[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 83 (Friday, June 7, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1029]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1997

                                 ______


                               speech of

                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 5, 1996

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3540) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     1997, and for other purposes:

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong opposition to this 
amendment.
  This is an amendment without a purpose. If the amendment's author 
wishes to save money, it is not at all apparent that this amendment 
will accomplish this. Indeed, the spending ceiling in this amendment is 
identical to the development assistance now allocated for India for the 
current year.
  If, on the other hand, the author's purpose is to promote human 
rights in India, not even the author can persuasively argue that his 
amendment will force the Government of India to respect human rights. 
No one who knows India thinks that pressure of this sort is likely to 
force India to bow to our demands. To the contrary, no Indian 
Government could stay in power for 24 hours if it were seen to be 
bowing before American bullying.
  Instead, this amendment will have only negative effects. It will 
disrupt our bilateral relationship with a major power. It will lessen 
our ability to make our voice heard in New Delhi on human rights and 
other important issues. And it will reduce the administration's 
flexibility in providing assistance to the poorest segments of Indian 
society.
  Finally, the timing of this amendment could not be worse. A new 
Indian Government was just sworn in last Saturday. This government 
faces a vote of no confidence next week.
  Do we wish to inaugurate relations with this new government by 
offering it a slap in the face?
  Do we wish to push this new government, in the days before a crucial 
vote of no confidence, into a nationalistic, anti-American response?
  The answer to these questions can only be no.
  So I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment. Its purpose is 
unclear but its likely effects are absolutely certain: it will damage 
our relationship with a major power and a new government without in any 
way advancing American interests.

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