Speech #960093891

Mr. Chairman. while I wish to publicly thank Chairman Vanik for his assistance in immigration problems. the truth is we have not been totally successful. Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of House Resolution 317 disapproving the Presidents recommendation to extend waiver authority under the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to Romania. We would betray the letter and the spirit of section 402 of the Trade Act--the JacksonVanik amendmentwere we to acquiesce in the Presidents recommendation to continue mostfavorednation treatment for Romania without taking a critical look at Romanias efforts to allow freer emigration. Congress has the rightas well as the responsibilityto know what the facts really are regarding the number of Romanians permitted to emigrate to the United States and other countries before we agree to continued MFN for Romania. Speaking for myself. I am not convinced that the Romanian Government has acted in such a way on the emigration questions as to deserve continued MFN treatment. I do not support extension of MFN to Romania for the simple reason that my office in the past 2 years has handled constituent cases involving emigration of Romanian citizens without any success in obtaining specific assurance that these people would be given exit visas to come to the United States to be reunited with their families. As of this date. these constituentswho are political refugeesare still waiting for members of their families to be given exit visas. even though the Romanian Government promised more than a year ago to provide the necessary passport papers as soon as possible. The assurance of freer emigration loses much of its meaning and credibility when a government deliberately erects roadblocks in the form of waiting lists. preapplication procedures. and prolonged interrogation. not to mention the opening of private mail. disconnecting of transatlantic phone calls. and subjecting wouldbe emigrants to veiled threats. verbal abuse. and other forms of personal harassment. The Romanian Government is guilty of these actions. yet we are told that renewing mostfavorednation status for Romania is in the best political and econoiic interests of the United States and Romania. Wh. is fooling whom? I would like to see trade relations between us and Romania result in mutual benefit. but not if it means that people. deprived of basic human rights. must out of sheer desperation risk their lives by sneaking across a heavily guarded and barbedwire border because their own country denies them the freedom to emigrate. Before we are sold the seductive argument that trade relations should not be held hostage to human rights rhetoric. let us. in good conscience. as whether we are more interested in a favorable balanceoftrade than we are in protecting the inalienable right of people to emigrate for the purpose of being with their families. I urge this House. steeped in a proud tradition of liberty and justice. to send a clear message of condemnation of Romanian denial of free emigration by voting for the disapproval resolution.*