Speech #940001244

Mr. Speaker. this week the government of the U.S.S.R. announced that It was repudiating its trade agreement with the United States. because it rejected the features in our Trade Reform Act of 1975 referring to emigration from Russia. The Soviet message also indicated that Russia was displeased with "other discriminatory legislation." I am extremely disappointed that Russia is unwilling to change its discriminatory policies on emigration. I am even more disappointed by what I think was congressional blundering in the Eximbank conference committee. I believe the Exim bill was the discriminatory legislation referred to in the Soviet statement. In that conference some of the very same Senators who fought for the Jackson amendment managed to put a limit on total Exim credits for shipments to Russia. and specific limits on special projects within Russia. It is probable that these unwise restrictions took away from the Soviets the real incentives they needed to soften their emigration policies and accept the terms of the trade bill. I believe the Russians would have accepted the terms of the trade bill if they had had an equal chance for credits under the Eximbank. Therefore. I think it is fair to say that some of the very Senators who worked so hard to get the emigration language into the trade bill are the very ones who are responsible for the fact that it will not work. The unreasonable ceilings on Eximbank credits for exports to Russia had the effect of taking away the incentives offered under the trade bill. Mostfavorednation status is desirable. but Exim credIts are essential. I and other House conferees repeatedly warned the Senate conferees that the Exim credits were absolutely necessary as an incentive for the Russians to realize any benefit under the trade bill. Nevertheless. the Senate managers decimated those incentives. and so took away with one hand what they were trying to give. with the other. There still may be ways to obtain open emigration for Soviet Jews and other Soviet citizens. I intend to offer legislation soon to remove the discriminatory provisions of the Eximbank Extension Act. but obviously such a bill is not likely to pass now. Even if we were to pass a sensible Exim bill. such as the first conference report which was rejected by the Senate. it may be too late. Nevertheless. I believe we have an obligation to try it. We must continue our efforts in every possible way to press for free emigration. for continued ddtente. and for the increase of traderelated jobs in America. We can do all this. I believe. by passage of an unrestricted Eximbank bill.