[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 97 (Thursday, June 27, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H6978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    REPUBLICAN MAJORITY STIFLES DEBATE ON GRANTING CHINA MFN STATUS

  (Ms. PELOSI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, today Congress will debate the issue of 
granting a special request to the President for a waiver to grant most-
favored-nation status to China. This is an important issue to the 
American people. Nothing less is at stake than our economic future, our 
national security, and our democratic principles.
  That is why it is so distressing to see the absurd rule that the 
Republican majority has put forth for this legislation. They want to 
railroad this legislation through the House in an untimely fashion. Our 
tradition has always been to have the Fourth of July week for our 
constituents to express their views to Members. Many constituents 
cannot afford the expensive trip to Washington, DC, that the business 
community has readily available to them.
  What is the Republican majority afraid of? Are they afraid of the 
truth? Are they afraid of 100,000 young people gathered in Golden Gate 
Park to promote a free Tibet? Are they afraid that our colleagues will 
learn the facts about United States-China trade and that it is a job 
loser for the American worker?
  It is absolutely a shame that on this most important issue the 
Republican majority is moving to stifle dabte.

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