On the recordMay 1, 2002
I came up to support the amendment because I was concerned about a project that was approved by the Export-Import Bank for $92 million for diamond mine processing equipment and services to Alrosa, a Russian diamond company, that operates in countries such as Angola where conflict diamonds are sold by paramilitary groups that propagate internal conflicts and engage in gross violations of human rights. So it is so important that we know what they are doing, or at least we have an assessment. Most Americans do not understand that we put $1 billion into this Export-Import Bank. Many would see this as simply corporate welfare. And while we have increasing problems with our own budget, while we are trying to fund education, while we are trying to secure Social Security, it is very important that we look at projects such as this one and begin to raise the questions about who is really benefiting from the Export-Import Bank.
Source
govinfo.gov
