To express the sense of Congress that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority that an emergency exists under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and justifying the waiver of cargo preference rates in transporting the $1.6 billion in bilateral assistance to Russia as agreed to in the "Vancouver Package" between President Clinton and President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation.

Executive Comment Requested from USTR.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Apr 22, 1993

Declares that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority granted in the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 so that the $1,600,000,000 in bilateral assistance to Russia, referred to as the Vancouver Package, may be effected without endangering the stability of the Government or economy of Russia and without adding to the U.S. budget deficit.

Read the summary on Congress.gov

PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Barrett, Bill [R-NE-3] · R–NE

Committees

Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee

15 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Apr 26, 1993
Executive Comment Requested from USTR.
Apr 26, 1993
Referred to the Subcommittee On Merchant Marine.
Apr 22, 1993
Referred to the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Apr 22, 1993
Introduced in House
Apr 22, 1993
Introduced in House
Apr 21, 1993
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1942-1943)

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Apr 22, 1993 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.85 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.85, 103rd Congress: To express the sense of Congress that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority that an emergency exists under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and justifying the waiver of cargo preference rates in transporting the $1.6 billion in bilateral assistance to Russia as agreed to in the "Vancouver Package" between President Clinton and President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/85

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hconres85/BILLS-103hconres85ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:20:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Con.Res.85 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.85, 103rd Congress: To express the sense of Congress that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority that an emergency exists under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and justifying the waiver of cargo preference rates in transporting the $1.6 billion in bilateral assistance to Russia as agreed to in the "Vancouver Package" between President Clinton and President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/85

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hconres85/BILLS-103hconres85ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:20:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.85, 103rd Congress: To express the sense of Congress that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority that an emergency exists under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and justifying the waiver of cargo preference rates in transporting the $1.6 billion in bilateral assistance to Russia as agreed to in the "Vancouver Package" between President Clinton and President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/85

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hconres85/BILLS-103hconres85ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:20:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.85, 103rd Congress: To express the sense of Congress that the President should exercise the temporary waiver authority that an emergency exists under the Merchant Marine Act, 1936 and justifying the waiver of cargo preference rates in transporting the $1.6 billion in bilateral assistance to Russia as agreed to in the "Vancouver Package" between President Clinton and President Yeltsin of the Russian Federation.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/103rd-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/85

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 1993-04-22.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/103/bills/hconres85/BILLS-103hconres85ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T17:20:33Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.85 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.