Political Quotes

“this debate is about normal trade status with Romania. We are not providing any favorable benefits to Romania from this action. It simply authorizes the President to determine when the United States should treat Romania on equal trade terms with all other nations. The most-favored-nation law was written to deal with freedom of emigration from East bloc Communist nations. These governments do not even exist anymore. It's time to update our trade legislation to reflect the realities of the times. In fact, I wish we were here today granting permanent MFN or normal trade status with all other former East bloc countries still on the list. Times have changed. While the rest of the world trades normally with these countries, including Romania, we're still wrestling with these issues. All political parties in Romania support permanent MFN or normal trade status with the United States. Holding this bill up will only embolden the hard-line nationalistic elements in Romania who do not want foreign influences inside their country. And, there will be no time later this session to vote on this issue if permanent normal trade status in held up for Romania's fall elections. We'll be back at this issue during the next Congress, and there will probably some other excuse devised so that normal trade status is held up another 2 years.”