[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     HUMANITARIAN AND CORRIDOR ACT

  (Mr. TORRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, today, I join my colleagues, Representatives 
Joseph Kennedy and Christopher Smith in introducing the Humanitarian 
Aid Corridor Act.
  This bill would withhold U.S. assistance to any country which blocks 
the delivery of congressional approved U.S. humanitarian assistance to 
another country.
  The need for this legislation, Mr. Speaker, is clear. It is a serious 
threat to the integrity of American foreign policy when any nation--
especially one that is also a recipient of U.S. aid--forces our 
Government to waste taxpayers' money on transportation costs instead of 
putting that money toward the humanitarian goods specified for 
delivery.
  Let me site a specific case: Since April 1993, our ally, Turkey, has 
closed its border to all cargo, including United States humanitarian 
assistance, going to the land-locked Republic of Armenia.
  Because of this blockade, America is forced to ship its aid around 
Turkey, through the Black Sea, to ports in war-torn Georgia.
  The closing of the Turkish border to United States assistance meant 
for Armenia has slowed delivery of this aid, skyrocketed transportation 
costs, and in some case caused the loss of aid to thieves and 
saboteurs.
  Allowing our allies to deny U.S. humanitarian assistance to people in 
need discredits our Nation's foreign aid program, results in 
inefficient use of U.S. taxpayers' money, and ultimately sets a 
precedent for abuse by other nations.
  I ask my colleagues to support the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act, and 
to ensure that U.S. humanitarian assistance will not be exploited for 
political purposes.


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