[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 143 (Sunday, October 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2076-E2077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      INTERNATIONAL ANTI-BRIBERY AND FAIR COMPETITION ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4353, ``The 
International Anti-Bribery and Fair Competition Act'' and ask 
permission to revise and extend my remarks.
  This legislation provides the underlying authorities for the 
implementation of the Anti-Bribery Convention of the Organization for 
Economic Cooperation and Development which criminalizes the bribery of 
foreign public officials.
  I would like to compliment the principal sponsor of this legislation, 
the gentleman from Virginia, Chairman Bliley, for his leadership in 
this issue and for his assistance and cooperation in including 
reporting provisions that ensure that the administration carefully 
monitors the implementation of this OECD Convention, that it be updated 
and amended to include other officials, including political parties, 
party officials or candidates, and that nongovernmental groups such as 
Transparency International have a role in the review process.
  Mr. Speaker, since the Foreign Corrupt Practices was adopted in 1977, 
the U.S. was

[[Page E2077]]

the only country that prohibited the practice of bribery of foreign 
officials.
  From the point of view of our Committee, fighting corruption on an 
international basis is important for reasons beyond just ``levelling 
the playing field'' for business.
  It is also important because corruption, in and of itself abroad 
harms American interests. Corruption of public officials abroad 
undermines democracy and retards development: funds are diverted from 
the intended use into the hands of ruling elites who perpetuate their 
power. This is truly a vicious circle--one that has to be broken.
  Even though it has taken decades for the world to begin to follow our 
unilateral effort, and I stress the word ``unilateral'', I believe the 
prize is worth having.
  With The passage of this implementing legislation today I am pleased 
that we will soon be taking part in a 29-nation OECD-led effort toward 
this same goal. It is critical that we pass this important legislation 
so the U.S. can continue to take the lead in ensuring that bribery and 
corrupt practices be driven from the international marketplace.
  Accordingly, I urge the adoption of this measure.

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