Behind the Headlines Congress Racing Against Time on Three Vital Measures

With scarcely a week remaining before its expected adjournment, the 93rd Congress is rushing three pieces of legislation of major importance to Israel and Soviet Jewry. These are the Trade Reform Bill with its proviso on Soviet emigration practices, the Export-Import Bank funding that limits loans to the Soviet Union as a test of its practices on emigration and the Foreign Aid Bill with funding for Israel and five-Arab states, among others, and a total ban on U.S. contributions to UNESCO which has virtually driven Israel into isolation.

All three are seriously threatened by the short time this Congress has left before it goes into history. The Trade Bill is in the greatest jeopardy a survey by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency showed today. While the Jackson/Mills-Vanik Amendment affecting Soviet emigration, known as Title 4, is certain of approval, it will fall by the way if the bill as a whole fails of adoption. This will mean the entire process will have to be renewed in the new Congress expected to convene Jan. 14.

Since the Senate Finance Committee reported the trade bill to the Senate Nov. 27, some 50 amendments have been announced. To fend off these proposals that would entail debate certain to be long enough to kill the bill, the leadership of both parties will introduce a cloture motion tomorrow to limit each Senator to one hour of discussion of any amendment germane to the bill. Whether or not the motion will receive the required 2/3 majority was uncertain today.

The House approved the trade bill a year ago but since any Senate measure will differ, the legislation must be resolved in a Senate-House conference. As a means of testing Soviet practices on emigration before allowing further U.S. loans, the Senate report puts a ceiling of $300 million on loans to the Soviet government for the next four years.

This sum can be increased only by concurrent resolution of both Houses. The House, backing Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger’s insistence on a free hand on loans to the Soviet Union to strengthen his diplomatic process, had refused to vote a ceiling when it adopted the measure. However, the lower chamber now is expected to go along with the Senate version.

HOUSE APPROVES UNESCO FUND CUT-OFF

With only two or three opposing in a voice vote yesterday, the House overwhelmingly adopted a proviso in the Foreign Aid Authorization Bill prohibiting U.S. contributions to UNESCO until it restores Israel to its rightful prerogatives. The proviso was introduced by Jonathan Bingham (D.NY).

The Foreign Aid Bill authorizes the foreign aid policy for the year ending next June 30 and puts ceilings on funding. Both Houses must also adopt appropriation measures to specify the funding. The House measure does not allow the additional $89.5 million in economic aid for Israel to balance the amount granted Egypt in an agricultural bill. But Rep. Thomas Morgan (D.Pa.) Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, is expected to urge that Israel receive the additional grant that the Senate had voted on the motion of Sen. Hubert H, Humphrey (D.Minn.).

Otherwise, the funding for Israel is the same in both House and Senate authorizations: $350 million in grants and $200 million in military credits. Similarly, Egypt is to get $250 million in economic grants; Jordan $202 million in economic and military aid; Lebanon $10 million in credits and $150,000 in military grants; and Saudi Arabia $220,000 as a gift for military training.

The House bill has a proviso by Bingham that takes into account Syria’s refusal to allow its Jewish citizens to emigrate. In earmarking $100 million for special Middle East requirements, assumed generally to be a tool for Kissinger’s Middle East negotiations, Bingham provided that none of this money can be given to a country that restrains emigration. Morgan is also expected to be the key figure in bringing this proviso into the legislation in conference.