[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1255-E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
                        APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 13, 2000

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4811) making 
     appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and 
     related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
     2001, and for other purposes.

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
Burton amendment.
  Today, India is the world's largest democracy. India's one billion 
people account for one-sixth of the world's population. For half a 
century India has struggled to overcome colonialism, religious and 
ethnic conflicts and all of the problems of underdevelopment.
  India has made tremendous progress in trying to address its human 
rights problems.
  India has instituted a process to receive complaints, initiate 
investigations of all claims, and passed laws to take action against 
those officials and members of security forces that have committed 
human rights offenses. The Burton amendment would eliminate U.S. 
assistance to help sustain these achievements.

[[Page E1256]]

  It is senseless to go through this again. As we continue this debate 
from last year, I want to say again that cutting development assistance 
to India would have disastrous effects.
  I know that some members feel that India now has the opportunity to 
operate without the help of the United States. To that I say 
opportunity only follows hard work. It follows effort. And it never 
comes before.
  Let's take this opportunity now to put forth the effort to truly help 
India, let's vote down the Burton amendment and help keep India on the 
road to economic sufficiency.

                          ____________________