Speech #920304401

Mr. Speaker. I am pleased to announce today that 70 Members of the House of Representatives have joined in introducing legislation to bar mostfavorednation status or special trade privileges to any country in EastWest trade until such time as that country eliminates its repressive and discriminatory emigration policies. Identical legislation has just been introduced today in the Senate by Senator JACKSON and is cosponsored by 65 Senatorsan overwhelming majority of the Senate. . The House has already expressed its will and intent on this matter. On September 21. an amendment was added in the House to the foreign aid appropriation bill barring the use of ExportImport Bank and Overseas Private Investment Corporation loans. guarantees and trade assistance to any country with repressive emigration policies. The House has demonstrated that it does not want to encourage or engage in trade with a nation which is in the business of bartering human lives. 33798" Todays legislation will include limitations on the full spectrum of trade devices and mechanisms used to finance international trade and investment. It is not an EastWest trade bill. It is a bill to ban preferential EastWest trade with nationssuch as the Soviet Unionthat engage in discriminatory and repressive emigration policies. Once these policies are dropped. then the way will be open for consideration of mostfavorednation legislation. commercial agreements and participation in any program of the Government of the United States which extends credits or credit guarantees or investment guarantees. This bill will be referred to the House Ways and Means Committee. It is clear from the number of Ways and Means Committee members who are already cosponsoring this legislation. that an EastWest trade bill will not be enacted until these inhumane emigration restrictions are deleted by the Soviet Union. For example. as a Ways and Means member myself. I have in the past sponsored EastWest trade legislation. since I believe that would be helpful in Improving relations between our Nation and the nations of the Eastern bloc. But this is a time for moral outcry. We cannot accept trade with a nation which is holding certain minority groups hostage. At the present time. the Soviet Union is requiring up to $37.000 in payment for the right to emigrate. This requirement Is directed almost entirely against a minority which is seeking cultural and religious freedom. I have therefore announced my withdrawal of support of EastWest trade until such restrictions on the part of the Soviet Union are removed.