THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 18, 1995 TAG: 9512180058
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Balkans: By a vote of 190 for and 237 against, the House rejected a nonbinding resolution (H Res 306) that sought to put congressional support behind President Clinton's decision to send 20,000 U.S. troops to Bosnia as part of a NATO peacekeeping force. Shortly before this repudiation of the presidential policy, the House voted support of the American troops being dispatched to the former Yugoslovia.
A yes vote supported the president's sending of troops to the Balkans.
Bateman Didn't vote Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes Jones No
Backing the troops: The House approved, 287 for and 141 against, a nonbinding resolution (H Res 302) supporting the 20,000 U.S. service personnel headed for the Balkans but opposing President Clinton's decision as commander-in-chief to send them there. It counseled strict U.S. neutrality among the warring factions. This was one of three Balkans measures debated by the House, along with a vote (above) that repudiated the presidential policy and one that supported funding the military mission.
A yes vote was to support U.S. troops in the Balkans but not the policy that sent them there.
Bateman Didn't vote Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Debt ceiling: The House passed, 235 for and 103 against, a Republican bill (HR 2621) to prohibit the administration from borrowing from federal trust funds to bypass the debt limit set by Congress. In effect, the bill prohibits Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin from drawing on trust funds such as for Social Security and federal employees' retirement to meet other government obligations. He took such action last month to pay interest on government bonds when Congress and the White House failed to resolve their budget dispute.
A yes vote was to keep the administration from tapping certain trust funds to avoid exceeding the national debt limit.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott Didn't vote Sisisky No
Clayton Didn't vote Jones Yes SENATE
Flag issue: By a vote of 63 for and 36 against, the Senate failed to achieve the two-thirds majority required for approval of a proposed constitutional amendment (SJ Res 31) empowering Congress ``to prohibit the physical desecration'' of the American flag.
A yes vote was to amend the Constitution to outlaw flag desecration.
Robb No Warner Yes
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes
Bosnia: Voting 69 for and 30 against, the Senate passed a nonbinding measure (SJ Res 44) that authorizes deployment of 20,000 U.S. troops to Bosnia as part of a 60,000-troop NATO peacekeeping force. In part, the resolution urges U.S. forces to take the lead in equipping and training Bosnian Muslim troops, calls for the timely exit of U.S. troops and recommends that Americans stay clear of nation-building efforts in the former Yugoslavia.
Robb Yes Warner No
Faircloth No Helms No
State Department budget: Voting 82 for and 16 against, the Senate sent to conference with the House a bill (S 908) authorizing about $23 billion for foreign operations through fiscal 1999. The bill imposes $1.7 billion in cuts that could force a shrinking or elimination of three Cold War units - the Agency for International Development, U.S. Information Agency and Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. It requires the White House to submit a plan for downsizing them within six months or risk one or more being folded into the State Department. The bill also freed up 18 ambassadorial nominations and a pair of treaties that Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., had been blocking.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Virginia senators' votes unavailable
Faircloth Yes Helms Yes ILLUSTRATION: Photos of members of Congress from this area by CNB