John Conyers: “I want to register my strong opposition to the conference report for the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act. I…”

“I want to register my strong opposition to the conference report for the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act. I urge my colleagues not be fooled by some of the bill's features such as payments to the United Nations because it also contains some incorrigible features. For example, it eliminates the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, thereby denying our foreign policy makers the benefit of an independent voice on arms control matters. H.R. 1757 also resurrects the so-called ``Mexico City'' language that restricts funding for abortions overseas--even if they are paid for with private funds. But the offensive provisions in particular that I want to bring to your attention today deal with Haiti. On September 25, 1997, Congresswoman Waters and I wrote a letter to the chairman and the ranking member of the International Relations Committee, expressing our concern with provisions reflected in this bill in Section 1228. We were joined by Charlie Rangel, Ed Towns, Jim Clyburn, Ronald Dellums, Bill Jefferson, Earl Hilliard, John Lewis, Bobby Rush, and Julian Dixon. I am enclosing this information for the Record. Despite our efforts and those of the gentleman from Indiana, the ranking member, this problematic language stands. Section 1228 creates vague new authority by which the Secretary of State can prevent certain Haitians from entering the Untied States.”