[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H698-H699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      URGING MEMBERS TO JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL DIALOGUE ON VIETNAM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, this past June, United States Secretary of 
State Madeleine Albright visited Vietnam to formally open the United 
States Embassy there. The recent establishment of diplomatic relations 
reflects changes between the United States and Vietnam since the end of 
the Vietnam War in 1975 and the lifting of the trade embargo in 1994.
  Thus, several issues are emerging in the dialogue between the United 
States and Vietnam. It necessitates the creation of a forum for Members 
to express their views and to work with the administration on forming 
foreign policy towards Vietnam.

[[Page H699]]

  I rise today to call on my colleagues to join the Congressional 
Dialogue on Vietnam. It is founded by myself and the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Zoe Lofgren). This group will facilitate the dialogue 
between Members of Congress. It will also provide information to 
interested parties, and it will engage in discussions between Congress, 
the administration, and the Vietnamese-American community.
  Last September I co-chaired a human rights caucus, a briefing on the 
human rights situation in Vietnam. During this briefing we heard from 
representatives from international, religious, and human rights 
organizations about the status of human rights, religious persecution, 
and the social and political state of Vietnam.
  Through this hearing we learned that there are several voices wanting 
to be heard on this issue, and it is our job to give these groups the 
forum to do so. I strongly believe that with the normalization of 
relations between the two countries there comes a great responsibility. 
Now, more than ever, it is of critical importance that we pay careful 
attention to the progression of developments in U.S. Vietnam policy. 
Again, I strongly urge my colleagues to join the Congressional Dialogue 
on Vietnam, and I look forward to working with each of them on this 
important issue.

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