extended; (5) educational benefits, under special circumstances, for the hostages themselves; (6) exemption from taxes on compensation received while a military or civilian government employee is a hostage or missing as a result of a hostile action abroad against the U.S.; (7) complete income tax exclusion for income received by an employee who dies as a result of a hostile action; and (8) clarification of authority to allow the spouse of a hostage to file a joint tax return and to defer payment of certain taxes for up to 180 days after the return of a hostage or missing civilian or military employee. H.R. 7085 was introduced on April 17, 1980 and was jointly referred to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Post Office and Civil Service, and Ways and Means. On April 22nd, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on International Operations. The subcommittee held a hearing on July 24th, during which testimony was received from representatives of the Departments of State and Defense, and a spokeperson for FLAG (Family Liaison Action Group). On September 3, 1980, the subcommittee held an open mark-up session on the legislation and ordered it reported to the full committee, as amended. The full committee ordered H.R. 7085 favorably reported by voice vote on September 10th. The Committee on Ways and Means did likewise on September 16th. The Committee on Post Office and Civil Service had previously ordered the bill reported on August 27, 1980. On September 22, 1980, H.R. 7085 passed the House, as amended, by voice vote under suspension of the rules. The Senate passed the legislation on September 30th, and on October 14, 1980, H.R. 7085 became Public Law 96-449 upon Presidential approval. Legislative history Apr. 17, 1980-Jointly referred to Committees on Foreign Affairs, on Apr. 22, 1980-Referred to Subcommittee on International Operations. July 24, 1980-Considered in open session by subcommittee. Aug. 25, 1980-Report received from International Communication Aug. 27, 1980-Committee on Post Office and Civil Service considered in Sept. 3, 1980-Considered in open markup session by subcommittee, Sept. 19, 1980-Reported by Committee on Foreign Affairs, with amend- Sept. 19, 1980-Reported by Committee on Ways and Means, with amendments. House Report 96-1349, Part 3. Sept. 22, 1980-Passed House, as amended, by voice vote under suspen- Sept. 30, 1980-Passed Senate by voice vote. I 9. Permitting the Supply of Additional Low Enriched Uranium Fuel Under International Agreements for Cooperation in the Civil Uses of Nuclear Energy-S.J. Res. 89 (H.J. Res. 324) (by Senator Church) Senate Joint Resolution 89 allowed the United States to export lowenriched uranium in excess of the limits set by existing agreements for cooperation on the civil uses of nuclear energy, provided that such ex:ports go to nations which are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. When the United States originally entered into agreements for cooperation to supply other countries with nuclear fuel and technology, it placed ceilings in the agreement which limited the total amount of fuel which could be exported over the lifetime of the agreement. U.S. en#richment capacity at that time was far more limited than is the case today, and accordingly, the ceilings were used as indicators in planning future U.S. enrichment needs. In mid-1980 a few U.S. nuclear cooperating partners (South Korea and Taiwan) had begun to approach the limits of the original ceiling, but had not yet completed the renegotiation of the agreements, as I called for under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Act. This situation created unnecessary uncertainties for the countries in question as they attempt to plan and contract for new reactors and fuel supply commitments. Thus, if Nuclear Proliferation Treaty countries were not assured of a continued supply, the United States would not only lose orders on new nuclear power plants and fuel, but could also lose influence over non-proliferation policies in those countries. On May 18, 1980, House Joint Resolution 324 was referred to the Subcommittees on International Economic Policy and Trade and International Security and Scientific Affairs. These subcommittees met in open mark-up session on April 16, 1980, amended, and approved the resolution for full committee action by unanimous voice vote. The full committee considered House Joint Resolution 324 on April 22, 1980, and ordered it favorably reported, as amended, by unanimous voice vote. The amendment agreed to by the committee, which was recommended by the executive branch, lifted the percentage limitation of 10 percent. On May 5, 1980, the House passed Senate Joint Resolution 89, after amending it to contain the language of House Joint Resolution 324, as amended. The Senate agreed to the House amendment by voice vote on June 6, 1980, and the measure became Public Law 96-280 on June 18, 1980 upon Presidential approval. Legislative history May 18, 1979-H.J. Res. 324: Referred jointly to Subcommittees on International Economic Policy and Trade and on International Security and Scientific Affairs. Apr. 16, 1980 Considered in open markup session by subcommittees, Apr. 21, 1980-S.J. Res. 89: Reported in Senate, amended, by Senate Apr. 22, 1980-H.J. Res. 324: Considered in open markup session by full Apr. 28, 1980-S.J. Res. 89: Passed Senate, amended, by voice vote. May 5, 1980-S.J. Res. 89: Passed House by voice vote under suspension June 6, 1980-Senate agreed to the House amendment, by voice vote. 10. To Establish Priorities in the Payment of Claims Against the People's Republic of China—H.R. 6440 (by Mr. Guyer, for himself, and Representative Gradison) H.R. 6440 altered the allocation of payments under the China Claims Settlement so as to reduce the claims of corporations by an amount equal to the tax benefits they took pursuant to the expropriation of their properties in China, and re-allocate such sums to non-profit organizations with certified claims against China. Because business corporations are able to take tax deductions from losses due to expropriation, and such tax deductions are not available to non-profit organizations, business organizations, in fact, receive a higher comparable per dollar loss than non-profit entities. H.R. 6440 sought to remedy this inequity. On May 11, 1980, the United States and the People's Republic of China signed an agreement settling claims between the two countries. On October 1, 1979 the People's Republic of China made the first of six annual payments to the U.S. Treasury. The first payment was for $30 million, and each of the following five payments will be for $10 million, for a total of $80 million. The claimants will receive approximately 40¢ on the dollar. H.R. 6440 did not affect payments which have already been made. It changed the allocation only of those payments which have yet to be made as of the date of enactment of the bill. H.R. 6440 was jointly referred to the Subcommittees on International Economic Policy and Trade and Asian and Pacific Affairs on February 12, 1980. On September 29, 1980, the subcommittees considered the measure in a joint hearing and markup session, amended the bill, and approved it for full committee action by voice vote. The full committee ordered H.R. 6440 favorably reported, as amended, by voice vote on September 30, 1980, and that same day the measure passed the House under suspension of the rules by voice vote. H.R. 6440 was referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations on September 30th, and on October 1, 1980 the Senate committee was discharged from further consideration of the bill and it passed the Senate by voice vote. The President signed H.R. 6440 on October 13, 1980 designating it as Public Law 96–445. Legislative history Feb. 12, 1980-Referred jointly to Subcommittees on International Economic Policy and Trade and on Asian and Pacific Affairs. Sept. 29, 1980-Considered in open session hearing and markup by subcommittees, amended, and approved for full committee action by voice vote. Sept. 30, 1980-Considered in open markup session by full committee. amended, and ordered favorably reported, as amended, by voice vote. Sept. 30, 1980-Passed House, amended, by voice vote under suspension Sept. 30, 1980–Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Oct. 13, 1980-Approved. Public Law 96-445. 11. OPIC Operations in the People's Republic of China-S. 1916 (H.R.7531) (by Senator Javits, for himself, and Mr. Pell) S. 1916 authorized the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to provide OPIC insurance and guaranties to American businessmen interested in investing in the People's Republic of China. Currently, OPIC is prohibited from operating in the PRC by Section 620 (f) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, which prohibits the extension of any assistance under the Act (including the operation of OPIC programs) to communist countries. OPIC provides investment insurance, loan guarantees and financing to U.S. investors in developing countries. In the last several years the economic policies of the PRC have moved in the direction of greater openness toward the international economy. This has been accompanied by the establishment of full diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the settlement of claims between the two countries, the granting of most-favored-nation treatment, and the extension of Export-Import Bank credits to China. These developments, as well as the interest of many U.S. companies in pursuing business opportunities in China, made the authorization of OPIČ activities for the PRC a logical step. H.R. 5252 was introduced on September 12, 1979 and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. On September 17, 1979 the bill was jointly referred to the Subcommittees on Asian and Pacific Affairs and International Economic Policy and Trade. The subcommittees held a joint hearing on May 20, 1980; and on June 10, 1980 approved an amendment in the nature of a substitute and agreed to the introduction of a clean bill. H.R. 7531 was introduced that same day. On June 24, 1980, the bill was considered in open session by the full committee and on the 1st of July was ordered favorably reported by unanimous voice vote. On July 28, 1980, the House passed S. 1916, an identical measure, in lieu of H.R. 7531 under suspension of the rules. S. 1916 became Public Law 96-327 on August 8, 1980 upon Presidential approval. Legislative history Sept. 17, 1979-H.R. 5252: Referred jointly to Subcommittees on International Economic Policy and Trade and on Asian and Pacific Affairs. Oct. 25, 1979-Report received from OPIC. May 20, 1980-Considered in open session by subcommittees. June 24, 1980-H.R. 7531: Considered in open session hearing by full June 27, 1980-S. 1916: Reported in Senate by Senate Committee on 74-236 0 - 81-6 July 1, 1980-H.R. 7531: Considered in open markup session by full committee, and ordered favorably reported by unanimous voice vote. July 2, 1980-Reported. House Report 96-1152. July 21, 1980-S. 1916: Passed Senate by voice vote. July 28, 1980-Passed House by voice vote under suspension of the rules. 12. Vietnam Claims-H.R. 5737 (by Mr. Bingham, for himself, and Representatives Wolff, Jeffords, Bonker, Mica, Barnes, Hall of Ohio, Wolpe, Findley, Gilman, Guyer, Goodling, and Pritchard) The purpose of H.R. 5737 was to establish an official inventory of losses of private U.S. property in Vietnam, which would serve as the basis for eventual efforts by the U.S. Government to recover those losses from the Government of Vietnam on behalf of U.S. claimants. These recovery efforts would be achieved through future direct government-to-government negotiation of private property claims. This legislation neither authorized nor encouraged diplomatic recognition of the current government of Vietnam, or any other action that would create a climate in which claims negotiation might take place. Since 1949, the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission and its predecessor, the International Claims Commission, have performed the function of compiling and validating U.S. private property claims against foreign governments under the International Claims Settlement Act of 1949. It is estimated that about $110 million in private U.S. property has been taken without compensation by the current Government of Vietnam. H.R. 5737 would amend the International Claims Settlement Act to give the Commission explicit authority and funds to review and validate claims against Vietnam. H.R. 2200 was introduced on February 15, 1979 and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs after which it was jointly referred to the Subcommittees on Asian and Pacific Affairs and International Economic Policy and Trade. The subcommittees held a joint hearing on July 27, 1979 and received testimony from the sponsor of the legis lation, and officials of the Department of State, Treasury, and the Foreign Claims Settlement Commission. Mark-up was held on October 25, 1979 during which several technical amendments were adopted. and a clean bill was ordered favorably reported to the full committee by voice vote. Mr. Bingham, chairman of the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade, introduced the clean bill, H.R. 5737, on October 30, 1979. The full committee met in open session on April 22, 1980 to consider the bill, and by voice vote ordered the bill favorably reported as amended. On May 5, 1980, H.R. 5737 passed the House, as amended, by voice vote under suspension of the rules. On May 6th, the bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The Senate Committee considered the measure and reported it to the Senate on December 2, 1980. The Senate passed H.R. 5737 on December 15, 1980; subsequently. it became Public Law 96-606 on December 28, 1980 upon Presidential approval. |