Congressmen List Their Priorities for New Session : Legislation: Their concerns range from the Middle East and financing of political campaigns to issues that hit closer to home.

During the new session of Congress that convenes this week, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City) hopes to help block big-ticket arms sales to Saudi Arabia proposed by the Bush Administration and to put the brakes on the spiraling Mideast arms race in general.

Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley) plans to draft legislation to require recipients of public assistance to undergo mandatory drug testing, a proposal certain to provoke opposition from civil libertarians and welfare rights advocates.

Reps. Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles) and Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield) list campaign finance reform among their priorities for the 102nd Congress. Beilenson is a longtime proponent of public campaign financing; Thomas, whose district includes Lancaster, wants to require candidates to raise most of their funds from donors within their own districts.

These are a sampling of the proposals that lawmakers representing the San Fernando, Santa Clarita and Antelope valleys plan to pursue during the next two years. Most deal with national issues rather than local concerns. Some were introduced in previous sessions without success; many are unlikely to pass in the next Congress as well.

The representatives’ agendas, outlined in interviews with The Times, also include perennial efforts to obtain funds for district projects and resolve issues of special interest to Southern Californians.

Lawmakers said they will seek money to purchase land for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, conduct a study of revitalizing the Los Angeles River and upgrade aging facilities at Edwards Air Force Base. In addition, Gallegly said he will continue efforts to gain port of entry status for the Port of Hueneme.

Berman’s office is participating in a project exploring the prospect of trying to jump-start an alternative-fuel vehicle industry in Southern California. The Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies at UCLA is conducting a feasibility study on the idea, which could combine government, industry and academic contributions.

Berman said the venture, if it is successful, could lead to the creation of jobs for some of the highly trained workers who will be displaced when Lockheed Corp. leaves Burbank.

Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles), whose list of legislative goals focuses on expanding health care and on environmental protection, may go to bat for Hollywood production studios and independent producers in a struggle with the three major television networks over program syndication rights.

Waxman said legislation would be needed if the Federal Communications Commission decides to change its rules so that the networks can own programs after their initial television airings. Waxman said the rule change would stifle programming diversity by giving the networks overwhelming financial control.

As members prepare for the new session of Congress, some battle lines are clearly drawn.

Howard L. Berman

Berman, a member of the Foreign Affairs subcommittee on arms control, international security and science, vowed to fight a $15-billion Saudi arms deal proposed by President Bush in the wake of Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait. The proposal, which is expected to include 24 F-15 fighter planes, is opposed by the pro-Israel lobby.

Berman has asked Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dante B. Fascell (D-Fla.) to hold a hearing on arms sales to the Middle East in light of the Gulf showdown. So far, Berman wrote Fascell: “I have discerned not one hint of a serious policy discussion about . . . what kind of status quo are we looking to see in place, assuming our policy there succeeds.”

Berman also plans to reintroduce a measure he has sponsored for several sessions that would remove the President’s authority to prohibit U. S. citizens from “arranging, promoting or facilitating” travel to countries against which the United States has an economic embargo. The prohibition effectively bans travel to Cuba, Vietnam, Cambodia and North Korea.

On the domestic front, Berman plans to introduce legislation to counteract a 1987 U. S. Supreme Court decision preempting states from allowing individuals to seek punitive or compensatory damages against insurance companies that wrongfully delay or refuse to pay a legitimate claim. The ruling was made under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Under terms of the court’s decision, insured parties can sue the company to pay only the amount of the claim. Berman said the decision removes an important incentive for insurance firms to avoid improper or “bad faith” processing of claims.

Elton Gallegly

Gallegly said his concern over illegal drug use, particularly such use that results in crack-addicted babies, prompted his proposal to require mandatory drug testing of people on public assistance “who could be using money that should provide for the health and care of their children” to buy drugs. He said he would like to apply it to anyone who receives public assistance.

Gallegly acknowledged that “there could be some constitutional questions.” But, he emphasized: “This is not something to throw up against the wall and see if it sticks and I get a little political mileage. . . . I really believe in it.”

As chairman of the Urban Search and Rescue Committee of the House Fire Caucus, Gallegly also hopes to develop a centralized, coordinated emergency plan for urban catastrophes such as earthquakes. He also said he will continue to push to expand the Border Patrol.

Carlos J. Moorhead

Moorhead, who sponsored an amendment in the last Congress authorizing 1,000 additional Border Patrol positions, said obtaining funds for those slots is one of his priorities in the next session. He said this will help stem the flow of narcotics as well as illegal immigrants across the border.

Moorhead also plans to work on a national energy plan as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee. He said he would like to see the United States increase its Strategic Petroleum Reserve and allow environmentally sound offshore oil exploration--including off the California coast--and “develop a new, safe nuclear capability.”

Moorhead said he also plans to introduce legislation implementing recommendations from a 15-member national panel that explored ways to relieve the backlog in the federal courts. The lawmaker, who serves on the Judiciary Committee, said he is uncertain about the specific legislative proposals.

Henry A. Waxman

Waxman, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s subcommittee on health and environment, and whose Hollywood-based district includes Universal City and parts of North Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills, has a long list of major health-related measures on his agenda. These range from family planning to national health insurance.

He said he plans to reintroduce a sweeping anti-tobacco measure that is strongly opposed by cigarette, advertising and media interests. The bill would bar the use of human models in cigarette ads, prohibit tobacco companies from sponsoring sporting events and public entertainment, and increase the size of warning labels on packages and billboards.

He also intends to seek more money for contraception and fertility research in the National Institutes of Health reauthorization bill and will attempt to reverse a Bush Administration moratorium on fetal tissue research. Waxman said this work, which is opposed by anti-abortion forces, holds promise for finding cures for Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and spinal cord injuries.

In addition, Waxman plans to push a measure to permit federal criminal prosecution of animal rights activists who engage in violence against institutions that use animals in biomedical research.

He will seek again to pass a controversial bill that would set a uniform safety standard for pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables. The present standard can be waived if the economic benefits to agriculture and business outweigh safety concerns. He will also reintroduce a measure that would establish a fish inspection program.

Anthony C. Beilenson

Beilenson, who represents much of the West Valley, has for years sponsored a bill that would overhaul the congressional campaign finance system. It would direct tax dollars to pay for campaigns, eliminating the need to raise large sums from special interests.

The measure has not progressed, and Beilenson acknowledged that he did not play an active role in the debate last session after it became clear that the House Democratic leadership would not support public campaign financing.

But a series of scandals--highlighted by recent hearings involving campaign contributions by former savings and loan executive Charles H. Keating Jr. to five senators--have left lawmakers more open to dramatic change, Beilenson said. “I intend to assert myself this year,” he said.

If he does not retain his Intelligence Committee chairmanship, Beilenson plans to pursue legislation involving another longtime interest: world population control. Although he is uncertain what direction his effort would take, he said anti-drug money for South American countries would be far better spent on family planning services in those nations.

Lawmakers Discuss What They’ve Accomplished So Far

Valley-area congressional members listed the following as their major accomplishments in the 101st Congress:

Anthony C. Beilenson (D-Los Angeles)

* Helped cut funds for covert actions as chairman of House Intelligence Committee, as well as aiding the passage of an intelligence authorization bill which President Bush vetoed.

* Introduced bills to raise taxes on cigarettes, beer, wine and gasoline; all were increased in 1991 budget agreement.

* Helped secure $24 million to purchase land for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

* Obtained $2.5 million for development of the Sepulveda Basin.

* Obtained $8.3 million to help protect African elephants.

Howard L. Berman (D-Panorama City)

* Played a key role in passage of a landmark immigration reform law.

* Sponsored a law to prohibit foreign companies that illegally sell ballistic missile technology to Third World nations from receiving U.S. government contracts.

* Sponsored a bill to prevent the Administration from providing weapons to nations that are believed to support terrorism.

* Led the fight to impose sanctions on Iraq prior to invasion of Kuwait.

* Helped increase foreign aid, preserving $3 billion in military and economic aid to Israel.

* Won approval for about $980,000 in spending to restore Hansen Dam in the northeast Valley.

Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley)

* Obtained a promise from the U.S. Customs commissioner to provide customs services at Port of Hueneme.

* Helped gain $11.8 million for cleanup at Rockwell International facilities near Chatsworth.

* Secured $400,000 for the Calleguas Creek flood-control project.

Jerry Lewis (R-Redlands, district includes half of Palmdale)

* Co-sponsored the original Clean Air Act bill and an amendment that would force construction of more alternative fuel vehicles.

* Helped obtain $65 million for a Santa Ana flood-control project.

* Obtained $4.4 million to help preserve the desert tortoise and obtained money for additional Bureau of Land Management rangers in the desert.

* Obtained $500,000 for a shelter for battered women and children in Highland.

Carlos J. Moorhead (R-Glendale)

* Won the right for California to impose tougher regulations on off-road vehicles than required by the federal government under the Clean Air Act.

* Co-sponsored an amendment to encourage the use of renewable energy sources in the Clean Air Act.

* Sponsored an amendment authorizing another 1,000 border patrol positions. The funding must still be approved.

Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield, district includes Lancaster)

* Helped win a five-year extension for the Targeted Export Assistance Program to promote export of specialty farm crops.

* Sponsored a bill to extend tax credits to those installing solar and geothermal energy equipment.

* Sponsored a measure to require the same quality standards to be applied to domestic pistachio nuts and imported nuts.

* Obtained $6.5 million for a corrosion-control facility at Edwards Air Force Base.

* Secured a total of $3 million for a San Joaquin Valley air pollution study.

Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles)

* Spearheaded the passage of tougher environmental standards under the revised Clean Air Act.

* Sponsored a bill requiring the disclosure on food labels of calories, cholesterol, sodium and fat content.

* Sponsored a law to allocate $875 million to states and cities hit hard by AIDS and to fund counseling, testing and treatment of AIDS patients.

* Helped engineer reforms in Medicaid to expand coverage for children of low-income families and in Medicare to cover home-health care for the frail elderly.

* Sponsored a bill to toughen the approval process and regulation of medical devices.

* Sponsored a measure to provide funds to states for breast and cervical cancer detection and for education programs for low-income women.

* Sponsored a bill to more than double the funding for the treatment of the homeless mentally ill.