Political Quotes

“Madam Speaker, I rise to strongly oppose this legislation. Unfortunately, Congress has ruined an opportunity to overturn an anachronistic impediment to free trade with Russia by attaching to it an interventionist and provocative ``human rights'' bill that will worsen U.S./Russia relations. With Russia's recent accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Congress is obligated to repeal the ``Jackson-Vanik Amendment,'' a 1974 era piece of legislation that sought to condition normal trade relations with the Soviet Union (which no longer exists) upon liberalization of emigration rules for Soviet Jews. WTO members are obliged to eliminate trade barriers with other members. So the repeal and extension of normal trade relations simply should have been a formality. Unfortunately Congress instead took this as an opportunity to meddle in the internal affairs of Russia, which will worsen US/ Russian relations and have a negative economic impact on the United States. By attaching the so-called ``Magnitsky'' bill to the Jackson-Vanik repeal, Congress will direct the State Department to draw up a list of Russians it believes are responsible for human rights abuses. These people will be denied entry into the United States and have their assets seized by the U.S. government. The implications of this reckless move are stunning. What is even more dangerous is that the bill directs the U.S.…”