10. Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition-H. Res. 784 (by Mr. Nolan, for himself, and Representatives Gilman, Bonior, Weaver, AuCoin, Heckler, Rose, Harkin, Guyer, Jeffords, Jones of Tennessee, Bedell, Simon, McCloskey, tSeers, Brodhead, Downey, Moffett, Richmond, Maguire, McHugh, Bonker, Fraser, Brown of California, and Smith of Iowa) The purpose of House Resolution 784 was to call on the President to establish a temporary Commission on Domestic and International Hunger and Malnutrition with responsibilities to: (1) Clearly establish the causes of hunger and malnutrition and the relationship between domestic and international hunger and malnutrition; (2) Identify and evaluate existing U.S. Government programs and policies related to hunger and malnutrition; and (3) Develop for the President and Congress specific recommendations for policies and legislation to reduce hunger and malnutrition significantly throughout the world and to assist in implementing such recommendations. The resolution recommended that the President appoint a balanced membership to the Commission of 15 persons, representing diverse backgrounds, and that within 6 months of the appointment of the final member of the Commission, the Commission present an interim report and within 12 months, a final report containing a detailed statement of findings, conclusions, and recommendations. These reports would be transmitted to the President and the Congress, and thereafter, for a period of up to 1 year after the final report, the Commission would assist in the implementation of its findings and conduct an educational program to disseminate its findings to the American public. Legislative history Sept. 27, 1977-H. Res. 784 referred jointly to Committees on International Relations and Agriculture. Oct. 5, 1977—Reports requested from Departments of State and Agriculture. Oct. 20, 1977-Acknowledgment received from State. Oct. 26, 1977-Reports received from State and Agriculture. Oct. 26, 1977-Considered in open markup session by Committee on Oct. 27, 1977-Considered in open markup session by full committee, Oct. 28, 1977-Reported with amendment by Committee on Agriculture. Oct. 31, 1977-Reported with amendments by Committee on Interna- Nov. 1, 1977-Passed House, as amended, under suspension of rules by a vote of 364 yeas to 38 nays. (Authorization for the Commission was provided for in H.R. 12598.) 11. Concerning Repression in South Africa-H. Con. Res. 388 (by Mrs. Collins of Illinois, for herself, and Representatives Diggs, Buchanan, Solarz, Bonker, and Whalen) House Concurrent Resolution 388 expressed the sense of the House, with the Senate concurring, that the Congress strongly denounce the recent acts of repression committed by the South African Government. The resolution also made note of the concern of Americans and the world community over the circumstances surrounding the death of Steve Biko on September 12, 1977, while in police custody. Specifically cited in the resolution were such incidences committed by the Government of South Africa as the closing of newspapers, the outlawing of peaceful religious and social groups, and the banning of South African white and black citizens who oppose apartheid. All of these events represent serious violations of human rights. House Concurrent Resolution 388 also urged the President to take effective measures against the Republic of South Africa in order to register the deep concern of the American people about the continued violation of human rights in that country. Legislative history Oct. 21, 1977-H. Con. Res. 383 referred to Subcommittee on Africa. Oct. 27, 1977-H. Con. Res. 388 considered in open markup session by Oct 28, 1977-Reported. House Report 95–779. Oct. 31, 1977-Passed House under suspension of the rules by a vote of 347 yeas to 54 nays. 12. Urging the Cooperation of the Korean Government-H. Res. 868 (by Mr. Flynt, for himself, and Representatives Spence, Teague, Quillen, Bennett, Quie, Hamilton, Cochran of Mississippi, Preyer, Fenwick, Flowers, and Caputo) House Resolution 868 expressed the sense of the House that the Government of the Republic of Korea should cooperate fully and without reservation with the investigation being conducted by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct pursuant to House Resolution 252 to determine whether Members of the House of Representatives, their immediate families, or their associates accepted anything of value, directly or indirectly, from the Government of the Republic of Korea. The resolution called upon the Korean Government to provide complete access to all facts relevant to the investigation, since it was felt by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct that their activities were being impaired because of the apparent lack of cooperation by the Government of the Republic of Korea. [Note: The resolution is similar to the provision in section 28 of the International Security Assistance Act of 1977 which requires the President to make a report to the Congress every 90 days on the extent of the cooperation of the Republic of Korea with the investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice.] Legislative history Oct. 27, 1977-H. Res. 868 considered in open markup session by full committee, and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. Oct. 31, 1977-Passed House under suspension of the rules by a vote of 407 yeas to 0 nays. B. 1978 1. Contributions of General Jose de San Martin-H. Res. 1033 (by Mr. McDade) The purpose of House Resolution 1033 was to provide for the recognition of the House of Representatives of the contributions of General Jose de San Martin to the liberation of the people of Latin America. Additionally, the resolution directed the Speaker of the House to forward a copy of the resolution to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, the Ambassadors of Chile, Peru, and Argentina, and the President of the San Martin Society of Washington, D.C. House Resolution 1033 was referred to the Committee on International Relations on February 16, 1978. On February 23, 1978, the committee was discharged from further consideration of the resolution by unanimous consent, and the resolution was approved by the House by voice vote. Legislative history Feb. 23, 1978-Committee discharged from further consideration by unanimous consent. Feb. 23, 1978-Passed House by voice vote. 2. Expressing Condemnation of the Recent Terrorist Kidnapping of Aldo Moro-H. Res. 1082 (by Mr. Rodino, for himself, and Representatives Zablocki, Fascell, Addabbo, Ambro, Annunzio, Biaggi, Conte, Dent, Downey, Florio, Giaimo, LaFalce, Lagomarsino, Caputo, Leggett, Mazzoli, Le Fante, Miller of California, Miller of Ohio, Minish, Moakley, Murphy of New York, Oberstar, Panetta, and Rinaldo) House Resolution 1082 voiced the House of Representatives shock and condemnation of the terrorist kidnapping by the Red Brigade of Aldo Moro, former Prime Minister of Italy and head of the Christian Democratic Party by expressing the sense of the House in two areas. First that the Government of Italy deserved the solid support of the United States and of all democratic and freedom-loving peoples in its efforts to deal with the crisis, and in preserving democratic society in Italy. Second, the resolution expressed the sense of the House that the President of the United States should instruct the Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations to press for consideration of the subject of terrorism in all appropriate forums and to sponsor proposals aimed at finding a solution to the problem of international terrorism. House Resolution 1082 was referred to the Committee on International Relations on March 16, 1978. On March 21, 1978, the committee was discharged from further consideration of the resolution by unanimous consent and the resolution was passed by the House by a recorded vote of 398 yeas. Legislative history Mar. 21, 1978-Committee discharged from further consideration by unanimous consent. Mar. 21, 1978-Passed House by a vote of 398 yeas. 3. Denouncing the Assassination of Aldo Moro-H. Con. Res. 617 (by Mr. Zablocki, for himself, and Representatives Fountain, Fascell, Rosenthal, Wolff, Bingham, Collins of Illinois, Solarz, Meyner, Studds, Ireland, Pease, de la Garza, Broomfield, Derwinski, Findley, Buchanan, Burke of Florida, Whalen, Gilman, Guyer, Lagomarsino, and Goodling) House Concurrent Resolution 617 denounced the assassination of Aldo Moro as an abhorrent criminal act which deserved the fullest condemnation. The concurrent resolution also expressed the sense of the Congress that the Government of Italy should receive the full support of the United States in their efforts to apprehend the perpetrators of the murder of Aldo Moro, and to eliminate the campaign of terrorism in Italy. House Concurrent Resolution 617 also extended the sympathy of the Congress to the family of Aldo Moro and the people of Italy. House Concurrent Resolution 617 was referred to the committee on May 9, 1978. The committee was discharged from further consideration of the resolution by unanimous consent on May 11, 1978 after which the resolution passed the House by a vote of 398 yeas. The measure was then referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on May 15, 1978, where no action was taken. Legislative history May 11, 1978--Committee discharged from further consideration by unanimous consent. May 11, 1978-Passed House by a vote of 398 yeas. May 15, 1978-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 4. Praising the United States Delegation to the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe-H. Con. Res. 549 (by Mr. Zablocki, for himself, and Representatives Fascell and Buchanan) House Concurrent Resolution 549 expressed the gratitude of the Congress to the United States delegation to the Belgrade meeting of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe for its determination in demanding a thorough review of compliance with the human rights provisions of the Helsinki accords by the signatory states, and for its success in obtaining the review which brought to world attention the abuses which were of the greatest concern to the Congress and the people of the United States. Additionally, the concurrent resolution urged the President and other executive branch officials to continue to express the opposition of the United States to violations of human rights contrary to the Helsinki accords, and to use every feasible bilateral contact to emphasize to the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries that they must observe their commitments to the observance of human rights. Legislative history Apr. 10, 1978-Committee discharged from further consideration by unanimous consent. Apr. 10, 1978-Passed House by voice vote. Apr. 11, 1978-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Apr. 28, 1978-Considered in open markup session by Senate Committee May 5, 1978-Passed Senate by voice vote. 5. Relating to Americans Missing in Action-H. Con. Res. 583 (by Mr. Wolff, for himself, and Representatives Gilman, Baucus, Bonior, Brodhead, Broomfield, Caputo, Cohen, Frenzel, Frey, Goodling, Guyer, Kemp, Kindness, Krueger, Mitchell of New York, Murphy of Pennsylvania, Oakar, O'Brien, Roe, Vento, Walsh, Waxman, Charles H. Wilson of California, and Winn) The purpose of House Concurrent Resolution 583 was to express the sense of the Congress that the President should instruct the Secretary of State to request the Secretary General of the United Nations to work through existing United Nations agencies for the purpose of securing a full accounting of Americans listed as missing in Southeast Asia. House Concurrent Resolution 583 conformed to the language of Senate Concurrent Resolution 51, an MIA resolution proposed by the late Senator Hubert Humphrey. House Concurrent Resolution 583 was similar to House Concurrent Resolution 331, as amended, which was unanimously adopted by the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs on February 2, 1978. The full committee then reported out a clean resolution, 583, on April 27, 1978. The resolution passed the House, as amended, by a vote of 369 yeas under suspension of the rules on May 8, 1978. Legislative history Aug. 5, 1977-H. Con. Res. 331: Referred jointly to Subcommittees on Oct. 5, 27, 1977-Considered in open session by Subcommittee on Asian Oct. 21, 1977-Report requested from Department of State. Feb. 2, 1978-Considered in open markup session by Subcommittee on Apr. 19, 1978-Considered in open markup session by full committee and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. Apr. 27, 1978-H. Con. Res. 583: Considered in open session by full committee, and ordered favorably reported by voice vote. May 8, 1978-Passed House as amended by a vote of 369 yeas under suspension of the rules. May 9, 1978-Referred to Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. 6. Denouncing the Government of Cambodia for its Disregard of Basic Human Rights-H. Con. Res. 573 (by Mr. Zablocki, for himself, and Representatives Wright, Fountain, Fascell, Hamilton, Bingham, Ryan, Wolff, Solarz, Meyner, Pease, Broomfield, Derwinski, Findley, Buchanan, Winn, and Lagomarsino) House Concurrent Resolution 573 resolved that the Congress join the President in condemning and denouncing the Government of Cambodia for its atrocities and killings and its continuing disregard for basic human rights. The concurrent resolution also requested that the President call on the governments of those countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Cambodia to use their resources to influence the Cambodian authorities to rectify the human rights violations; and to cooperate with other nations, through such international forums as the United Nations, in an effort to bring these atrocities to an end. |