Doug Bereuter: “I rise in strong support for extension of the waiver and in opposition to the resolution. In the mid-1960s, I was an…”

“I rise in strong support for extension of the waiver and in opposition to the resolution. In the mid-1960s, I was an infantry officer and intelligence officer with the First Infantry Division. I completed my service, but within a month the members of my tight-knit unit were in Vietnam and taking casualties the first night. I have emotional baggage, we all have emotional baggage in this country, but I would suggest it is time to get on and not reverse course on Vietnam. Mr. Speaker, I have great respect for the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sam Johnson) who just spoke, but I bring to the attention of the Members what we know already. Another former POW, our former colleague Pete Peterson, tells us about the dramatic progress now being made, with the Vietnamese help, in remains recovery under some very difficult and dangerous and treacherous conditions. And in fact, of course, another POW, John McCain, has also, along with others who served in Vietnam, supported a waiver in this instance. But after all, this issue is about emigration. That is what Jackson-Vanik is about. So, we ought to address the issue before us. Under the statute, a waiver of the Jackson-Vanik amendment may be granted if it will substantially promote freedom of migration. Vietnam's record on emigration has improved dramatically in the last 10 to 12 years. Over 480,000 Vietnamese have emigrated to the United States under the Orderly Departure Program.”