The House : Chilean Ship

The House rejected, 194 to 223, a resolution (SJ 361) urging that the tall ship Esmeralda, formerly used as a torture chamber by the regime of Chilean strongman Gen. Augusto Pinochet, be excluded from the Fourth of July Statue of Liberty centennial gala in New York harbor. Sponsor Michael D. Barnes (D-Md.) said that, after Pinochet took power in 1973, “scores of naked men and women were subjected to electric shock and mock execution, and were beaten and sexually abused” aboard the vessel. Pinochet remains in power.

Opponent Robert J. Lagomarsino (R-Ojai) said, “Passing this resolution will do nothing to advance the cause of democracy in Chile or to resolve the longstanding human rights questions left unanswered by the Pinochet regime.”

Members voting yes wanted the Chilean vessel banned from America’s Independence Day celebration in New York harbor.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

U.S. Advisers

The House adopted, 215 to 212, an amendment to the $100-million contra aid package (HR 5052) aimed at keeping American military personnel from being drawn into the Nicaraguan civil war. The amendment prohibits U.S. military advisers to the contras , or rebels, from venturing within 20 miles of Nicaragua.

Supporters said they feared a parallel between the United States’ growing involvement in Nicaragua and its gradual entry into the Vietnam War, whereas opponents called that an unfounded fear and said the amendment could impair the effectiveness of the contra forces.

Members voting yes wanted to keep American military advisers in Costa Rica and Honduras at least 20 miles from Nicaragua.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x

Contra Aid

The House voted, 221 to 209, to send $100 million in military and non-lethal aid to the U.S.-sponsored rebels fighting to undermine Nicaragua’s Sandinista regime. A major victory for President Reagan, this reversed a House vote in March to block the Administration’s aid request for the contras.

The military appropriations bill containing the money (HR 5052), which later was sent to the Senate, also lifts a ban on covert U.S. intelligence activity against Nicaragua’s Marxist government.

Supporter Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) said that denying the aid would “increase the risk this nation would face from a Soviet-Cuban base in Central America.”

Opponent David R. Obey (D-Wis) said American public opinion solidly opposes the contras, who “are probably more effective in running drugs than they are in fighting battles.”

Members voting yes wanted to support the contras.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) x Rep. Berman (D) x Rep. Fiedler (R) x Rep. Moorhead (R) x Rep. Waxman (D) x