The Senate late yesterday adopted a $4.4 billion Foreign Military Authorization Bill that includes provisions for tightened Congressional control over skyrocketing U.S. arms sales abroad and clamped down on countries that seek American governmental assistance while violating human rights including such tactics as the Arab boycott.
The 60-30 vote of approval climaxed a day-long debate that saw the Senate’s bipartisan majorities sweep away attempts to restrict Israel’s freedom of action and weaken the provisions on human rights.
It left intact provisions allowing Congress to veto by concurrent resolution within 30 days any U.S. government or American commercial weapons sale that exceeds $25 million or involves a major weapons system that may be even less than $25 million, discriminates against U.S. citizens and business organizations on racial or religious grounds, or supplies weapons to countries that violate human rights such as torture and imprisonment of political dissenters.
Sen. Hubert H. Humphrey (D.Minn.), floor manager of the Senate legislation, described it as “the most significant revision of legislative authority for foreign military assistance and sales since enactment of the Mutual Security Act more than a quarter of a century ago.”
HOUSE VERSION DIFFERS FROM SENATE’S
Meanwhile, the House International Relations Committee completed work on its authorization measure that carries, in principle, the provisions of the Senate’s version but with significant differences in language. The House probably will vote on its committee’s bill during the first week in March.
The likelihood is that because of differences in the legislation, a Senate-House conference will have to iron out the legislative wrinkles and both chambers will then vote on the compromise measure. After that, both Houses must go through the legislative processes to appropriate the funds for the authorized legislation.
Financially, the Senate authorized 25 percent of the $4.4 billion approved for the fiscal year ending June 30 to be used for the transitional quarter ending Sept. 30. This quarter is to account for the lapse before the start of fiscal year 1977 that begins Oct. 1 under the new budgeting calendar. The fiscal ’76 provisions allocated $725 million in economic assistance and $1.5 billion in military credits for Israel.
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