IV. MEASURES ENACTED INTO LAW A. 1977 1. International Development and Food Assistance Act of 1977H.R. 6714 (by Mr. Zablocki, for himself, and Representatives Fascell, Diggs, Nix, Rosenthal, Hamilton, Wolff, Bingham, Harrington, Collins of Illinois, Solarz, Meyner, Pease, Beilenson, Buchanan, Whalen, and Winn) On March 28, 1977, the Speaker of the House referred Executive Communication 1097 containing draft legislation for the fiscal year 1978 economic development part of the foreign aid package to the Committee on International Relations. Prior to this date, a number of subcommittees had already begun hearings on the foreign assistance programs focusing on various areas in which they had jurisdiction. The full committee held hearings on March 16, 17, and 22 on proposed legislation, receiving testimony from Secretary of State Cyrus Vance, Hon. John J. Gilligan, Administrator-designate of the Agency for International Development, and Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland. Full committee markup on the economic development and food assistance legislation began on April 20 on the basis of the executive branch requests, and recommendations received from the various subcommittees. [Markup lasted for 5 days, April 20, 21, 25, 27, and 28 in morning and afternoon sessions.] Upon completion of markup on April 28, 1977, a clean bill H.R. 6714 was introduced by Chairman Zablocki and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. The principal purpose of H.R. 6714, as reported by the committee, was to authorize $1,706,950,000 for development assistance programs for fiscal year 1978 and amend the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954 (Public Law 480). Provisions in the bill strengthened and added to the "new directions" mandated for foreign aid programs by the Congress in 1973. The provisions advanced the humanitarian and development purposes of the food-for-peace reforms enacted in 1975, and also assisted the President's new initiatives for a constructive U.S. approach in the "north-south" dialog with the world's developing nations. Major features of the bill as passed by the committee included: 1. Allocation of over one-third of the funds in the bill to promote agricultural and rural development in poor countries, especially to help them increase their food production. 2. Additional funding for population planning and health programs in developing countries, a policy directive for review of all AID programs to identify their impact on population growth. 3. Extension of human rights provisions, similar to those now in effect for other U.S. assistance abroad, to the food-for-peace program. 4. A policy statement and Presidential reporting requirement designed to improve the status of women in developing countries. 5. Improvement of the food-for-peace program, which operates under Public Law 480. 6. Encouragement for developing countries to develop alternative sources of energy and to conserve natural resources. 7. Authority for U.S. participation in a long-term international undertaking for economic development in the Sahel countries of Africa, which were so cruelly afflicted by drought in the early 1970's. 8. $20 million for assistance to the victims of the recent earthquakes in Italy. 9. Removal of selected foreign policy restrictions aimed against countries which trade with Cuba or Vietnam. On May 12, 1977, H.R. 6714 was considered on the House floor. Various amendments were agreed upon including an amendment that prohibited the use of funds for involuntary sterilizations and an amendment that reduced by $25.75 million the funds available for voluntary organizations and programs. Also agreed to was a motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on International Relations with instructions to report it back with an amendment that prohibited the use of funds for any form of aid or trade with Vietnam or Cuba. H.R. 6714 passed the House on the same day by a recorded vote of 252 to 158. On June 15, 1977, the Senate agreed to H.R. 6714 by a recorded vote of 59 to 32, after amending it to contain the provisions of the Senate companion bill S. 1520, as amended. On the same day the Senate insisted on its amendment which struck the House language of H.R. 6714, and subsequently requested a conference with the House. [Senate conferees named to the conference committee were: Senators Sparkman, Humphrey, Church, Clark, Biden, Talmadge, McGovern, Allen, Case, Javits, Percy, Dole, and Bellmon.] On June 20, the House disagreed to the Senate amendment and agreed to a conference. [House conferees named to the conference committee were: Zablocki, Fascell, Diggs, Fraser, Hamilton, Bingham, Solarz, Broomfield, Findley, and Winn.] The conferees met on June 23 and 24, and on June 29, 1977, filed the conference report. The table below illustrates the authorization figures for fiscal year 1978 agreed to by the conference committee: 1 $7,000,000 in excess foreign currencies were also au thorized for the American schools and hospitals abroad program under the executive branch request, the House bill, and the Senate amendment, and are authorized in the conference agreement. Major features of H.R. 6714 as passed by the Committee on International Relations remained relatively the same. On July 21, 1977, the House passed the conference report on the International Development and Food Assistance Act by a recorded vote of 254 to 158, and on July 22, 1977 by voice vote, the report was agreed to by the Senate. The International Development and Food Assistance Act became Public Law 95-88 on August 4, 1977, upon signature by the President. Legislative history (Hearings and markup held prior to introduction of legislation.) Apr. 28, 1977-Considered in open markup session by full committee, and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. May 3, 1977-Reported. House Report 95–240. May 4, 1977-Rule requested. May 10, 1977-Hearing on request for rule. Rule granted. H. Res. 556. May 12, 1977-Passed House, amended, by a vote of 252 yeas to 158 June 15, 1977-Passed Senate by a vote of 59 yeas to 32 nays, after being amended to contain the language of the Senate companion measure, S. 1520. Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the House and appointed as conferees: Senators Sparkman, Humphrey, Church, Clark, Biden, Talmadge, McGovern, Allen, Case, Javits, Percy, Dole, and Bellmon. June 20, 1977-House disagreed to Senate amendment, agreed to a conference with the Senate, and appointed as conferees: Representatives Zablocki, Fascell, Diggs, Fraser, Hamilton, Bingham, Solarz, Broomfield, Findley, and Winn. June 23, 24, 1977-Conferees met. June 29, 1977-Conferees met and agreed to file conference report. July 22, 1977-Senate agreed to conference report by voice vote. 2. International Security Assistance Act of 1977-H.R. 6884 (by Mr. Zablocki, for himself and Representatives Fascell, Diggs, Fraser, Rosenthal, Hamilton, Wolff, Bingham, Ryan, Solarz, Meyner, Bonker, Pease, Beilenson, Danielson, Buchanan, Whalen, and Gilman) On March 28, 1977, the Speaker of the House referred to the Committee on International Relations Executive Communication 1098, which contained draft legislation on specific funding proposals for the international security assistance programs for fiscal year 1978 and such sums as might be necessary for fiscal year 1979. Prior to this date, various subcommittees had conducted hearings on international security assistance pertinent to the jurisdiction of their subcommitee, and had submitted their recommendations to the full committee. The full committee held hearings on March 16, 17, and on April 18, 1977 receiving testimony from such witnesses as: Hon. Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of State; John J. Gilligan, Administrator-designate of the Agency for International Development; Hon. Charles W. Duncan, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Gen. George S. Brown, U.S. Air Force, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Lt. Gen. Howard M. Fish, U.S. Air Force, Director, Defense Security Assistance Agency. As a result of the full committee hearings and the subcommittee rec 38-411-79- -3 ommendations, draft legislation was prepared for the mark-up sessions which began on May 2, 1977. Markup continued until May 4 when the legislation, designated H.R. 6884, was ordered favorably reported by the full committee by voice vote. The principal purpose of H.R. 6884, as reported by the committee, was to authorize appropriations totaling $3,202,850,000 for fiscal year 1978 for international security assistance programs. Other important provisions of the bill were: (1) To continue the policy of phasing out grant military assistance by: (a) Reducing to eight the number of countries authorized to receive grant military assistance. (Twelve countries were authorized in fiscal year 1977.) (b) Reducing the amount of funding for grant military assistance to $228,900,000. (c) Reducing from 34 to 10 the number of countries eligible for military assistance advisory groups and limiting to 400 the number of personnel that can be assigned to such groups. (2) To strengthen congressional oversight of transfers of U.S. defense equipment and services abroad by requiring a 30-calendar-day period for congressional review and possible disapproval of proposed third-country transfers prior to the granting of Presidential consent. (3) To encourage, to the extent possible, that security-supporting assistance be used to support development assistance objectives particularly those of increasing the participation of the poor in develop ment. (4) To express support for a negotiated transition to majority rule in Zimbabwe (southern Rhodesia) and additionally to prohibit assistance for the purposes of promoting or augmenting military or paramilitary operations in Zaire unless determined by the President that the assistance would be in the national security interests of the United States. (5) To prevent funds appropriated under the Foreign Assistance Act from being used to finance nuclear powerplants under agreements for cooperation between the United States and other countries. (6) To direct the President to conduct a comprehensive study on the policies and practices of the United States with respect to the national security and military implications of international transfers of technology. (7) To prohibit the provision of assistance or sales for purposes of aiding countries in acts of repression. (8) To express the sense of Congress that the President assure that the Republic of Korea cooperate with the investigation of the Department of Justice, and request that the President report to Congress on the extent of such cooperation each 90 days while the investigation is underway. On May 23 and 24, 1977, H.R. 6884 was considered on the House floor. Various amendments were agreed to among which was: (1) An amendment that required the President to review all arms control regulations relating to arms control, to categorize lethal and nonlethal weapons, and to set control guidelines. (2) An amendment designed to strengthen the ban on the use of security assistance funds in repression of the legitimate rights of the |