Speech #930298788

Mr. President. we would be aiding and abetting the cause of injustice and tyranny if we failed to take our stand and draft the Trade Reform Act in such a way as to extend as far as possible the hope of freedom. We have apparently made some progress toward encouraging Jewish emigration from the Soviet Union. But we are beholden to our tradition of individual freedom. to our moral conscience. and to our very own people to extend the reach of this important legislation to all citizens of Communist countries. We can do no less. To this end. I. together with the Senator from South Carolina . now submit an amendment to the Trade Reform Act which assures our continued dedication to the goal of fundamental human rights and the welfare of our citizens. as contained in section 402. Specifically. this amendment provides under paragraph 1. subsection a. that no country shall receive U.S. credits. credit guarantees. or investment guarantees. that denies its citizens the right or opportunity to visit. or to join permanently through emigration. a very close relative in the United States. such as a spouse. parent. child. brother or sister. This paragraph provides further that the President of the United States shall not conclude any commercial agreement with any such country. Paragraph 2 provides that such credits and commercial benefits shall also be denied to any country that imposes more than a nominal tax on the visas or other documents required for a visit or emigrationdescribed in the first paragraph. And paragraph 3 provides that such credits and commercial benefits shall also be denied to any country that imposes more than a nominal tax. levy. fine. fee. or other charge on any citizen as a consequence of his desire to make a visit or to emigrate as described in the first paragraph. Although this amendment will not assist every individual in a Communist country to emigrate. it will at least help those who have close relatives in the UnIted States. Moreover. it will require their freedom to emigrate. no matter where they live on our globe. In this respect. the amendment goes beyond the JacksonVanik amendment. which excluded Yugoslavia and Poland because .they already enjoy mostfavorednation status. Thus it closes a loophole in the Trade Reform Act which allows these two countries to restrict the emigration of its citizens while at the same time receiving American credits and trade benefits. Subsection b of the amendment provides that after the date of enactment of the Trade Reform Act. a nonmarket economy country may participate in any program of the U.S. Government which extends credits or credit guarantees or investment guarantees. that the President may conclude a commercial agreement with such a country after he has submitted to Congress a report indicating that such country is not in violation of paragraph 1. 2. or 3 of subsection a. This report shall include information as to the nature and implementation of its laws and policies and restrictions or discrimination applied to or against persons wishing to visit close relatives in the United States or to emigrate to the United States to join them. Also. the report required by this subsection shall be submitted initially. with current information. on or before June 30 and December 31 thereafter. so long as such credits or guarantees are extended or such agreement is in effect. At this point.