[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 596 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 596

 Recognizing Senator Henry Jackson, commemorating the 30th anniversary 
of the introduction of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, and reaffirming the 
   commitment of the House of Representatives to combat human rights 
                         violations worldwide.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 31, 2002

Mr. Larsen of Washington submitted the following resolution; which was 
  referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the 
 Committee on International Relations, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing Senator Henry Jackson, commemorating the 30th anniversary 
of the introduction of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, and reaffirming the 
   commitment of the House of Representatives to combat human rights 
                         violations worldwide.

Whereas Henry M. Jackson served as the Senator from the State of Washington from 
        January 3, 1953, to September 1, 1983;
Whereas Senator Jackson fought tirelessly, in spite of opposition from the 
        executive branch, to expose human rights violations in the former Soviet 
        Union and to find a way for Soviet Jews to worship freely;
Whereas on October 4, 1972, Senator Jackson first introduced legislation that 
        linked United States trade benefits, now known as normal trade 
        relations, to the emigration and human rights policies of Communist or 
        formerly Communist countries;
Whereas Senator Jackson, in introducing the legislation, stated ``In moving as 
        we are today we are giving birth to a bipartisan coalition for freedom. 
        It is the least we can do.'';
Whereas Senator Jackson expressed the importance of exposing the human rights 
        situation in the former Soviet Union by quoting Russian Nobel laureate 
        Alexander Solzhenitzyn's statement that ``there are no internal affairs 
        left on our crowded earth'';
Whereas Senator Jackson's legislation became known as the Jackson-Vanik 
        Amendment and was enacted into law on January 3, 1975, as title IV of 
        the Trade Act of 1974;
Whereas by highlighting human rights abuses in the former Soviet Union and other 
        Communist countries, the Jackson-Vanik Amendment helped pave the way 
        toward the end of the Cold War, aided in the activation of United 
        States' and multilateral mechanisms to promote human rights globally, 
        including the Helsinki Final Act, and reaffirmed the role of Congress in 
        formulating our Nation's human rights policy;
Whereas the Jackson-Vanik Amendment opened the door for over 1,000,000 Jews to 
        emigrate from the former Soviet Union and its successor states;
Whereas since 1975, over 500,000 refugees from areas of the former Soviet Union, 
        many of them Jews, have been resettled in the United States and over 
        1,000,000 Soviet Jews have immigrated to Israel;
Whereas former Soviet dissident and current Israeli cabinet minister Natan 
        Sharansky called the Jackson-Vanik Amendment ``the turning point not 
        only in the exodus of the Jews but in the ultimate victory of the West 
        over the Soviet Union in the Cold War'';
Whereas Natan Sharansky also hailed the Jackson-Vanik Amendment as a 
        ``historical and practical weapon'' for Zionists that added to the 
        spiritual weapon of their Jewish heritage;
Whereas on the 20th anniversary of the passing of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, 
        Ehud Olmert, the Mayor of Jerusalem, stated that Henry Jackson was ``a 
        leader, a pacesetter and an inspiration for all, who forced his will on 
        the U.S. leadership and across the world''; and
Whereas October 4, 2002, marks the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the 
        Jackson-Vanik Amendment: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes Senator Henry M. Jackson for the 
        introduction of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, a historic piece 
        of legislation that paved the way for millions of refugees to 
        flee Communist oppression and hastened the end of the Cold War;
            (2) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the introduction 
        of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment;
            (3) reaffirms the commitment of the House of 
        Representatives to combating human rights violations and 
        promoting tolerance and freedom throughout former Communist 
        nations and worldwide; and
            (4) congratulates Mrs. Helen Jackson and the Henry M. 
        Jackson Foundation for continuing Senator Jackson's vision and 
        passion for dialogue, understanding, and human freedom.
                                 <all>