Benjamin Gilman

I want to stress again what this legislation intends. It is about achieving two of our vital national objectives, enlarging NATO and defending our Nation against the risk of ballistic missile attack in a way that does not upset our…

Well, that designation has to do with eligibility to receive U.S. assistance. The 180-day period provided under the legislation should not be read to suggest that we think it is necessary to wait the entire 180 days before deciding whether…

I am pleased to offer this en bloc amendment which represents a bipartisan agreement with the administration on how to implement the contentious issue of reorganizing and streamlining our Nation's foreign affairs agencies. This bipartisan…

there is a new beginning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The old kleptocratic regime of Mobutu Sese Seko is now in the ash bin of history and, in many ways, the lives of the Congolese people can only improve. Nevertheless, it is far…

I have no guarantees at this time. I can only state to the ranking minority member that I will continue strenuous efforts to try to bring the measure to the floor of the House.

the euphemism, war on drugs, is often misused to describe the struggle against the illicit narcotics which destroy our communities and takes the lives of so many of our young people. However in Colombia, the major drug producing nation in…

Today the Colombian National Police have only 10 days worth of ammunition in order to continue to conduct the kind of fight that they are conducting against the guerrillas who have been trafficking in narcotics, and it is for that reason…

No, I am asking if it is the gentleman's understanding the administration supported this legislative fix to the decertification statute so that they could meet IMET and FMS in these cases?

today I will be introducing a bill that is aimed at benefiting our Nation's police officers and firefighters. My bill will rescind the dollar limitation on police and firefighter benefit laws allowing these employees to collect the money…

Mr. Chairman, it is surprising that we are once again debating the question of reorganizing the foreign affairs structure of our Government and abolishing agencies that have outlived their usefulness. Permit me to review the history of…

while the gentleman makes a very eloquent appeal with regard to disaster relief, we certainly want to support that relief. Let us get that conference committee moving. But this is not foreign aid. This measure before us is the State…

I rise in support of H.R. 1757, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. The bill before the House today includes a basic reauthorization of the operations of the Department of State and related agencies and…

the third problem with the Hamilton amendment is that it provides no protection at all for vital functions of the agencies that are to be abolished. For example, international public diplomacy which is carried out by USIA is extremely…

This en bloc amendment fixes a provision of the bill that is essentially technical in nature. It is required by an understanding that we reached with the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means. There are two provisions in the original…

I think is a step backward in a struggle for democracy in Cuba, and I urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. I support this second-degree amendment... which will give the President the flexibility that he must have to decide if and…

the amendment, as reported and offered by the gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee], assistance for Ethiopia, the Department of State should closely monitor and take into account human rights progress in Ethiopia as it obligates fiscal…

With regard to the Pallone amendment, it is H.R. 1486. It is a congressional statement regarding Prime Minister Gujral of India. The Congress makes the following findings: That the Prime Minister has recently received a vote of confidence…

We have a leadership task force at work right now trying to define the conditions to define the correct amount that is due and trying to develop a formula for payment.

Mr. Speaker, this timely resolution draws our attention to the 50th anniversary of the Marshall plan which will be celebrated on June 5. It reminds us of the grand commitment made by Secretary of State George Marshall and President Harry…

the President and his Immigration and Naturalization Service have missed an important opportunity to help in our efforts to provide lasting peace and justice for Northern Ireland. Brian Pearson, an Irish nationalist who lives in Rockland…

in what I am advised is a practically unprecedented move, the minority leadership, apparently acting on behalf of minority members of the Committee on International Relations, indicated that they would interpose an objection to the…

I remember Stew McKinney well, and find it hard to believe that 10 years have transpired since we lost him. Stew was an outstanding leader, a far-sighted legislator, and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. Stew McKinney is so well…

permit me to take this opportunity to inform my colleagues of arrangements I have made for them to be able to view a major speech of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on House cable channel 25. Recently the Israeli Prime Minister addressed…

The Hamas bombing of a Tel Aviv cafe today, killing three people and wounding scores of others, including a 6-month-old child, was possible because of the climate of acceptance of terrorism against Israel which still prevails among the…

I'm pleased to be able to rise to speak on this occasion which marks a day of historical significance for Americans and all who revere the blessings which a democratic way of life have afforded us. I thank the gentleman from Florida for…