THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996 TAG: 9603110059
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 104 lines
Embargo: By a vote of 336 for and 86 against, the House sent President Clinton a bill (HR 927) to tighten the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba. Also, the measure permits actions in U.S. courts against international corporations that profit from property seized by the Fidel Castro regime from Americans or Cubans who have become U.S. citizens. And it restricts entry into the United States of those trafficking in such property. Clinton originally opposed the bill, but vowed to sign it after Cuba recently shot down two civilian aircraft from the United States in international waters.
Dan Burton, R-Ind., said the bill ``will help reduce the immoral investments (in Cuba) by sending a clear message to these foreign investors: If you traffic in confiscated American property in Cuba, you will not be able to do business as usual in the United States.''
Jose Serrano, D-N.Y., said: ``Now we are telling our allies that we have no respect for their own sovereignty'' and that ``Canada, Mexico and everyone else . . . must behave the way we behave. . . . Instead of doing this, what we should do tomorrow is find a way to speak to the Cuban government.''
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton No Jones Yes
Budget bill: Voting 209 for and 206 against, the House sent the Senate a bill (HR 3019) designed by Republicans to end the dispute over fiscal 1996 spending levels and priorities. But President Clinton said he would veto the measure because it underfunds environmental, education and veterans' programs, among other objections. Nearly halfway into the fiscal year, the bill provides nine Cabinet departments with their first regular - not stopgap - budgets. They are the departments of Commerce, Justice, State, Interior, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Veterans Affairs, and Housing and Urban Development. It also provides regular funding to agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
While eliminating 175 low-profile programs, the bill appropriates $3.3 billion in domestic increases sought by President Clinton, frees up $1.1 billion for military operations in Bosnia and provides nearly $1 billion in disaster relief related to flooding in the Northwest and heavy snow in the Northeast.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Lobbying: The House adopted, 211 for and 209 against, an amendment to HR 3019 (above) requiring organizations and businesses receiving federal grants to report the amount they spend to lobby at all levels of government. Supporters said the measure would curb waste of federal dollars by activist groups, while opponents criticized it as punitive and regulatory. The spending totals would be reported to the agency that awarded the federal grant and then disclosed to the public.
Gil Gutknecht, R-Minn, said: ``All this amendment does is require disclosure. This is a sunshine amendment. Only those who have something to hide fear sunshine.''
Marge Roukema, R-N.J., said she thought ``that the era of big government was over, and here we have not a simple disclosure but a Big Brother regulatory morass. It doesn't pass the common sense test.''
A yes vote supported disclosure of lobbying expenses by recipients of federal grants.
Bateman Yes Pickett No
Scott No Sisisky No
Clayton No Jones Yes
Debt limit: Voting 362 for and 51 against, the House passed a bill (HR 3021) increasing the national debt limit. It was then approved by the Senate on a non-record vote and sent to President Clinton for his signature. The measure extends from March 15 to March 29 the date on which Treasury borrowing authority will expire. Another bill to authorize borrowing will have to be enacted by the end of March to keep the government solvent.
A yes vote was to allow an increase in the approximately $5 trillion national debt.
Bateman Yes Pickett Yes
Scott Yes Sisisky Yes
Clayton Yes
Jones Didn't vote
Cuba: By a vote of 74 for and 22 against, the Senate approved the conference report on a bill (HR 927, above) tightening economic sanctions on Cuba. In part, the bill restricts international businesses that do business in both Cuba and the United States. It also puts into permanent law existing executive orders against U.S. trade with Cuba.
Majority Leader Robert Dole, R-Kan., said the bill would ``ensure no more mixed signals will be sent from the United States - the Cuban embargo stays in place until a transition government is in place (in Cuba).''
Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., said the bill ``is bad for U.S. business'' around the globe. ``It will undercut efforts by the United States to ensure that U.S. investors face a stable and predictable environment when they do business abroad.''
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
Warner Yes Robb Yes
Helms Yes Faircloth Yes ILLUSTRATION: Photos
by CNB