[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H3374-H3375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           OPPOSE ANY EFFORT TO REPEAL THE PRESSLER AMENDMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, as you know, last week, the Republic of 
India conducted five underground nuclear tests. The Clinton 
administration imposed sanctions after the second set of tests and I 
believe was correct in doing so. These sanctions are extremely severe 
and may affect as much as $20 billion in funds to India.
  Mr. Speaker, I am also concerned now that U.S. policy proceed toward 
an increased dialogue with India. We have made tremendous strides in 
improving relations between our two countries in recent years, and we 
must not go back to a Cold War strategy.
  Unfortunately, there are Members of this body who feel that there is 
a need to impose further trade and economic sanctions. There may be an 
attempt to attach an amendment to the House defense authorization bill 
that would remove Most Favored Nation's status to India on textile and 
apparel products.

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. Speaker, imposing further economic sanctions on India is 
meritless and counterproductive to current relations. It would only 
hurt the workers in India who make the textiles. This amendment to the 
defense authorization bill would derail U.S.-India relations at times 
when dialogue between the two democracies is paramount.
  I was pleased to read that, at the G-8 summit in England, President 
Clinton stated that, although sanctions were necessary, he did not want 
to isolate India.
  Mr. Speaker, India cited the threat from China and Pakistan as major 
reasons for conducting the nuclear tests. For years, Pakistan and China 
have cooperated in nuclear and missile development. A recent 
Congressional Research Service Center study showed that the Chinese 
government had transferred missile technology and nuclear equipment and 
materials to Iran and Pakistan numerous times. All of these transfers 
were clearly in violation of international and U.S. law, but they were 
not met with economic sanctions by the administration.
  Mr. Speaker, China is a nuclear-armed dictatorship that had a border 
war in 1964 against India. Much to India's concern, China continues to 
maintain a nuclear presence in occupied Tibet and a large military 
force in Burma. It is unfortunate that the administration and Members 
of this body continue to overlook these facts.
  India's nuclear tests must be understood in the context of the huge 
threat posed by China. The United States should be taking the military 
and nuclear threat from China's dictatorship more seriously.

[[Page H3375]]

  Mr. Speaker, It is important that the United States continue dialogue 
with the Indian government at this time. We must urge the Indian 
government to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty immediately, 
without conditions. By signing the treaty, India could assume 
leadership on international negotiations on capping the accumulation of 
weapons-grade fissile terms.
  It is also important that we not encourage an arms buildup in south 
Asia. I would urge Members of this body to oppose any effort to repeal 
the Pressler amendment. Repeal of the Pressler amendment would allow 
for the delivery of 26 F-16 jet fighters to Pakistan.
  U.S. national security adviser Sandy Berger confirmed that the 
delivery of fighter jets was one of the proposals made to the Pakistan 
government recently to prevent them from conducting their own nuclear 
tests, and this is very bad policy. The repeal of the Pressler 
amendment and the delivery of the F-16 fighters would only increase 
tension within the region. The U.S. cannot help bring peace to south 
Asia if it continues to fuel an arms race in that region.
  Lastly, Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge President Clinton to continue 
with his plans to visit India later this year. It has been over 20 
years since an American President has visited India. The President has 
not said he would cancel the trip, but I suppose there is some doubt 
about that. The President's trip would accelerate negotiations and 
dialogue on nuclear nonproliferation. Furthermore, it would show to the 
Indian people that the United States wishes to maintain a long-term 
relationship with India.
  Mr. Speaker, now is the time to continue our dialogue with India and 
try to get India involved in signing the test ban treaty and trying to 
promote peace in south Asia. Let us move forward. Let us proceed with a 
dialogue. Let us not move backwards with our relations with India. We 
have come a long way, and this is the time now to show there can be 
restraint on both sides.

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