The House

Tip O’Neill Library

By a vote of 158 to 239, the House rejected a bill (HR 3661) to provide a $12.2-million taxpayer contribution toward construction of a Boston College library dedicated to former House Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O’Neill Jr. (D-Mass.).

The bill sought to forgive the remainder of a federal library construction loan received by the college in 1981, before it announced it would name the library after O’Neill and accept his papers.

Supporter Silvio O. Conte (R-Mass.) said: “This is a worthy bill. It is not pork.”

Opponent Thomas E. Petri (R-Wis.), said the bill is “pure pork, and it’s the wrong way to establish a memorial.”

Members voting yes wanted to provide Boston College with $12.2 million for construction of the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Library.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) X Rep. Berman (D) X Rep. Dixon (D) X Rep. Levine (D) X Rep. Waxman (D) X

Pretoria Sanctions

By a vote of 244 to 132, the House passed and sent to the Senate a bill (HR 1580) to tighten U.S. economic sanctions against South Africa in response to that country’s system of apartheid. The legislation goes far beyond existing sanctions, which penalize South Africa mainly by banning new U.S. investment and excluding most of its major exports from U.S. markets.

The new measure requires the withdrawal of virtually all private American investments and loans from South Africa, prohibits imports except for publications and certain strategic minerals, orders retaliation against allies that seek to replace American trade discontinued by the sanctions and bans most U.S. exports to South Africa. It permits farm exports to continue.

Supporter Sam Gibbons (D-Fla.) said: “This bill comes as close to economic warfare as you can put two nations.”

Opponent Dan Burton (R-Ind.) said economic woes caused by the bill could trigger “a violent, bloody revolution that the blacks will not be able to win because they do not have the military power to do so.”

Members voting yes favored tougher economic sanctions on South Africa.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) X Rep. Berman (D) X Rep. Dixon (D) X Rep. Levine (D) X Rep. Waxman (D) X

GOP Plan

The House rejected, 155 to 236, a Republican amendment to soften the South Africa sanctions bill. Under the amendment, a President could have waived the bill’s economic penalties against South Africa if West Germany, Italy, France, Britain and Japan fail to impose similar sanctions. Those countries are South Africa’s other major economic partners.

Author William S. Broomfield (R-Mich.) said his amendment would correct the bill’s “hasty, ill-considered and unilateral approach to the problems in southern Africa.”

Opponent Stephen J. Solarz (D-N.Y.) said the amendment would give America’s allies a veto over U.S. policy toward South Africa.

Members voting yes supported the amendment.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Beilenson (D) X Rep. Berman (D) X Rep. Dixon (D) X Rep. Levine (D) X Rep. Waxman (D) X