2. Expressing the Sense of Congress Regarding the Harassment of Soviet Jews and Other Minorities-H. Con. Res. 97 (S. Con. Res. 7) (by Mr. Moffett, for himself, and Representatives Brodhead, Hollenbeck, Solarz, Rangel, Phillip Burton, Long of Maryland, Edwards of Oklahoma, Tucker, Benjamin, Ertel, Mikulski, Harris, Miller of California, Coughlin, Dicks, Beilenson, Rosenthal, Conte, Pattison of New York, Mazzoli, Krebs, Gradison, Waxman, and Scheuer) The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 97 was to express the concern of Congress regarding the harassment of Soviet Jews and other minorities by conveying to the Soviet Government the sustained interest of the American people regarding adherence to the Helsinki Declaration, including that Government's (Soviet Union) pledge to facilitate freer movement of people, expedite the reunification of families, and uphold the general freedom to leave one's country. It was the committee's intent that the concern of Congress with respect to the harassment of various ethnic minorities in the Soviet Union applied equally to all such minorities, and that the singling out of the Soviet Government not infer that the Congress either endorsed or condemned the treatment of minorities in other countries which are signatories to the Helsinki Declaration. House Concurrent Resolution 97 was amended in committee to conform to Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 on March 15, 1977. The two versions differed only in the wording of the first paragraph of the preamble. Subsequently Senate Concurrent Resolution 7 was considered on the House floor on March 22, 1977, in lieu of House Concurrent Resolution 97 and passed under suspension of the rules. Legislative history Feb. 15, 1977-H. Con. Res. 97 referred to Subcommittee on International Mar. 1, 1977-S. Con. Res. 7 reported in Senate. Senate Report 95-34. nays. Mar. 3, 1977-S. Con. Res. 7 referred to House Committee on Interna Mar. 14, 1977-S. Con. Res. 7. referred to Subcommittee on International Mar. 15, 1977—H. Con. Res. 97 considered in open markup session by full Mar. 21, 1977-H. Con. Res. 97 reported. House Report 95–100. Mar. 22, 1977-S. Cón. Res. 7: Committee on International Relations discharged from further consideration by suspension of rules. Mar. 22, 1977-S. Con. Res. 7 considered in House in lieu of H. Con. Res. 97. under suspension of rules and passed by a vote of 400 yeas to 2 nays. 3. To Assist the People of Romania S. Con. Res. 12 (by Mr. Javits, for himself, and Senators Kennedy, Baker, Robert C. Byrd, Case, Clark, Humphrey, McGovern, Metzenbaum, Sarbanes, Sparkman, Williams, and Zorinsky) The purpose of Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 was to express the sense of Congress that the United States should do all that was possible to assist the people of Romania following the tragic earthquake in March 1977. The resolution also expressed the sympathy of all the people of the United States to the victims and their families. Senate Concurrent Resolution 12 was passed by the Senate on March 14, 1977, and was referred to the Committee on International Relations the following day. After being considered by the full committee and ordered to be favorably reported, the committee was discharged from further consideration on March 17, and the resolution was approved by the House under unanimous consent proceedings. Legislative history Mar. 14, 1977-Passed Senate by voice vote. Mar. 15, 1977-Referred to House Committee on International Relations. Mar. 17, 1977-Committee discharged from further consideration. 4. With Respect to the Preparatory Meeting in Belgrade of the The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 249 was to express the sense of the Congress that the United States delegation to the preparatory Belgrade meeting should make every effort to insure that the agenda adopted for the subsequent meeting provide for a proper, straightforward and serious exchange of views among the participating states on the application of the principles of the Final Act (adopted at the 1975 Helsinki Accords meeting), as well as on compliance and noncompliance with all of its provisions, including the presentation and thorough discussion of all violations of the Final Act, especially those related to universal humanitarian ideals. The resolution was a prelude to the 1977 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe which was scheduled to begin on June 15, 1977, in Belgrade. Legislative history June 14, 1977-Draft resolution considered in open markup session by full committee, amended, and ordered introduced by unanimous consent. June 15, 1977-H. Con. Res. 249 introduced; committee discharged from June 15, 1977-Passed House by voice vote. 5. Expressing the House of Representatives' Deep Concern Over the Disregard of Basic Human Rights in Cambodia-H. Res. 724 (by Mr. Solarz, for himself. and Representatives Derwinski, Fraser, Harrington, and Goodling) The purpose of House Resolution 724 was to express the concern of Congress regarding the disregard of basic human rights in Cambodia, and to call upon the President of the United States to seek international cooperation in an effort to bring violations of internationally recognized human rights in Cambodia to an end. The testimony given at subcommittee hearings on the allegations of human rights violations in Cambodia, indicated that the loss of life in Cambodia since the end of the war and the establishment in power of the Communist government of Democratic Kampuchea had been ex 38-411-796 tensive. In the face of the testimony, the committee felt an obligation to at least register a protest to what appeared to be taking place. While the deaths that have already occurred cannot be rolled back, it was hoped that the resolution would lend some strength to those forces which may attempt to prevent such tragedies in the future, by indicating that the world is not indifferent when tragic and senseless loss of life on a large scale is tolerated by any government. Legislative history July 26, 1977-H. Res. 713 considered in open session markup by Subcommittee on International Organizations, amended, and clean bill ordered introduced for full committee action by unanimous voice vote. Aug. 2. 1977-H. Res. 724 considered in open markup session by full committee, amended (technical amendment), and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. Aug. 5, 1977-Reported with amendment. House Report 95–578. Sept. 27, 1977-Passed House by voice vote under suspension of rules. 6. To Endorse the Hermosillo Declaration on Combating Traffic in Drugs at the International Level and Urge the President To Encourage Other Nations To Cooperate in Eradicating Narcotics Trafficking-H. Con. Res. 265 (by Mr. Gilman, for himself, and Representatives Alexander, Burke of Florida, de la Garza, Kazen, Lagomarsino, Rousselot, Rudd, Wright, and Yatron) The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 265 was twofold in nature. First, the resolution expressed the sense of the House that the Congress should endorse the Hermosillo Declaration on Combating Traffic in Drugs which was adopted by the legislators from the United States and Mexico who attended the 17th Mexico-United States Interparliamentary Conference in May of 1977. The declaration condemned, "without reservations of any kind the illegal cultivation of all plants that may be used to obtain substances which, when employed as narcotics, cause grave and often irreparable damage to people's health.” The declaration also recommended that "energetic, preventive, prosecuting and punitive measures be taken [by the international community] to discourage the cultivation of drug producing plants in order to suppress narcotics traffic." Second, the resolution called upon the Congress to urge the President to encourage other nations to cooperate in an international effort to eradicate narcotics trafficking and to eliminate the illicit production of opium. Legislative history : July 29, 1977-H. Con. Res. 265 referred to Subcommittee on Inter- Sept. 19, 1977-Report requested from Department of State. Sept. 26, 1977-Report received. Oct. 26, 1977-Considered in open markup session by subcommittee, and approved for full committee action. Oct. 27, 1977-Considered in open markup session by full committee, and ordered favorably reported by unanimous voice vote. Oct. 31, 1977-Committee discharged from further consideration. Oct. 31, 1977-Passed House without objection under unanimous consent proceedings. Nov. 1. 1977-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. July 11, 1978-Considered in open markup session by Senate Committee July 12, 1978-Reported in Senate. Senate Report 95-978. 7. Olympic Summer Games-H. Con. Res. 368 (by Mrs. Burke of California) The purpose of the resolution was to call for the support of the city of Los Angeles, representing the United States, in its bid before the International Olympic Committee to host the 1984 summer Olympic games. The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce ordered reported to the House, House Concurrent Resolution 318 on September 27, 1977. Subsequently, the original sponsor of the bill and the Subcommittee on International Organizations of the Committee on International Relations agreed to compromise language which was introduced as a clean bill, House Concurrent Resolution 368. The difference between the two resolutions was that the earlier resolution called for Federal financial assistance and did not specify the American bid city. House Concurrent Resolution 368 pledged the "cooperation and support" of the Congress, and reflected the selection of Los Angeles as the bid city. House Concurrent Resolution 368 was ordered reported by voice vote by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce on October 5, 1977. In order to expedite the passage of the resolution, the Committee on International Relations agreed to forego further committee consideration and accept the resolution as reported by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Legislative history July 29, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318 referred jointly to Committees on International Relations and Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Aug. 1, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318 referred to Subcommittee on Interna- Sept. 19, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318: Report requested from Department of Sept. 22, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318: Report received. Sept. 23, 29, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318 considered in open session by subcommittee. (Substitute language to be worked out prior to full committee action.) Sept. 27, 1977-H. Con. Res. 318 considered in open session by Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce and ordered favorably reported. Oct. 4, 1977-H. Con. Res. 368 referred jointly to Committees on International Relations and Interstate and Foreign Commerce. Oct. 5, 1977-Considered in open session markup by Committee on Inter- Oct. 6, 1977-Passed House by voice vote under unanimous consent. 8. World Assembly on Aging-H. Res. 736 (by Mr. Pepper) The purpose of House Resolution 736 was to express the sense of the House that the President should instruct the United States delegation to the United Nations to work with the delegations of other nations to In order to expedite passage of the resolution, and without prejudice to its jurisdiction with respect to the content, the Committee on International Relations agreed to forego further committee consideration and accept the resolution as reported by the Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce. call for a World Assembly on Aging and a World Year on Aging for not later than 1982. The resolution came as a response to the increased amount of research relating to aging that has been done by the United Nations in recent years; and the evidence presented in that research that aging populations worldwide will cause widespread economic and social dislocations in the future unless extensive efforts are made to take full advantage of the beneficial and far-reaching opportunities afforded by an increase in the proportion of older persons being employed. Legislative history Aug. 9, 1977-H. Res. 736 referred to Subcommittee on International Sept. 28, 1977-Reports requested from Departments of State and Oct. 11, 1977-Acknowledgments received. Oct. 25, 1977-Report received from State. Oct. 27, 1977-Considered in open markup session by full committee, 9. Reaffirming the U.S. Commitment to the Helsinki AccordsH. Con. Res. 387 (by Mr. Pease, for himself, and Representatives Zablocki, Fraser, Breckinridge, Metcalfe, Harrington, Eilberg. Hawkins, Moakley, Beilenson, Long of Maryland, Udall, Rose, Bedell, Glickman, Solarz, Mikulski, Vento, Spellman, Corman, Rosenthal, Dodd, Pattison of New York, and Richmond) The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 387 was to express congressional support for the President in his efforts to advance the cause of human rights in the international community and urge the President to inform the appropriate heads of state of other nations that the United States, in evaluating its relations with other nations, will take cognizance of the extent to which they accord protection to human rights within their own nation. The resolution reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to obtain full compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki Accords and to press for a global commitment to human rights. House Concurrent Resolution 387 also specifically listed various individuals, political dissidents, and intellectuals, who have been harassed and/or imprisoned for their beliefs in the Soviet Union and other countries of Eastern Europe. Legislative history Mar. 14, 1977-H. Con. Res. 137 referred to Subcommittee on International Organizations. Oct. 26, 1977-H. Con. Res. 137 considered in open markup session by subcommittee, amended, and clean resolution, to be introduced, approved for full committee action by unanimous voice vote. Oct. 27, 1977-H. Con. Res. 387 considered in open markup session by Oct. 31, 1977-Reported with amendment. House Report 95-782. Nov. 1, 1977-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. |