[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 53 (Thursday, May 5, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 5, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      ACCOUNTABILITY FOR POW/MIA's

                                 ______


                            HON. RICK LAZIO

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 1994

  Mr. LAZIO. Mr. Speaker, last week, the House of Representatives 
passed H.R. 2333, the State Department and related agencies 
authorization conference report. I would like to express my 
disappointment with some of the provisions included in this 
legislation.
  Included in H.R. 2333, which also contains many important 
authorizations for our foreign policy efforts, are provisions regarding 
relations with Vietnam that I strongly oppose and believe should not 
have been included in this bill. Language in this legislation 
questionably supports lifting the trade embargo against Vietnam and 
praises that country's increased cooperation on accounting for POW/
MIA's. This is despite the fact that we are still trying to determine 
the fate of nearly 2,400 MIA's.
  Though I support free trade and believe that it is a critical factor 
in the health of our Nation's economy, I did not support President 
Clinton in February when he lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam, 
and I do not support Congress' statement in concurrence included in 
H.R. 2333. I did support the motion to recommit offered by 
Representative Olympia Snowe of Maine, which insisted upon the removal 
of this controversial language. This motion to recommit failed, 
however, and the language remains in the conference report.
  I want to make it clear that I cannot, and will not, agree to the 
normalization of trade relations between the United States and Vietnam 
until we have received a complete and thorough accounting of all 
American MIA's in Southeast Asia. Until our Government is completely 
satisfied that all current allegations under investigation are cleared, 
I believe cooperative action between our two Governments is both unwise 
and unwarranted. If for no other reason than out of respect for the 
families of those still missing and the veterans who fought in 
Southeast Asia, we should be hesitant in our support of the Government 
of Vietnam, and the last thing we should be doing is praising them for 
their actions.
  While I am supportive of most of what is included in H.R. 2333, I 
object to the President and Congress' decision to lift the trade 
embargo against Vietnam and its support for normalization of relations 
with Vietnam. I will continue to withhold my support for such actions 
until every missing serviceman is accounted for.

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