Snow White to Terrorism--Congressmen’s Agendas

A bill to save the threatened African elephant by prohibiting the import of ivory and other pachyderm parts is included on the congressional agenda of Rep. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles).

A measure to open the door for Americans to travel to Cuba, Vietnam and any other country against which the United States has imposed an economic embargo is being sought by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City).

And a resolution designating last July 13 to 20 as “Snow White Week” to commemorate the 50th birthday of the beleaguered but virtuous princess of Walt Disney’s first full-length animated film was pushed through Congress by U. S. Rep. Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale).

These three pieces of legislation are among two dozen diverse measures sponsored by San Fernando Valley-area legislators in the first nine months of the 100th Congress. The initiatives generally deal with national issues--from excise taxes to copyright laws--rather than local concerns.

Reflect Their Interests

The bills also reflect the legislators’ interests and roles in Congress.

Beilenson, a reform-minded Democrat with a reputation for getting out front on difficult issues, is sponsoring several measures likely to antagonize large blocs of voters.

Berman, a liberal Democrat and member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has introduced bills to expand travel rights and the free flow of information between Americans and countries at odds with the United States.

Not surprisingly in a House controlled by a large Democratic majority, the Republican from Glendale has a more modest legislative agenda.

Moorhead has concentrated on matters he has brought before the Judiciary Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, on which he serves as a ranking minority member.

Most of the proposed laws are pending before various House committees.

Only the innocuous “Snow White Week” resolution, which had 218 co-sponsors, has traversed the legislative Black Forest of the House and Senate and been signed by President Reagan. Still, because of legislative delays, it did not go into effect until July 21--the day after “Snow White Week” ended.

Such a lack of results at this stage is not unusual, however, in an institution that often appears determined to pass no law before its time. Congress generally creeps along until adjournment approaches and then rushes to pass a flurry of bills. Even then, most proposed laws never make it through the legislative labyrinth.

A total of 3,362 bills and 833 resolutions have been introduced by the 435 House members by last week, according to the House clerk’s office. Only 115 have become law.

A few of the bills sponsored by Valley representatives already appear dead. Others have been revived after failing to move in previous years or being vetoed by Reagan.

The bills include controversial proposals by Beilenson to slash the budget deficit by raising gasoline, cigarette and liquor taxes and by Berman to permit victims of terrorist acts in America sponsored by foreign governments to collect monetary damages.

In addition, Moorhead has sponsored a bill to prohibit importation into the United States of products produced by a process that is protected by an American patent and a measure to expand copyright protection for industrial designs of such items as telephones, luggage and automotive parts.

Role of Amendments Cited

Further, Valley representatives said, focusing on legislation they have sponsored can be misleading. They may, for instance, insert significant amendments into other bills that appear headed for passage, persuade more senior members to sponsor their initiatives and play key roles in legislative negotiations or in the behind-the-scenes work of House committees.

“My bills are a relatively minor part of my legislative agenda,” said Berman, a savvy legislative infighter. “Our amendments to other bills in many cases are more meaningful.”

Berman has introduced an amendment to the foreign aid bill to reauthorize $5 million for joint scientific research projects with Israel and Third World countries. The program, sponsored by Berman since 1984, focuses on agricultural food production and public health and has helped “reduce Israel’s isolation in the Third World,” Berman said.

Berman also has three amendments in a massive trade bill that has passed the House. One would establish a Western regional office in California for the Commerce Department’s export licensing, which Berman said will expedite the processing of West Coast export applications.

Another provision would prohibit the Commerce Department from detaining goods for export at a port for more than 10 days when a valid export license has been issued. Goods are now sometimes held for several weeks, Berman said.

A third provision would prevent the President from prohibiting the import or export of any publications, films, posters, records, photographs, microfilm, tapes or other informational material on First Amendment grounds. The flow of such materials to and from Cuba is currently restricted. Berman said prospects for passage of this provision are very good.

Burbank Airport Provision

Berman also persuaded a House colleague to insert a provision in a major airport improvement bill that would reroute the noisy paths of 40% of Burbank Airport flights from Berman’s 26th District to that of Moorhead’s 22nd District. Moorhead failed to have that provision deleted in the House bill, but it is still expected to provoke a further Senate battle.

Moorhead has also inserted one of his long-sought initiatives into both the House and Senate versions of the trade bill. The measure would prohibit the importation of products made outside the U.S. by a manufacturing process that is protected by a U.S. patent.

This protection exists in Western Europe and other industrialized countries but remains a loophole in U. S. law, said Tom Mooney, counsel to the House Judiciary Committee. The measure, which was passed by the House but died in the Senate last year, faces more promising prospects.

Moorhead sponsored the “Snow White Week” resolution at the behest of Walt Disney Co., whose Burbank headquarters is in his district. It sparked initial opposition from senators who felt it was too commercial, said David Joergenson, a Moorhead aide. It passed, albeit belatedly, when the reference to Disney was dropped from its title.

“Oh hell, why should we bash dwarfs?” Joergenson said the senators ultimately decided, referring to Snow White’s seven diminutive companions.

He added that such commemorative resolutions are a staple of legislative activity. “They don’t really cost anything,” Joergenson said.

Meanwhile, Beilenson and Berman are pressing heavy legislative agendas that, in some cases, will cost somebody something and face serious opposition.

Acknowledging the political risks, Beilenson has authored bills to slash the federal budget deficit by raising gasoline, cigarette and liquor taxes. Although he concedes that those bills will not move, he hopes the ideas will be among those considered when the leadership of the House and Senate negotiate a new budget. Under the revamped Gramm-Rudman budget-balancing law, the fiscal 1988 deficit must be reduced by $23 billion.

Public Service Commercials

Other Beilenson bills would authorize the President to ask radio and television broadcasters to provide free air time for public service announcements on the health dangers of smoking and would prohibit the Reagan Administration from selling land surrounding two Veterans’ Administration medical centers.

Berman’s two major bills face opposition from Reagan. One would remove the President’s authority to prohibit Americans from spending any money in countries against which the United States has an economic embargo--which effectively prohibits travel to countries such as Cuba, Vietnam and Cambodia.

Berman’s other major bill would permit victims or survivors of terrorism sponsored by a foreign government to collect monetary damages against the commercial assets of that nation in the United States.

The measure was prompted by an appeals court ruling that the widow and sons of a former Chilean diplomat killed in 1976 car bombing on Washington’s Embassy Row could not recover damages from the U. S.-based assets of the Chilean national airline, Lan-Chile, which was used to carry out the assassination.

Berman’s bill would amend Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act to allow the diplomat’s family and future victims or survivors to gain economic redress.

The bill is backed by the American Bar Assn. but opposed by the State Department, which says such matters are best left to private communications between governments, Berman said.

“It is absolutely unconscionable and inconsistent with the U. S. counterterrorism policy to permit a foreign government to avoid responsibility for acts of terrorism,” Berman said.

FROM TERRORISM TO SNOW WHITE

Some Legislation Introduced in 100th Congress by Valley Representatives

GAS TAX: Bill would impose an additional 25 cents-a-gallon tax on gasoline, diesel fuel and special motor fuels to raise $25 billion and reduce the federal budget deficit. In House Committee on Ways and Means. Sponsored by Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Tarzana).

ELEPHANT PROTECTION ACT: Bill would prohibit the import or export of African elephant ivory and other products to discourage killing of the animals, which are threatened with extinction. In House Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment. Sponsored by Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Tarzana).

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM: Bill would provide public financing for general election campaigns of House members and limit an individual campaign’s spending to $200,000. In House Subcommittee on Elections. Sponsored by Rep. Anthony Beilenson (D-Tarzana).

RIGHT TO TRAVEL: Bill would remove the President’s authority to effectively prohibit Americans from traveling to countries against which the U.S. has an economic embargo. In House Subcomittee on International Economic Policy and Trade. Sponsored by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City).

TERRORISM: Bill would allow victims or survivors of terrorist acts sponsored by foreign governments to collect monetary damages against the U.S.-based assets of the foreign country. In House Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations. Sponsored by Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City).

SNOW WHITE WEEK: A joint resolution designated the week beginning July 13, 1987, as “Snow White Week” to commemorate the Disney character’s 50th birthday. Passed and signed by President Reagan July 21, 1987. Sponsored by Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-Glendale).

PROCESS PATENT: Bill would prohibit importation into the United States of any product that was produced by a process protected by a U.S. patent. Has been incorporated into two versions of a major trade bill that have passed the House and Senate. Sponsored by Rep. Carlos Moorhead (R-Glendale).