[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 13, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E336]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 12, 1996

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, the Foreign Relations Authorization Act 
which the House passed today in a vote that went largely, though not 
entirely, along party lines, was an uneven piece of legislation at 
best. I opposed the bill because I think it represents a retreat from 
America's historic mission to promote democracy--particularly in those 
lands that were until recently ruled by tyranny and dictatorship, such 
as those nations formerly part of the Soviet Union.
  But I rise to express praise for one provision of the bill included 
by the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Smith], known as the Humanitarian 
Aid Corridor Act. I was an original co-sponsor of this legislation, 
which has broad bipartisan support. As the cochairman of the Armenian 
Issue Caucus, along with the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Porter], I 
have worked for enactment of this provision.
  Mr. Speaker, the Humanitarian Aid Corridor Act would withhold U.S. 
aid to nations which are blocking congressionally approved humanitarian 
assistance to other countries. It requires all U.S. aid recipients to 
allow unencumbered delivery of humanitarian assistance. The Republic of 
Turkey has imposed a blockade on the neighboring Republic of Armenia, 
preventing the delivery of food, medicine, and other humanitarian 
relief supplies to Armenia. Much of this aid originates in the United 
States. While we may not be able to deter every country in the world 
from resorting to the disruption of humanitarian aid as a weapon 
against their neighbors, we can make sure that such countries do not 
get a dime of American aid as long as they undermine our foreign policy 
objectives.
  Luckily, Mr. Speaker, this provision was also included in the Foreign 
Operations Appropriations bill that the President signed into law last 
month. Mr. Porter and I currently have a Dear Colleague letter 
circulating urging the administration to strictly enforce this 
provision of law. While it is my hope that we can ultimately enact the 
Corridor Act as a permanent law in a constructive, bipartisan manner, I 
am prepared to work through the appropriations process, as we 
successfully did last year, to keep the Corridor Act in force.

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