[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 58 (Tuesday, April 27, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H2308]]
                  INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 19, 1999, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, 6 months ago today President Clinton signed 
the International Religious Freedom Act into law. The law mandates that 
within 120 days of enactment individuals shall be named to the 
Commission on International Religious Freedom created by the bill.
  It has been 6 months since enactment of the bill, 2 months past the 
deadline, and the White House has still not named its three 
commissioners. Congress has done its part, but we are still waiting for 
the administration. When will the White House get serious about 
implementing this legislation?
  In early February, the President spoke before a crowd of religious 
and political leaders from around the world at the National Prayer 
Breakfast. He praised the bill and he said he was proud to have signed 
it. But where is the implementation? Where is the enforcement? Where is 
the commitment?
  The commission's first report on the condition of religious freedom 
around the world is due on May 1, this Saturday. Because the 
administration has wasted so much time in making the appointments, 
there is no way that the commission will meet that date, and it is 
unlikely that we will see a report this year. Another year wasted while 
people are being maimed, tortured, beaten, jailed and killed on account 
of their faith.
  I believe it was the administration's intention to miss the May 1 
deadline for the commission's report. This ensures this issue will not 
get a serious examination by an independent entity as the bill intends. 
It ensures that the administration can continue to fudge the facts 
instead of taking serious actions against countries that refuse to 
protect the human rights of religious believers.
  The administration never really liked this bill. Secretary Albright 
spoke out against the bill. Assistant Secretary Eizenstat criticized 
the bill. But once Congress overwhelmingly, Republicans and Democrats, 
passed the bill and sent it to the White House, the President had no 
choice but to sign it. Then he praised it. Now they are stonewalling it 
on the implementation. All talk, no action. That is how I would 
describe the action of this administration with regard to human rights: 
All talk and no action.
  The administration's record on promoting human rights is miserable. 
China's Catholic priests and bishops are still in jail today and have 
been in there for decades, for decades, and nobody has been appointed 
to this commission; Protestant pastors and lay people, decades, and 
nobody has been appointed to the commission. Worshippers being 
imprisoned, fined.
  Freedom House has said the already intense persecution of the 
underground church in China has intensified since mid-1998. There was 
no mention of this during the recent summit with the Chinese Premier. 
Neither was there any discussion about the fact that China has stopped 
all dialogue with the Dalai Lama over the future status of Tibet, or 
the Chinese Government-sponsored campaign to encourage Tibetan 
Buddhists to become atheists.
  And I was in Tibet last year, and the persecution of the Buddhists in 
Tibet is horrible. It is more horrible than anybody realizes. And yet 
no one from this administration has taken the time to go to Tibet to 
see how the conditions are.
  The church in Hong Kong is being squeezed. The war in Sudan, very 
little diplomatic effort, 2 million people, mainly Christians, who have 
been killed for their faith in the last 15 years, and this 
administration has done nothing. They cannot even appoint the people to 
the commission that we all passed in a bipartisan manner.
  In Vietnam the situation is no better. And the administration has 
done nothing, nor have they appointed the people. In India, Pakistan, 
Indonesia, East Timor, atrocities taking place, and they do nothing.
  There is so much going on around the world. There is no excuse for 
this commission not to be given a chance to do its work. That is what 
Congress, Republican and Democrat, wanted, that is what the American 
people wanted when it passed the International Freedom Religious 
Freedom Act, which has strong bipartisan support.
  The House leadership, both majority and minority leadership, found 
time to name the 6 commissioners, and the leadership on both sides of 
the aisle supported this commission. Why cannot the administration find 
time to appoint these people?
  I hope the administration will at least move to appoint people to the 
commission, 120 days late, on International Religious Freedom. Too much 
time has been wasted. The lives of innocent people are at stake every 
day in China, every day in the Sudan, every day in East Timor, every 
day in Indonesia, and yet 120 days they have missed the deadline.
  They are basically in violation of the law. They have had 6 months. 
Because this administration has taken so long, my guess is that they 
will appoint people who are weak and ineffectual on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope I am wrong. And if I am wrong, I will be glad to 
say they have appointed good people and decent people who care deeply 
about this. But please appoint someone. Appoint someone so the 
Commission can begin its action.

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