[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 11, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1807-S1808]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RELATING TO THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND THAILAND

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 319, S. Res. 
174.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 174) to state the sense of the Senate 
     that Thailand is a key partner and friend of the United 
     States, has committed itself to executing its 
     responsibilities under its arrangements with the 
     International Monetary Fund, and that the United States 
     should be prepared to take appropriate steps to ensure 
     continued close bilateral relations.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.


                           Amendment No. 1980

 (Purpose: Relating to the relationship between the United States and 
                               Thailand)

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, Senator Roth has an amendment to the 
resolution at the desk. I ask for its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. Chafee], for Mr. Roth, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 1980.

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading 
of the amendment be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       On page 2, strike lines 2 through 7 and insert the 
     following:
       ``(1) the United States should enhance the close political 
     and security relationship between Thailand and the United 
     States and strengthen economic ties and cooperation with 
     Thailand to ensure that Thailand's economic recovery 
     continues uninterrupted; and''.

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
amendment be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1980) was agreed to.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, 
as amended.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 174), as amended, was agreed to.


                           Amendment No. 1981

                    (Purpose: To amend the preamble)

  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I understand there is an amendment at 
the desk to the preamble.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Rhode Island [Mr. Chafee], for Mr. Roth, 
     proposes an amendment numbered 1981 to the preamble to S. 
     Res. 174.

  Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment 
be dispensed with.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment is as follows:

       In the preamble, strike ``and'' at the end of the sixth 
     ``Whereas'' clause.
       In the preamble, strike the colon at the end of the seventh 
     ``Whereas'' clause and insert ``; and''.
       In the preamble, insert after the seventh ``Whereas'' 
     clause the following:
       ``Whereas Thailand's democratic reforms have advanced with 
     that country's economic growth and development:''.

  Mr. CHAFEE. I ask unanimous consent that the amendment be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 1981) was agreed to.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
preamble, as amended, be agreed to; that the motions to reconsider the 
above actions be laid upon the table; and, finally, that any statements 
regarding this legislation appear at the appropriate place in the 
Record.

[[Page S1808]]

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble, as amended, was agreed to.
  The resolution, as amended, with its preamble, as amended, was agreed 
to, as follows:
  [The resolution was not available for printing. It will appear in a 
future edition of the Record.]
  Mr. ROTH. Madam President, I thank my colleagues for unanimously 
adopting this resolution. I believe this vote of 100 to 0 lets Thailand 
and the Thai people know the heartfelt sentiments of the Senate and the 
American people toward bilateral friendship and partnership. It also 
makes clear our recognition of the strides Bangkok has been making in 
executing its responsibilities under its arrangements with the 
International Monetary Fund. Only last week, for example, Thailand 
deepened its commitment to economic reform by pledging to speed up 
privatizations and the reorganization of its banking system.
  This week the new Prime Minister of Thailand, Chuan Leekpai, will 
visit the United States. Many of us will have the chance to meet him 
when he comes to visit Capitol Hill. While Prime Minister Chuan faces 
many challenges in the coming months and years, I hope and trust the 
support for Thailand that he will find in this country will help him in 
overcoming those challenges.
  As I have said before, I believe that all of us in this Chamber--and 
Americans all across this land--are great admirers of Thailand and Thai 
culture. I remain optimistic about Thailand's future. Given the Thai 
people's energy and initiative, the country's remarkable history, and 
its record of economic success, I look forward to seeing Thailand's 
return to prosperity in the not-too-distant future.
  Mr. CHAFEE. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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