel important, how to make every person feel that he or she, too, had something important to contribute to the process. She was the kind of individual who could put a hostile student or any other person at ease by making that person feel important and included in the process. Perhaps this is why she was so successful as a public servant. Mr. Speaker, Judge Betham exemplified all of the traits of a true Samoan leader. She was decisive yet compassionate, firm and yet not inflexible, and she was a woman of wisdom. Most important of all, she was a humble person who remained close to the people. She served even after she was appointed to high government posts. Mrs. Betham was born in 1932 in American Samoa. She received her elementary school education in the islands, graduated from the high school in 1950, where she was the only female to graduate with her first class. Shortly after high school, she left American Samoa to attend college in California. She enrolled at the Pomona College in Claremont and later transferred to Geneva College in Beaver Falls, PA, where she went on to receive her bachelor's degree in the field of economics in 1954. After graduating from college, Judge Betham returned to the islands to begin her career as a secondary school-teacher. She taught at a high school from 1954 until 1961, the year she was appointed assistant principal. Later on in 1968, she was appointed principal of the only high school then in the territory. Two years after becoming principal, Judge Betham was transferred to the Department of Education in which years later she became the first woman to earn the rank of the director of education. Judge Betham held this position for more than 11 years. In 1985 she retired from the department of education and Samoa's education system underwent major changes in teaching practices, philosophies during her tenure and bringing television as a tool or a means of assisting the educational system in the territory. Even after she retired from the Department of Education, Judge Betham continued to be active in the field of education. As an educator, Mr. Speaker, Judge Betham touched many lives and she found such joy and pleasure in following the successes of her former students. As a judge, she touched equally as many lives as she found much satisfaction and comfort in making sure the result reached by the court was just and fair. In closing, Mr. Speaker, I would like to offer my condolences to Judge Betham's husband, James Rusty Betham and her children. I am sure that the proud legacy which she left will live on in their hearts and in the hearts of all the people of American Samoa.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers at this time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I too certainly would like to commend the gentleman from New Mexico [Mr. Skeen] as the chief sponsor of this piece of this legislation. I am sure that on a bipartisan basis we are able to work very well in getting this piece of legislation through this Chamber. I thank the gentleman for being here and for the comity on the work that both subcommittee members have tried earnestly to get this legislation through. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, S. 430 is an important housekeeping measure that amends the act of June 20, 1910, which provided statehood to the territory of New Mexico. The bill changes the manner in which State permanent funds are invested and also changes the distribution formula for fund revenues. Mr. Speaker, the voters of New Mexico approved these changes to the New Mexico State Constitution in 1996 in an effort to maximize the returns of the funds, which are used for education and the care of the poor and needy in the State of New Mexico. Since the revenues in the two New Mexico funds are derived from activities that occur on former Federal lands granted to the State under the Enabling Act of 1910, it is necessary to obtain the consent of Congress before the State's constitutional amendments can be implemented. The Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 1051, the House companion bill to S. 430, on June 17, 1997. The legislation is supported by the entire New Mexico congressional delegation. The administration has no objection to the measure, and I am not aware of any controversy associated with this bill. I support S. 430 and recommend that the House approve this proposed legislation. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], the chairman of the Committee on International Relations, and the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton], the Democratic ranking member, for introducing this timely measure concerning the deplorable crisis in Cambodia. I also would like to state that I am also an original cosponsor of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I wanted to join my colleagues of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the chairman, the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. Bereuter], the gentleman from California [Mr. Berman], the gentleman from Iowa [Mr. Leach], and the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter] as original cosponsors of this House Resolution 195. Like many of our colleagues in Congress and those watching around the world, I was shocked, appalled and saddened by the return to violence in Cambodia, a small nation still wracked by the scars of the Khmer Rouge genocidal killings of a million Cambodians and a civil war that raged for 2 decades. As everyone knows, Mr. Speaker, the co-Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen has ousted Prince Ranariddh from Cambodia's government, destroying the fragile democracy brokered by the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. The Paris peace plan, backed by the United States, China, the Soviet Union, Japan, Vietnam, the Asean countries, France, the United Kingdom, India, Australia and other members of the United Nations was designed to bring to an end the decades of conflict in Cambodia. Since the Paris agreement and the U.N. supervised elections in 1993, Cambodia has enjoyed relative peace and prosperity, with an economy expanding at a 7-percent rate. During the last 6 years, the international community has invested more than $3 billion to bring about this peace and stability in Cambodia. The United States alone has contributed over $300 million, increasing foreign assistance to Cambodia to $38.4 million in 1997, with an administration request for $38.6 million for fiscal year 1998. With the outbreak of violence again in Cambodia where scores of Cambodians have been killed, hundreds wounded and executions and torture widely used by Hun Sen's forces, it begs the question, Mr. Speaker, whether anything has changed in that country and whether the international community has achieved anything by the massive investment of time and resources in Cambodia. Given the serious setbacks to Cambodia's democracy, I support the administration's freeze of United States assistance to Cambodia and applaud the cutoff and reduction in aid from Germany and Australia. As to Japan, Cambodia's top donor of aid, I hope they eventually will heed our call for the international community to suspend assistance until the return of law and democratic government in Cambodia. With foreign aid paying for half of Cambodia's budget, cutting off assistance sends the strongest and most effective statement of objection to Hun Sen's military rule in Phnom Penh. Likewise, the decision of the Asean nations to stop Cambodia's entry into Asean this month is an appropriate condemnation of Hun Sen's resort to violence. I applaud Secretary of State Albright's appointment of Stephen Solarz as her special envoy to Cambodia and am confident that our former colleague, a greatly respected Asia-Pacific policy expert, shall work with Secretary of State Albright and the Asean ministers delegation to mediate a political solution to Cambodia's crisis. Mr. Speaker, while I am hopeful that these efforts of the international community will help in bringing peace and stability back to Cambodia, ultimately the matter will have to be decided by the Cambodian people themselves. I would hope that we learned that from our tragic experience in Vietnam, which resulted from shortsighted United States foreign policy. In the end it is the will of the people in the country that will determine whether democracy is to prevail. Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to adopt this worthy legislation before us, which calls for our Nation and the international community to support efforts leading to the resolution of peace, the rule of law and the democratic government in Cambodia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from California [Ms. Lofgren].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support House Concurrent Resolution 74, as introduced by my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from Florida [Mr. Hastings]. Mr. Speaker, after that terrible conflict commonly known as the Korean war, for some 44 years now our Nation has had to maintain an effective presence in the demilitarized zone that is separating North Korea from South Korea. Even until now, Mr. Speaker, the crisis in the Korean Peninsula remains one of the most tense in the world. North Korea has an army of over 1 million soldiers, compared to South Korea's 600,000 sailors and soldiers. Mr. Speaker, history has demonstrated several times that all the bullets, the guns, the cannons, and all other manner of military weapons are not worth a dime if the country cannot feed its soldiers. Recent reports indicate, Mr. Speaker, that there is currently a shortfall of approximately 2.3 million tons of grain in North Korea. What this simply means is that the North Korean people are starving and there is serious concern if the crisis has been alleviated or do we expect more problems in the future. Mr. Speaker, I believe it is only proper that the People's Republic of China, our Nation, and the two Koreas should engage in meaningful dialog. Mr. Speaker, I have been to South Korea, and I was very impressed with its economic and political developments in recent years. With South Korea's development in technology and industrialization, and with the tremendous potential of resources available to North Korea, a unified Korea could really become a great nation to provide for the needs of some 60 million people living in both North and South Korea. I want to commend the gentleman from California [Mr. Kim], my good friend, for also being a part of the management of this legislation. I urge my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Pallone].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 81, calling for a United States initiative in seeking a just and peaceful resolution of the situation in Cyprus. I am pleased to announce that the ranking Democratic member of the full Committee on International Relations is an original cosponsor of this important and timely resolution. I congratulate the gentleman from New York [Mr. Gilman], our distinguished chairman, for his foresight and leadership in moving this legislation forward. Earlier this year, Mr. Speaker, the Clinton administration announced that it intends to give high priority this year to move a settlement of Cyprus forward, easing Greek-Turkish relations. I agree with the administration that now is the time to try to move the peace process in Cyprus forward. That is why the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] and the chairman are original cosponsors of House Concurrent Resolution 81, which puts the Congress firmly behind an energetic United States leadership role in seeking a realistic solution to the Cyprus situation. In fact, Mr. Speaker, the emphasis in the resolutions is on the key role for United States' leadership on Cyprus and calls for an early substantive initiative by the administration to promote a Cyprus settlement. This tracks with longstanding congressional concerns that have been expressed to a series of administrations. The violence in Cyprus last summer, and the problems this year as a result of arms acquisitions, have underscored the long-held view of the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hamilton] that progress in Cyprus is long overdue and should be a high United States priority. It remains our hope and expectation that a firm, fair, and lasting settlement of the Cyprus dispute can be reached in the coming months. I also want to applaud the Clinton administration's recent appointment of Richard Holbrooke as United States special envoy for Cyprus. His appointment is the best signal yet that the Clinton administration intends to give high priority this year to a settlement on Cyprus and moving Greek-Turkish relations forward. It has always been my firm belief, Mr. Speaker, that only high level sustained United States attention will convince all parties, and particularly the people of Turkey, to resolve the Cyprus issue. Substantively, Mr. Speaker, the outlines of a settlement have been on the table for some time, with the United Nations plan for a bicommunal, bizonal federation. The floor consideration of this resolution, Mr. Speaker, is coming at a time of positive developments in the eastern Mediterranean region in Cyprus. Earlier this month, direct talks between Cyprus President Clerides and Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash, under the auspices of the U.N. Secretary General Annan, were held in New York. These were the first face-to-face talks in more than 2 years. A followup round of talks will hopefully be held in Geneva next month. In addition, Mr. Speaker, in a recent NATO summit in Madrid, the Greek and Turkish Foreign Ministers at a meeting with Secretary of State Madeleine Albright undertook an explicit commitment to settle disputes by peaceful means without further use of force. Turkey remains the key to further progress, Mr. Speaker. Only Turkey can push Turkish Cypriot leader Denktash toward a settlement. We must hope that a new government in Turkey under Prime Minister Yilmaz will be prepared to play a pivotal role in the process that other Turkish leaders have promised in the past. In the final analysis, it is in U.S. interests, as well as for the people in the region, that we find a just and lasting solution to treat these problems. I believe, Mr. Speaker, that House Concurrent Resolution 81 will make a helpful contribution to this process. I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez]. (Mr. MENENDEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York [Mrs. Maloney]. (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise and extend her remarks.)

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Rothman].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York [Mr. Nadler].

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, there has been a lot of talk recently in Washington about the influence of foreign money on Members of Congress and on the administration. The most recent media reports indicate that there may have been complicity between the government of the People's Republic of China and Mr. John Huang to influence our elections and certain Federal officials of our Government. Mr. Speaker, my colleagues may have missed a recent report in The Hill newspaper which reported that as much as $86 million was spent by foreign governments to lobby and conduct public relations with both private and public officials of our Government. It is ironic, Mr. Speaker, that it is perfectly legal for foreign governments to spend over $86 million to lobby the Congress and the White House, but no one ever questions the ethical aspects of the process. So while we are pointing fingers at China for alleged misconduct to lobby and influence our policymakers, there appears to be a standard that is confusing to me and I am sure to the American people. I call it a double standard. [From The Hill, June 25, 1997] Foreign States Spent $86 M to Lobby U.S. (By Robert Schlesinger) Foreign governments, led by Japan, reported spending in excess of $86 million on activities including lobbying and public relations in the United States during the first six months of 1996, according to filings made to the Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Overall, foreign interests, working through more than 330 separate registered entities, reported $430,867,734 in activities reportable under the FARA in the first half of last year, according to an analysis by The Hill of the attorney general's report to Congress on FARA filings. Individuals or groups must register as foreign agents if they perform certain activities, ranging from lobbying to trade promotion, on behalf of a foreign entity, such as a government or corporation. ``The U.S. is definitely uniquely open and user friendly to official foreign lobbyists from all over the world,'' said Alan Tonelson of the U.S. Business and Industrial Council Educational Foundation (USBICEF). ``This situation is not even close to being reciprocated anywhere.'' The government of Japan, mostly through entities like the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), reported spending at least $17,840,878--more than twice as much as any other government. JETRO reported $14,117,208 during the first six months of 1996. Their activities are typically along the lines of ``research in matters concerning foreign trade between Japan and the U.S.,'' as a filing for JETRO states. Other countries spent their resources on lobbying or ``monitoring and analysis'' of issues of interest to them. Mexico, the sixth-largest spending government at $3,576,368, paid Burson-Marsteller $563,000 for public relations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which will be up for expansion in the near future. Mexico, which has been wracked recently by charges of corruption and narcotics problems, also spent a great deal of money on broader PR efforts to burnish its suffering image. Burson, which made slightly over $1.2 million over all from foreign entities, ranked only 11th in line in the 13 law/ lobby/PR firms to gross more than $1 million from foreign clients. Most of the other top-spending governments devoted at least some of their expenditures to tourism-related activities. For example, the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands, the second and third largest spending governments at roughly $8 million each, spent virtually all of their money promoting tourism, as did Ireland, the number four country. New York City-based advertising agency DDB Needham Worldwide pulled in more than $18 million, most of it from the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, which paid them $13,965,723.68. New York ad firms O'Leary Clarke & Partners and FCB/Leber Katz Partners Inc. were second and third respectively, making slightly over $5 million each from the Cayman Islands (O'Leary) and Jamaica and the British Virgin Islands (FCB). Washington law/lobbying firms also fared well. Patton Boggs, home of super lobbyist and name-partner Hale ``Tommy'' Boggs, pulled in more than $3.5 million from such clients as Oman, Qatar, the Philippines and Pakistan. Other Patton Boggs clients who did not pay them during the six month time period include Hong Kong, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany and Taiwan. Other law/lobby/PR firms grossing over $1 million with numerous active foreign clients were Fleishman-Hillard (including clients from Canada, France, Angola, Turkey, Northern Ireland and Japan), Cassidy & Associates (France, Australia, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan), the Bozell Sawyer Miller Group (Canada, the Bahamas, Bolivia, Japan and Indonesia), Arnold & Porter (Canada, Israel, Panama, Turkey and Venezuela), Burson-Marsteller (Hong Kong, Great Britain, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Turkey and Portugal), Washington & Christian (Antigua & Barbuda, Gabon, Guinea and Nigeria) and Hogan & Hartson (Canada, France, Panama, Russia, the Bahamas, Haiti, Japan, Great Britain and Taiwan). Registerable activities include engaging in lobbying, ``political activities,'' or public relations in the United States. A foreign agent must also register if he or she ``solicits, collects, disburses or dispenses contributions, loans, money or other things of value . . .'' This includes the promotion of trade and tourism. Furthermore, ostensibly domestic entities don't have to register with the Department of Justice. USBICEF's Tonelson noted that many domestic companies have become almost proxy foreign agents. ``The China trade debate is a perfect example . . . ``said Tonelson. He added that, ``the positions that they're lobbying for hard have become almost indistinguishable from the Chinese government, and in fact they've become the most effective voice for the Chinese government.'' So, for example, while the Chinese Embassy paid a paltry $18,750 to the law and lobbying firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue for keeping up on issues like Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) trade status, groups like the U.S.-China Business Council and large multi-national corporations lobby the U.S. government in favor of the MFN renewal. As of June 30, 1996, 595 active registrants (totaling 2,825 individuals) were registered to represent 871 foreign principals. Lobbying, law and P.R. firms grossing over $1 million from foreign clients DDB Needham Worldwide.......................................$18,343,333 O'Leary & Clarke & Partners...................................5,139,405 FCB/Leber Katz Partners.......................................5,131,928 International Registries Inc..................................4,709,640 Merkley Newman Harty..........................................3,670,489 Patton Boggs..................................................3,574,939 Fleishman-Hillard Inc.........................................2,619,152 Cassidy & Associates..........................................2,060,465 Bozell Sawyer Miller Group....................................1,786,831 Arnold & Porter...............................................1,614,937 Foreign governments spending over $1 million Japan....................................................$17,840,878.31 Bahamas....................................................8,722,043.54 Cayman Islands.............................................8,212,662.99 Ireland....................................................5,546,970.00 Marshall Islands...........................................4,376,538.87 Mexico.....................................................3,576,368.31 Canada.....................................................2,716,742.50 Hong Kong..................................................2,569,187.99 Bermuda....................................................2,473,473.71 2,273,449.09.........................................................

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

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

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.