Speech #930162446

Mr. Chairman. I support the amendment sponsored by the gentleman from Ohio which seeks to prohibit extension of trade credits or credit guarantees to any nonmarket economy country which denies or unduly restricts the fundamental human right of emigration. In offering his amendment. our colleague from Ohio is merely attempting to restore the original provisions of the socalled MillsVanikJackson amendment. As now written. the committee bill prohibits extension of mostfavorednation status to countries that deny freedom of emigration. The credit limitation language is not contained. It should be no secret that these prohibitions are primarily aimed at achieving a relaxation or alteration in Soviet emigration policy. There is no need to describe in detail the many official and nonofficial barriers a Soviet citizen encounters if he wishes to exercise his fundamental human right to emigrate. Everyone is aware of the education taxes. excessive document and visa fees. and so forth. which have been used to restrict the the freedom of Soviet citizens. In other words. Mr. Chairman. my vote in favor of the MillsVanik amendment is essentially a humanitarian vote in support of basic human rights. It puts the U.S. Congress on record in favor of freedom to emigrate to the country of a persons choice. However. if this expression of humanitarian concern is to be more than illusory. we must support the amendment now before the House. The prohibition against conferral of mostfavorednation status to countries which deny freedom of emigration while allowing extension of credits and credit guarantees to the same countries makes the freedom of emigration section an illusory promise. a mere rendering of lipservice to the principle of free emigration. The credit provisions are much more important to the Soviet Union than the granting of mostfavorednation status. The Soviets are much more interested in obtaining credit financing for industrial development than in obtaining MFN status for its exports. The truth of the matter is that at this time the Soviets do not have too much of a U.S. market for their exports. In other words. in order to be an effective tool of international diplomacy. the MillsVanikJackson amendment must include a prohibition on extension of credits. If this body wishes to make a firm commitment to freedom of emigration. it will support the amendent now before us. Moreover. there is another. and perhaps more compelling reason to support the Vanik amendment. In view of todays international situation. it is questionable whether the United States should guarantee or extend any credits to the Soviet Union.