[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              FORGIVING JORDAN'S DEBT TO THE UNITED STATES

  (Mr. CALLAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CALLAHAN. Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned by reports that 
President Clinton will ask Congress to forgive some or all of Jordan's 
$700 million debt to the United States.
  I serve on the Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee and 
would expect to have received some type of notification of this 
proposed action. I have not. In fact, a recent inquiry through the 
State Department indicated that nobody knew anything about this 
forgiveness.
  No one in this body welcomes the peace agreement between Jordan and 
Israel more than I do, and I was truly proud to be part of yesterday's 
joint session with King Hussein and Prime Minister Rabin. However, I am 
concerned if American taxpayers must pay for one nation to do the right 
thing. What type of precedent are we setting for future international 
peace settlements, treaties, or other actions?
  It may be in our best interest to forgive Jordan's indebtedness. At 
this point I do not think it is. But we should not do it secretly 
without a debate and vote. I urge the leadership to bring the 
President's proposal before this House for full and thorough 
discussion, and we should have a vote accordingly.

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