Benjamin Gilman: “H.R. 4036 was introduced by my friend, the chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights…”

“H.R. 4036 was introduced by my friend, the chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, the gentleman from New Jersey. This bill consists largely of items culled from the conference report on H.R. 1561 that help enforce human rights around the world or make other, needed changes to the laws involved in the foreign relations of the United States. Among the matters that are taken up are the extension of the so-called Lautenberg amendment, which provides for expedited consideration for Christians and Jews still in jeopardy in parts of the former Soviet Union, extending the authorization for the State Department to collect the special machine readable visa fee which goes for border security operations, extending certain authorities for the International Boundary and Water Commission's operations on the U.S.-Mexican Border, and several human rights provisions relating to Mauritania and other places. This bill has wide, deserved support and I commend the gentleman from New Jersey for his perseverance in shepherding it to this point. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.”