[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 85 (Thursday, June 25, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H5300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DISCHARGE PETITION URGING CONSIDERATION OF IMF FUNDING

  (Mr. OBEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OBEY. Madam Speaker, several days ago I introduced House 
Resolution 473, which will provide for the consideration of the 
remnants of H.R. 3580, a supplemental appropriation bill funding the 
International Monetary Fund.
  Madam Speaker, I would urge all Members to sign the discharge 
petition which will be available at the desk starting now.
  Last fall the Speaker of the House decided to use the U.N. and the 
IMF funding as leverage to force the President to agree to unacceptable 
changes in international family planning policies, and he has continued 
to hold this needed funding hostage. Failure to act on the IMF funding 
continues to endanger the U.S. economy, which is becoming more 
concerned each passing day with what is happening in Asia.
  We need to have the debate on the IMF so that the many concerns about 
how the IMF is run can be resolved and so that critically needed 
replenishments can be put in place. American jobs are at stake. We 
cannot afford to allow this threat to the American economy to continue. 
I urge every Member to sign the discharge petition now.

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