[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 111 (Thursday, August 11, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 11, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   ENCOURAGING RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT YELTSIN TO BUY HIS YACHT IN AMERICA

  (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, as the Members of this body know, I have 
been a critic of United States aid to Russia. One of my concerns has 
been that we have not established strong enough conditions on aid or 
enforced those we have imposed.
  Now I discover yet another condition that we neglected to include in 
the Russian aid package. That is that President Yeltsin cannot use 
American taxpayers' dollars to purchase a luxury yacht with a swimming 
pool and tennis court. The Washington Times reported that Mr. Yeltsin 
is negotiating with a Russian shipbuilder for just such a craft.
  If there is any truth to this report, I hope our administration 
officials will take a careful look at this ostentatious display. Even 
here in the United States, where we are wealthy enough to bestow $850 
million on Russia, we cannot afford a yacht for our President.

  At the very least, Mr. Speaker, we should demand that the Russians 
``buy American.'' There are plenty of good shipyards here looking for 
work, including several in my district. I would encourage Mr. Yeltsin 
to do his shopping here.

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