October 1990, Page 22

Special Report

House Voting Record for 1989

By Allan C. Kellum

This is the Mideast voting record of all the members of the U.S. House of Representatives for 1989. The Senate votes were covered in the July/August 1990 issue of the Washington Report. What follows is a brief description of each of six votes, four lists of sponsors of legislation, and three letters relevant to the Middle East, along with a chart listing the voting records of these 13 issues of every U.S. representative in the first session of the 101st Congress. The number of each description below corresponds to the number in the following record chart.

1. Voted for State Department Funding Bill. By a vote of 338 yeas to 87 nays, the House on April 12, 1989, voted for final passage of the State Department funding bill which contained a number of Mideast-related provisions, including: a requirement for twice-yearly reports to Congress on statements and activities of the PLO; earmarking of $25 million annually in refugee assistance for Israeli settlers; and building a radio transmission facility in Israel aimed at the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

2. Voted to Stop Funding U.N. if Full Membership Granted to PLO. By a vote of 396 yeas to 6 nays, with 11 representatives avoiding the issue by voting "Present," the House agreed on May 16, 1989 to a bill prohibiting U.S. contributions to the U.N. or any of its affiliated organizations if full membership as a state is granted to "any organization or group that does not have the internationally recognized attributes of statehood." Although this bill did not refer to the PLO by name, the PLO was its target.

3. Voted for Fascell's Amendment and Against 5 Percent Foreign Aid Cut. On June 29, 1989, by a vote of 406 yeas to 12 nays, with 14 not voting, the House adopted an amendment by Congressman Fascell which substituted for and effectively killed Congressman Traficant's amendment to cut foreign aid for all nations, including Israel, by 5 percent.

4. Voted for the Foreign Aid Authorization Bill. On June 29, 1989, by a vote of 314 yeas to 101 nays, with 17 not voting, the House passed the foreign aid authorization bill with its considerable Middle East content, including $3 billion for Israel.

5. Voted for the Foreign Aid Funding Bill. On July 21, 1989, by a vote of 329 yeas to 69 nays, with 33 not voting, the House agreed to the passage of the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill that provided final House approval of the foreign aid funds worldwide, including $3 billion for Israel.

6. Voted for Statement about Lebanese Peace. On Sept. 19, 1989, by a unanimous vote of 413 yeas, with 17 not voting, the House adopted a resolution to express the sense of the House concerning the situation in Lebanon. Specifically, the bill (H. Res. 128) expressed the view that "the Government of Syria should be condemned for the violence it has perpetrated against the Lebanese state and people" and that Syria should withdraw from Lebanon.

7. Sponsored Bill Urging Vatican to Recognize Israel. Forty representatives signed as sponsors of a bill (H. Con. Res. 108) expressing the sense of the Congress that the Vatican should recognize and establish diplomatic relations with Israel. Congressman Feighan introduced the bill on May 4, 1989.

8. Sponsored Bill Urging Israel to Reopen West Bank Schools. Twenty-nine representatives signed as sponsors of H. Con. Res. 124, a bill expressing the sense of Congress that "Israel should take immediate steps to reopen schools in the West Bank." Congressman Nielson of Utah introduced the bill on May 16, 1989.

9. Sponsored Bill Restricting U.S.-PLO Talks. On July 25, 1989, Congressman Feighan introduced a bill (H.R. 3005) to prohibit negotiations with any representative of the PLO who has directly participated in an act of terrorism against a U.S. citizen. Including Congressman Feighan, 44 representatives signed as sponsors of the bill in 1989.

10. Sponsored Bill to Bring Sheikh Obeid to U.S. for Trial. On Aug. 2, 1989, Congressman Ackerman introduced a bill (H. Con. Res. 183) calling for the extradition of Lebanese Sheikh Abdul Obeid from Israel to stand trial in the U.S. for the kidnapping and murder of U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel William Higgins. Israel had earlier seized Sheikh Obeid in a raid in Lebanon. Including Congressman Ackerman, 41 representatives signed as sponsors of the bill.

Allan C. Kellum, founder and for eight years editor of the Middle East Observer, consults and writes on federal and international development issues in the national capital area.