[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                         HON. ANTHONY D. WEINER

                              of new york

                    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. WEINER. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to the Burton 
amendment.
  In these times of budget surpluses, and when we are working so hard 
to encourage emerging democracies, why are we debating an amendment 
today that proposes to cut aid to the largest democracy in the world? 
India is a nation with a great potential and tremendous opportunities, 
but with over 500 million people living at or below the World Bank's 
poverty line, India remains a nation with tremendous human needs. 
United States bilateral aid programs in India make a modest, yet 
important, contribution to the welfare of India's citizens.
  Cutting this assistance would be a deliberate attempt to not only 
torpedo our help for human welfare, but also to stigmatize India just 
as relations between the world's two great democracies are on the cusp 
of attaining a new and positive relationship. The Burton amendment, in 
effect, will undo all the progress that has been made in building a 
warm and productive relationship with India.
  India is the world's largest democracy. The Indian press corps is 
among the most active in the world and frequently investigates human 
rights abuses. India has a fiercely independent Human Rights Commission 
which has instituted a process to receive complaints, initiate 
investigations of all claims, and the country has passed laws and taken 
action against those officials and members of security forces who 
commit human rights abuses.
  Prime Minister Vajpayee has been outspoken in his condemnation of 
ethnic and religious violence in India. He has declared that his 
government ``is resolved that perpetrators of violence should be dealt 
with firmly and that exemplary punishments should be awarded to them.'' 
And in a recent visit to Vatican and meeting with the Pope, the Prime 
Minister reiterated his commitment to ``protect all minority 
communities and ensure an atmosphere of communal harmony.''
  The best response to human rights violations in India is for us to 
help India promote democracy and encourage India to improve its human 
rights records. This cannot be achieve by cutting off aid, but it can 
be accomplished by engaging India in a positive and constructive 
dialogue.
  As the locus of international terrorism shifts from the Middle East 
to South Asia, India has become a critical democratic ally to the 
United States and has helped to protect our interests in the region. It 
would be wrong for us to turn our back on our ally, especially on a 
staunch democracy such as India.
  Mr. Chairman, President Clinton's historic visit to India last March 
established a new understanding between India and the United States, 
and has allowed the relationship between our two democracies to 
flourish. The Burton amendment will go great damage to the historic 
progress that was made in bilateral relations between our two nations.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Burton amendment.

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