[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4300-H4301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2045
    HOUSE PASSES LEGISLATION TO STIFFEN SANCTIONS REGARDING MISSILE 
                             PROLIFERATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Burr of North Carolina). Under a 
previous order of the House, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fox) 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. FOX of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in the House to 
congratulate my colleagues for joining with myself and the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Gilman) in passing historic legislation which will 
stiffen sanctions against Russian organizations that have provided 
missile hardware and technology to Iran. The legislation imposes a 
minimum of 2 years of sanctions against Russian organizations and 
companies identified as having provided missile materials or technology 
or have tried to since January 22, 1998 when the Russian government 
issued a decree banning such activity.
  The urgency of this legislation is apparent. Thanks to critical 
assistance from Russian firms, Iran is making steady progress in 
developing medium- and long-range ballistic missiles which is not in 
the best interests of the United States or in world peace. Unless 
something happens soon, Iran may be able to produce its own medium-
range missiles within less than a year. If the assistance from Russia 
continues, Iran soon will be able to produce long-range ballistic 
missiles as well.
  For more than a year, the Clinton administration has been in dialogue 
with Russia about stopping this assistance. Thanks in large part to the 
pressure brought to bear by the very legislation we have considered 
today, some progress has been achieved, at least on paper.
  On January 22, the Russian government issued a decree to block the 
transfer of missile technology to Iran but in the nearly 6 months since 
this decree was issued it has become apparent that the Russian 
government is not fully committed to implementing it. Despite progress 
in some areas, the evidence suggests that at least some elements of the 
Russian government continue to believe that the transfer of missile 
technology to Iran serves Russian interests. Congress cannot change the 
misguided foreign policy calculations of some Russian officials but we 
can give Russian firms that are in position to sell missile technology 
to Iran compelling reasons not to do so. The sanctions contained in our 
legislation will require such firms in Russia and elsewhere to choose 
between short-term profits when dealing with Iran and potentially far 
more lucrative long-term economic relations with the United States.
  As this legislation was adopted here in the House today, by a 392-22 
vote, we

[[Page H4301]]

hope that we will have similar support in the Senate and the President 
will sign it. Frankly this is a step in the right direction for 
protecting this country and for world peace.
  I would like to thank the Speaker for this time to address my 
colleagues and to thank them for their support of this important 
legislation which came from the Committee on International Relations 
chaired by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Gilman).

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