Dana Rohrabacher: “It has been 1 year since President Clinton issued the first Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam. Unfortunately, there has…”

“It has been 1 year since President Clinton issued the first Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam. Unfortunately, there has been no progress concerning democracy and human rights in Vietnam. And more specifically, in violation of Jackson-Vanik, the U.S. Government reports systematic corruption in Vietnam's refugee program. My joint resolution disapproving Jackson-Vanik waivers for the Vietnamese dictatorship does not intend to isolate Vietnam nor stop U.S. companies from doing business there. It simply prevents Communist Vietnam from enjoying a trade status that enables American businessmen to invest there with loan guarantees and subsidies provided by the U.S. taxpayer. If private banks or insurance companies will not back up or insure private business ventures in Vietnam, American taxpayers should not be asked to do so. Rampant corruption and mismanagement are as valid a reason to oppose this waiver as repression in Vietnam. And during the last year, rather than open up its state-managed economy, the Vietnamese Communist regime has further tightened its grip. There has been no move whatsoever towards free elections. And yesterday's Reuters News Agency reported that the Vietnamese government announced that opposition parties will not be tolerated.”