SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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47–405 CC
1998
H.R. 2678, THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD LABOR ELIMINATION ACT OF 1997; AND H. CON. RES. 37, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REGARDING LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
MARKUP
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITEE ON INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
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
JOHN McHUGH, New York
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina
ROY BLUNT, Missouri
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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 International Operations and Human Rights
CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey, Chairman
WILLIAM F. GOODLING, Pennsylvania
HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois
DAN BURTON, Indiana
CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina
PETER T. KING, New York
MATT SALMON, Arizona
LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, South Carolina
ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida
TOM LANTOS, California
CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia
GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York
ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American Samoa
DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey
EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama
ROBERT WEXLER, Florida
GROVER JOSEPH REES, Subcommittee Staff Director and Chief Counsel
ROBERT R. KING, Democratic Professional Staff Member
DOUGLAS C. ANDERSON, Counsel
CATHERINE DUBOIS, Staff Associate
C O N T E N T S
APPENDIX
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H.R. 2678
Amendment to H.R. 2678 offered by Mr. Christopher Smith of New Jersey
Technical amendments to H.R. 2678 offered by Mr. Christopher Smith
S. Con. Res. 37
Prepared statement of Mr. Christopher Smith
Prepared statement of Mr. Tom Lantos
February 12, 1998 letter from the U.S. Department of State
MARKUP OF H.R. 2678, THE INTERNATIONAL CHILD LABOR ELIMINATION ACT OF 1997; AND S. CON. RES. 37, CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REGARDING LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1998
House of Representatives,
Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights,
Committee on International Relations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:05 p.m. in room 2200, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Christopher Smith (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding.
Mr. SMITH. The Subcommittee will come to order.
The Subcommittee on International Relations and Human Rights meets today, pursuant to notice, in open session to consider two pieces of legislation, H.R. 2678, relating to child labor, and S. Con. Res. 37, relating to Little League Baseball.
Without objection, the statement of Mr. Lantos, the Ranking Member of this Subcommittee, will be made a part of the record.
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[The prepared statement of Mr. Lantos appears in the appendix.]
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, we will also make my comments on the legislation on H.R. 2678 a part of the record as well.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Smith appears in the appendix.]
Mr. SMITH. We now turn to consideration of H.R. 2678. The Chair lays the bill before the Subcommittee.
Mr. SMITH. The clerk will report the title of the bill.
The CLERK. H.R. 2678, a bill to impose certain sanctions on countries that do not prohibit child labor.
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the first reading of the bill is dispensed with. The clerk will read the text of the bill.
The CLERK. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States——
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the bill is considered as having been read and is open for amendment at this time.
[The bill H.R. 2678 appears in the appendix.]
I have an amendment at the desk which the clerk will report.
The CLERK. Amendment to H.R. 2678 offered by Mr. Smith: On page 9, line 5, strike ''$10,000,000'' and insert ''$30,000,000''.
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the amendments are considered as having been adopted.
[Mr. Smith's amendment to H.R. 2678 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. SMITH. I recognize myself for 5 minutes and would ask, without objection, that my full statement be made part of the record.
International child labor is a staggering problem that defies an easy solution. In the words of the International Labor Organization, few human rights abuses are so unanimously condemned while being so widely practiced as child labor.
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On paper, virtually every country in the world has outlawed this exploitation in its cruelest forms. Unfortunately, the facts on the ground are that somewhere between 200 and 250 million children under the age of 14 are being robbed of their youth for the profit of others.
The bill before us today represents a moderate, measured approach to the child labor problem. In the past, some business groups have complained that they would be unfairly punished for others' transgressions by legislative efforts such as a blanket ban on child-made imports.
While I disagree with that contention, I would point out that it is not an issue with regard to H.R. 2678, which does not contain an import ban. The bill merely conditions access to a gratuitous benefit—non-humanitarian foreign aid from the United States—on adherence to internationally recognized standards of decency toward children.
Furthermore, this bill will allow companies in problem industries in problem countries to receive U.S. assistance, for an example, in the form of OPIC or Eximbank assistance, as long as they can show that they themselves do not use child labor. Thus, it provides targeted incentives for change, both from the top down and from the bottom up.
Again, my full statement will be made part of the record.
Let me just point out, if there are any other Members of our Subcommittee who will or would like to make comments, we will make their statements part of the record as well.
I will put the question: As many as are in favor of the amendment shall signify by saying ''aye''; as many opposed will signify by saying ''no''.
Aye.
The ayes have it. The amendment is agreed to.
I have a further amendment to the text, and the clerk will read.
The CLERK. Technical amendments to H.R. 2678 offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey: Page——
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Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the amendments are considered as having been read.
[Mr. Smith's technical amendments appear in the appendix.]
Mr. SMITH. The question is on the amendment. All those in favor will signify by saying ''aye''.
Aye.
Opposed?
None. The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
I move that the Subcommittee report the bill to the Full Committee, with the amendments as adopted by the Subcommittee, with the recommendation that the amendments be agreed to.
The question is on the motion from myself, the gentleman from New Jersey. As many as are in favor, say ''aye''.
Aye.
Those opposed will say ''no''.
[No response.]
Mr. SMITH. The ayes appear to have it, and the measure is adopted.
Our next item of business is Senate Concurrent Resolution 37, which the Chair lays before the committee. The clerk will report the title of that resolution.
The CLERK. S. Con. Res. 37, Concurrent Resolution Regarding Little League Baseball.
Mr. SMITH. Without objection, the preamble and operative text of the resolution shall be read for amendment.
Without objection, the resolution is considered as having been read and is open to amendment at any point.
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[H. Con. Res. 37 appears in the appendix.]
Mr. SMITH. Just let me say that this is something that has been referred to us by the Speaker. It was passed on the Senate side. It is to try to provide international status for the organization for purposes of recognition in Poland, as a matter of fact, and Mr. McDade is the sponsor.]
So this resolution is noncontroversial, and I would just move that the Subcommittee report the resolution to the Full Committee.
The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey.
As many as are in favor of the motion shall signify by saying ''aye''—those opposed, ''no''.
There are no noes. The ayes appear to have it.
That concludes our business for today. Thank you.
[Whereupon, at 2:15 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Insert "The Official Committee record contains additional material here."