[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 152 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT OF 1998

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 12, 1998

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2431, the 
religious persecution freedom bill. In its current form, this measure 
is too narrow to address the issues facing the global community today.
  H.R. 2431 implies to the world that somehow religious persecution 
should be given protection and heightened priority before other forms 
of abuse. I strongly believe that all forms of oppression and 
persecution, whether they are for religious, racial, or nationality 
reasons, or whether the are due to individuals standing up for their 
political beliefs which are most often in defense of democracy, should 
be addressed in this legislation. There must be special protections 
against all forms of persecution.
  Operationally, the religious persecution freedom bill would undermine 
U.S. efforts to support the goal of religious freedom, as well as other 
important U.S. foreign policy interests. More specifically, the measure 
would establish an office of religious persecution monitoring to 
provide the imposition of sanctions against countries engaged in a 
pattern of religious persecution.
  This measure would prohibit Federal agencies and U.S. citizens and 
exporting goods, including religious torment facilitating products, to 
countries and significant entities engaged in religious torture. H.R. 
2431 proposes sanctions that would be counterproductive to convincing 
foreign governments to prevent limitations on religious freedom. This 
could possibly lead to misguided repercussions against minority 
religious groups that are perceived as causing deterioration of 
relations with the United States.
  By imposing automatic sanctions, this legislation could harm 
bilateral relations with allies, as well as limit Presidential 
flexibility and raise questions regarding U.S. international 
obligations. In addition, this bill undermines the U.S. policy to 
respect all human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, current law already provides an adequate basis for the 
United States to impose sanctions on foreign entities that violate 
human rights. Furthermore, automatic imposition of sanctions could 
dissuade foreign governments or persons from cooperating with the 
United States to prevent limitations on religious freedom. In its 
current form, this bill could harm U.S. political and economic 
relationships with other countries. For example, it legislates 
sanctions without consideration for exempting emergency food aid and 
distribution programs that would place many innocent civilians in 
danger of starvation.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that legislation sanctions would 
alienate significant diplomatic and trade partners. It is for these 
reasons that I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing H.R. 2431, the 
religious persecution freedom bill. Vote ``no'' to H.R. 2431.

                          ____________________