THE HOUSE : Chinese Students Issue
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By a vote of 390 to 25, the House overrode President Bush’s veto of legislation (HR 2712) to prevent the deportation of up to 40,000 Chinese students when their visas expire. But the veto held when the Senate failed to muster the two-thirds majority it needed to join the House in defeating it.
Congress passed the bill last year after the Tian An Men Square massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators. The President countered with an executive order to achieve the same goals. Congressional critics said a law, not an order that can be instantly lifted, is needed to protect the students against being returned home to face possible persecution.
James A. Traficant Jr. (D-Ohio) said: “Maybe our President is going to kowtow to a repressive Chinese government, but this Congress should not. It’s time to put your vote where your rhetoric is.”
Minority Leader Robert H. Michel (R-Ill.) said: “President Bush knows China as well if not better than any member of this House . . . (and) must be given the room to make the foreign-policy moves he feels are in the long-range best interests of our country.”
Members voting yes wanted to override the veto.
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
To Delay Veto Vote
By a vote of 137 to 276, the House refused to send President Bush’s veto of the Chinese students bill to the Foreign Affairs and Judiciary committees. The GOP motion sought to delay a floor vote the President appeared certain to lose.
Jim Leach (R-Iowa) who supported the committee referral, said: “What is at issue today is not a question of indignation but of judgment. How America can play a constructive role in moderating Chinese institutions and liberalizing their policies.”
Opponent Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) said: “This is not a time to temporize, this is not a time to delay.”
Members voting yes wanted to delay a veto vote.
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
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