Speech #990164346

Mr. President. the purpose of this amendment is to add $200.000 to the funding of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europethe Helsinki Commissionfor the purpose of looking into the United States treatment of specific asylum requests. I believe that the amendment properly utilizes an existing forumthe Helsinki Commissionfor resolution of some questions that pertain to this countrys handling of asylum requests. Specifically the Commission is authorized to examine the singular case of Miroslav Medvid to determine whether asylum procedures were followed. But more broadly. the Commission will examine other instances in which nationals of the Soviet Union or a Sovietbloc country were denied asylum in violation of a United States statute. The amendment requires that the Commission shall submit its recommendations not later than 1 year after its establishment. Many of my colleagues share some serious concerns over the Medvld case that have led us to question the very laws that govern asylum requests. It is my hope that this study might put these concerns to rest.