[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S12192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SANCTIONS POLICY REFORM ACT

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I was pleased to join yesterday 
with the distinguished Senator from Indiana, Senator Lugar, as a 
cosponsor of his bill, S. 1413, the Enhancement of Trade, Security, and 
Human Rights Through Sanctions Reform Act.
  This bill is an attempt to bring some order to one of the more vexing 
foreign policy problems we in Congress face--the question of when to 
impose unilateral economic sanctions.
  Congress has been quick to enact unilateral economic sanctions over 
the years in response to behavior of foreign nations that we find 
objectionable. At times, the executive branch has done the same. By one 
estimate, between 1993 and 1996, the United States imposed unilateral 
sanctions 61 times on 35 countries.
  The question we must ask, and which in my view we fail to ask at 
times, really is fundamental to the conduct of U.S. foreign policy: Are 
U.S. interests advanced best by deepening relations or diminishing 
relations with a country that is not acting as we would like?
  Frankly, there is no one answer to this question. The answer clearly 
varies from case to case. There is no doubt that unilateral sanctions 
do have a place in our foreign policy tool box. I have voted for them 
at times, as has nearly every Member of Congress.
  However, there is no doubt, as well, that we have imposed sanctions 
recklessly at times, without due regard to their effectiveness, or to 
the damage they could cause other U.S. foreign policy interests, the 
U.S. economy, and our ability to provide humanitarian assistance.
  What S. 1413 would do is force Congress and the executive branch to 
apply the brakes in the occasional rush to impose unilateral sanctions. 
Our effort is not to prevent unilateral sanctions in all cases, but 
instead to impose a more judicious process that we should follow before 
they are imposed. This process is designed to create some breathing 
space--time to adequately consider both the possible impact of 
unilateral sanctions on other U.S. interests, and whether there are 
other policy alternatives that might be more effective than unilateral 
sanctions.
  It will also ensure that when we do pass unilateral sanctions, we do 
not lock ourselves into a policy that deprives us of all flexibility. 
By making Presidential waivers and a 2-year sunset policy standard 
practice for the imposition of unilateral sanctions, we will ensure 
that we are not forced to perpetuate a policy that is not working, has 
become outdated, or is excessively damaging U.S. interests in other 
areas.
  It is worth repeating that nothing in this legislation will prevent 
us from passing unilateral sanctions into law. This bill is merely 
designed to bring some order and discipline to the process. I want to 
commend the Senator from Indiana for his leadership in this area, and I 
look forward to working with him to pass this bill into law.

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