SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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47–504 CC
1998
H. RES. 350: CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATION'S INDEPENDENCE
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED FIFTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
FEBRUARY 12, 1998
Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations
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COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman
WILLIAM GOODLING, Pennsylvania
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska
CHRISTOPHER SMITH, New Jersey
DAN BURTON, Indiana
ELTON GALLEGLY, California
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
STEVEN J. CHABOT, Ohio
MARSHALL ''MARK'' SANFORD, South Carolina
MATT SALMON, Arizona
AMO HOUGHTON, New York
TOM CAMPBELL, California
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina
JOHN McHUGH, New York
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ROY BLUNT, Missouri
KEVIN BRADY, Texas
LEE HAMILTON, Indiana
SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut
TOM LANTOS, California
HOWARD BERMAN, California
GARY ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
ROBERT ANDREWS, New Jersey
ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
PAT DANNER, Missouri
EARL HILLIARD, Alabama
BRAD SHERMAN, California
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
STEVE ROTHMAN, New Jersey
BOB CLEMENT, Tennessee
BILL LUTHER, Minnesota
JIM DAVIS, Florida
RICHARD J. GARON, Chief of Staff
MICHAEL H. VAN DUSEN, Democratic Chief of Staff
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Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska, Chairman
JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa
DANA ROHRABACHER, California
PETER T. KING, New York
JAY KIM, California
MATT SALMON, Arizona
JON FOX, Pennsylvania
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois
EDWARD R. ROYCE, California
HOWARD L. BERMAN, California
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
ROBERT E. ANDREWS, New Jersey
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio
MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California
ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
MIKE ENNIS, Subcommittee Staff Director
RICHARD KESSLER, Democratic Professional Staff Member
DAN MARTZ, Counsel
HEIDI L. HENNIG, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
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APPENDIX
H. Res. 350
MARKUP OF H. RES. 350, CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA ON THE OCCASION OF THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NATION'S INDEPENDENCE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1998
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:08 p.m., in room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Doug Bereuter (chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. BEREUTER. [presiding] The Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific will come to order. Before we begin today's hearing, the Chair would ask our witnesses' indulgence to take care of a small matter of Subcommittee business, H. Res. 350, congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence. Of course, I am going to defer a final vote on H. Res. 350 until Mr. Berman or a Member of the Minority arrives, but I thought we could expedite the situation if I made my statement at this point.
We'll defer action, but we'll have the clerk read the resolution for the record at this point.
The CLERK. ''H. Res. 350, congratulating the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their nation's independence. Whereas on February 4, 1948, the people of Sri Lanka gained their independence from the British;''——
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Mr. BEREUTER. Without objection, further reading of the resolution will be dispensed with, put in the record in full, and open for amendment.
[H. Res. 350 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. BEREUTER. I am going to suspend the amendatory process, and now for a statement, until Minority arrives.
My statement will proceed as follows. H. Res. 350 was introduced on February 4, the day that Sri Lanka celebrates as the 50th anniversary of independence by this Member, my colleague and Ranking Member, Mr. Berman, and Mr. Hamilton. America's relations with this island nation are very strong and productive. The social and economic progress that Sri Lanka has made in the last 5 decades is truly encouraging, and has laid a strong foundation for its future. Sri Lankan Americans, both Sinhalese and Tamil, have made major contributions to American society and our relationship has proven mutually beneficial. The official celebration will last all year. The precise date of the 50th anniversary was February 4, the day the resolution was introduced. Major celebrations were held, with Prince Charles being the head of the British delegation.
Regrettably, the celebrations have been marred by a series of bombings. This emphasizes the point that a terrible, bloody civil war continues in Sri Lanka, and has cost tens of thousands of lives. The purpose of today's resolution therefore is not to debate the specifics of the ethnic conflict. Rather, we wish to celebrate the achievement of the people of Sri Lanka—Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim alike.
H. Res. 350 does precisely that. It congratulates the people of Sri Lanka and points to this occasion as an opportunity to renew the common U.S.-Sri Lankan commitment to international cooperation.
I'm going to defer proceeding with the markup of the resolution at this point and pick that up as soon as possible.
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[Recess.]
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Berman, I moved through the process of taking up the Sri Lanka amendment, deferred any action and would open to you now any comment you might like to make on that resolution before we proceed with it.
Mr. BERMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I will try to be brief. First, I am very pleased to join with you in sponsoring the resolution which congratulates the people of Sri Lanka on the 50th anniversary of their nation's independence.
The United States has had a long history of both cultural and economic interest in Sri Lanka. Since independence, we have been strengthening our political ties and working productively with Sri Lanka on many international issues, most recently on the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
This resolution is an opportunity to express our further desire to do all we can to assist the Sri Lankan people in restoring peace and greater prosperity to their island nation.
Then let me just take this opportunity to express to the people of Sri Lanka my great sadness at the recent suicide bombing at the Holy Shrine of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy. None of us can understand what motivates people to such terrible acts of violence and to direct such acts not just at themselves, but at places of such sacredness to so many.
Mr. Chairman, I move the resolution that's before us.
Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you very much, Mr. Berman. I appreciate your cosponsorship. I enjoyed being with you on February 4 at the celebration here in Washington of the 50th anniversary of their independence.
Do you have any amendments to the resolution?
Mr. BERMAN. No, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. BEREUTER. If not, the question is on agreeing to the resolution. As many as are in favor will say aye.
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As many as are opposed will say no.
The ayes have it, and the resolution is agreed to. Without objection, the staff is authorized to make technical, grammatical, and conforming changes to the text just agreed to. We'll try to move it to the Full Committee as soon as possible.
[Whereupon, at 2:19 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned, subject to the call of the chair.]
A P P E N D I X
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