[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 171 (Tuesday, December 11, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H9108-H9112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2001
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 2121) to make available funds under the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 to expand democracy, good governance, and anti-corruption
programs in the Russian Federation in order to promote and strengthen
democratic government and civil society in that country and to support
independent media, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 2121
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Russian Democracy Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the
leadership of the Russian Federation has publicly committed
itself to building--
(A) a society with democratic political institutions and
practices, the observance of universally recognized standards
of human rights, and religious and press freedom; and
(B) a market economy based on internationally accepted
principles of transparency, accountability, and the rule of
law.
(2) In order to facilitate this transition, the
international community has provided multilateral and
bilateral technical assistance, and the United States'
contribution to these efforts has played an important role in
developing new institutions built on democratic and liberal
economic foundations and the rule of law.
(3)(A) Since 1992, United States Government democratic
reform programs and public diplomacy programs, including
training, small grants, and technical assistance to
independent television, radio, and print media across the
Russian Federation, have strengthened nongovernment-owned
media, provided access to and training in the use of the
Internet, brought nearly 40,000 Russian citizens to the
United States, and have led to the establishment of over
65,000 nongovernmental organizations, thousands of vibrant
independent media outlets, and numerous political parties.
(B) These efforts contributed to the substantially free and
fair Russian parliamentary elections in 1995 and 1999 and
Presidential elections in 1996 and 2000.
(4) The United States has assisted Russian efforts to
replace its centrally planned, state-controlled economy with
a market economy and helped create institutions and
infrastructure for a market economy by encouraging the
transparent privatization of state-owned enterprises.
Approximately two-thirds of the Russian Federation's gross
domestic product is now generated by the private sector.
(5)(A) The United States fostered grassroots
entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation by focusing United
States economic assistance on small- and medium-sized
businesses and by providing training, consulting services,
and small loans to more than 250,000 Russian entrepreneurs.
(B) There are now more than 900,000 small businesses in the
Russian Federation, producing 12 to 15 percent of the gross
domestic product of the Russian Federation.
(C) United States-funded programs help to fight corruption
and financial crime, such as money laundering, by helping
to--
(i) establish a commercial legal infrastructure;
(ii) develop an independent judiciary;
(iii) support the drafting of a new criminal code, civil
code, and bankruptcy law;
(iv) develop a legal and regulatory framework for the
Russian Federation's equivalent of the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission;
(v) support Russian law schools;
(vi) create legal aid clinics; and
(vii) bolster law-related activities of nongovernmental
organizations.
(6) Because the capability of Russian democratic forces and
the civil society to organize and defend democratic gains
without international support is uncertain, and because the
gradual integration of the Russian Federation into the global
order of free-market, democratic nations will further enhance
Russian cooperation with the United States on a wide-range of
political, economic, and security issues, the success of
democracy in Russia is in the national security interest of
the United States, and the United States Government should
develop a far-reaching and flexible strategy aimed at
strengthening Russian society's support for democracy and a
market economy, particularly by enhancing Russian democratic
institutions and education, promoting the rule of law, and
supporting Russia's independent media.
(7) Since the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the
Russian Federation has stood with the United States and the
civilized world in the struggle against terrorism and has
cooperated in the war in Afghanistan by sharing intelligence
and through other means.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are--
(1) to strengthen and advance institutions of democratic
government and of a free and independent media and to sustain
the development of an independent civil society in the
[[Page H9109]]
Russian Federation based on religious and ethnic tolerance,
internationally recognized human rights, and an
internationally recognized rule of law; and
(2) to focus United States foreign assistance programs on
using local expertise and giving local organizations a
greater role in designing and implementing such programs,
while maintaining appropriate oversight and monitoring.
SEC. 3. UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the United States Government should--
(1) recognize that a democratic and economically stable
Russian Federation is inherently less confrontational and
destabilizing in its foreign policy and therefore that the
promotion of democracy in Russia is in the national security
interests of the United States; and
(2) continue and increase assistance to the democratic
forces in the Russian Federation, including the independent
media, regional administrations, democratic political
parties, and nongovernmental organizations.
(b) Statement of Policy.--It shall be the policy of the
United States--
(1) to facilitate Russia's integration into the Western
community of nations, including supporting the establishment
of a stable democracy and a market economy, and also
including Russia's membership in the appropriate
international institutions;
(2) to engage the Government of Russian Federation and
Russian society in order to strengthen democratic reform and
institutions, and to promote good governance principles based
on the internationally recognized norms of transparency in
business practices, the rule of law, religious freedom, and
human rights;
(3) to advance a dialog between United States Government
officials and private sector individuals and representatives
of the Government of the Russian Federation regarding Russian
integration into the Western community of nations;
(4) to encourage United States Government officials and
private sector individuals to meet regularly with democratic
activists, human rights activists, representatives of the
independent media, representatives of nongovernmental
organizations, civic organizers, and reform-minded
politicians from Moscow and the various regions of the
Russian Federation;
(5) to incorporate democratic reforms, the promotion of an
independent media, and economic reforms in the broad United
States agenda with the Government of the Russian Federation;
(6) to encourage the Government of the Russian Federation
to address cross-border issues, including the environment,
crime, trafficking, and corruption in a cooperative and
transparent manner consistent with internationally recognized
and accepted principles of the rule of law;
(7) to consult with the Government of the Russian
Federation and the Russian Parliament on the adoption of
economic and social reforms necessary to sustain Russian
economic growth and to ensure Russia's transition to a fully
functioning market economy;
(8) to persuade the Government of the Russian Federation to
honor its commitments made to the Organization for Security
and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) at the November 1999
Istanbul Conference and to conduct a genuine good neighbor
policy toward the other independent states of the former
Soviet Union in the spirit of internationally accepted
principles of regional cooperation; and
(9) to encourage the G-7 partners and international
financial institutions, including the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund, and the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, to develop financial
safeguards and transparency practices in lending to the
Russian Federation.
SEC. 4. AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGN ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1961.
(a) Amendments.--
(1) Democracy and rule of law.--Section 498(2) of the
Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295(2)) is
amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Democracy'' and inserting
``Democracy and rule of law'';
(B) by striking subparagraphs (E) and (G);
(C) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (I);
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
``(E) development and support of grass-roots and
nongovernmental organizations promoting democracy, the rule
of law, transparency, and accountability in the political
process, including grants in small amounts to such
organizations;
``(F) international exchanges to promote greater
understanding by Russian Federation citizens on how
democracy, public policy process, market institutions, and an
independent judiciary function in Western societies;
``(G) political parties committed to promoting democracy,
human rights, and economic reforms;
``(H) support for civic organizations committed to
promoting human rights; and''; and
(E) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) strengthened administration of justice through
programs and activities carried out in accordance with
section 498B(e), including--
``(i) support for nongovernmental organizations, civic
organizations, and political parties that favor a strong and
independent judiciary based on merit;
``(ii) support for local organizations that work with
judges and law enforcement officials in efforts to achieve a
reduction in the number of pretrial detainees; and
``(iii) support for the creation of Russian legal
associations or groups that provide training in human rights
and advocacy, public education with respect to human rights-
related laws and proposed legislation, and legal assistance
to persons subject to improper government interference.''.
(2) Independent media.--Section 498 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (13) as
paragraphs (4) though (14), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Independent media.--Developing a free and independent
media, including--
``(A) supporting all forms of non-state-owned media
reporting, including print, radio, and television;
``(B) providing special support for, and unrestricted
public access to, nongovernmental Internet-based sources of
information, dissemination and reporting, including providing
technical and other support for web radio services, providing
computers and other necessary resources for Internet
connectivity and training new Internet users in
nongovernmental and other civic organizations on methods and
uses of Internet-based media; and
``(C) training in journalism, including investigative
journalism techniques which educate the public on the costs
of corruption and act as a deterrent against corrupt
officials.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 498B(e) of such Act is
amended by striking ``paragraph (2)(G)'' and inserting
``paragraph (2)(J)''.
SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION.
(a) Assistance Programs.--In providing assistance to the
Russian Federation under chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.), the
President is authorized to carry out the following specific
activities:
(1) Work with the Government of the Russian Federation, the
Duma, and representatives of the Russian Federation judiciary
to help implement a revised and improved code of criminal
procedure and other laws.
(2) Establish civic education programs relating to
democracy, public policy, the rule of law, and the importance
of an independent media, including the establishment of
``American Centers'' and public policy schools at Russian
universities and programs by universities in the United
States to offer courses through Internet-based off-site
learning centers at Russian universities.
(3) Support the Regional Initiatives (RI) program, which
provides targeted assistance in those regions of the Russian
Federation that have demonstrated commitment to reform,
democracy, and the rule of law, and which promote the concept
of such programs as a model for all regions of the Russian
Federation.
(b) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Voice of America.--
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Voice of America
should use new and innovative techniques, in cooperation with
local independent media sources, to disseminate information
throughout the Russian Federation relating to democracy,
free-market economics, the rule of law, and human rights.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF ASSISTANCE FOR DEMOCRACY,
INDEPENDENT MEDIA, AND THE RULE OF LAW.
Of the amounts made available to carry out the provision of
chapter 11 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961
(22 U.S.C. 2295 et seq.) and the Freedom for Russia and
Emerging Eurasian Democracies and Open Markets Support Act of
1992 for fiscal year 2002, not less than $50,000,000 is
authorized to be available for the activities authorized by
paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 498 of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961, as amended by section 4(a) of this
Act.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter).
General Leave
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Nebraska?
There was no objection.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Madam Speaker, this Member rises in strong support of H.R. 2121, the
Russian Democracy Act of 2001. As a co-sponsor of this measure this
Member would like to thank the distinguished gentleman from California
(Mr. Lantos) for an outstanding effort in
[[Page H9110]]
crafting this legislation. In addition, I would like to thank the
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman of the
Committee on International Relations for his crucial attendance in
bringing this legislation to the floor.
Madam Speaker, the key to building Democratic institutions that
include an independent media, a fair judicial system, and an active
civil society is to establish community, a community, a body politic
which demands those institutions. Building that demand for democracy
begins with laying a foundation at the local and regional level.
Unfortunately, the United States has, I think, for too long, focussed
disproportionately its reform assistance for Russia on funding for
democracy building efforts at the national level.
However, this legislation correctly seeks to direct a much greater
share of U.S. assistance toward the local and regional levels.
At those critical grassroots levels, the U.S. can be most effective,
I think, for the longer-term growth of democracy and reform in Russia.
This bill ensures that American assistance will continue to be
available to help strengthen democracy in the Russian federation.
Seemingly a routine measure perhaps on first glance, we should pause
for a moment and note what this bill represents. The mere fact that we
can speak of democracy in Russia as an emerging but actual reality in
the present tense and not as some dim prospect in the hazy future, is
one of the many wonders of the past decade that have grown familiar and
that are now taken largely for granted.
Its existence, however, is a testament to the deep commitment to the
fundamental values shared by peoples all over the world, the United
States and the west as a whole, a tremendous debt to all the men and
women of Russia who have struggled to establish and defend a democracy
in their country, and thereby create a new era of freedom after a
thousand years of autocratic rule.
{time} 1530
The benefits of that freedom, of course, are most directly felt by
Russia's own citizens. But the West has benefited enormously as well. A
half century of effort by the United States and its allies to contain
and undermine Soviet imperialism enjoyed many successes, but it was
only with the advent of the early stages of democracy in Russia that
the Soviet empire finally crumbled.
The creation of a democracy in Russia must be counted as one of the
great achievements of the past century. Yet for all of its
accomplishments, that democracy is not yet firmly established. The
civil society on which all democracies ultimately rest remains weak in
Russia. Much of the legacy inherited from Russia's authoritarian past
is still to be overcome. The institutions of democracy are largely
untested. The habits of freedom have not yet become universal.
Given these and other concerns, the Russian government's current
campaign against independent voices in the media is a most worrisome
one. Why is this our concern? Because the strengthening of Russia's
democracy and the advancing of Russia's integration into the West are
unquestionably in the long-term strategic interest of the United
States. These advances are necessary if we are to make permanent the
gains we have derived from the liberation of Europe, a commitment that
stretches unbroken for half a century, from the landings on Normandy
beaches to the final dissolution of the Soviet empire.
To this, an even broader motivation can be added. By helping other
peoples share the benefits of liberty, we demonstrate a continued
commitment to the universal principles on which our country was founded
and the promises these represent to all who have endured oppression.
Thus, our own interests and our hopes for the world together argue that
we should provide direct and ongoing assistance to securing democracy
in Russia.
The bill before us represents an important part of that effort. It
focuses our attention and assistance on many of the prerequisites of a
free and prosperous society, including the creation of a resilient
civil society, the strengthening of an independent press, and the
establishment of the rule of law. Yet even as we assist Russia's
democrats in their unfinished tasks, we must recognize that the
building of a free society in that country can only be accomplished by
the Russian people themselves. We cannot do it for them, nor do we need
to.
Although there are many in this country and elsewhere who would
despair of the fate of democracy in Russia, I am not among them. Its
course may occasionally surprise and concern us, but the ultimate
destination aimed at by Russia's democrats should not be in doubt. The
depth of their commitment to freedom has been demonstrated by the
enormous obstacles they have already overcome. Freedom was not handed
to the Russian people. They freed themselves. Lacking a direct
experience of liberty in their past, they nonetheless have continued to
lay the foundation to secure it for themselves and for their
countrymen, even as they have encountered the inevitable setbacks and
disappointments.
It is for these reasons that their effort to strengthen democracy in
their country deserve our assistance and respect. And it is my hope
that Russia's assumption of its rightful place among the free nations
of the world shall prove to be a permanent one.
Madam Speaker, I urge strong support for the legislation, and I
commend the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) for his creative and
timely action in presenting this legislation.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume;
and I first want to commend my good friend, the gentleman from Nebraska
(Mr. Bereuter), for his eloquent and powerful statement and for his
support. I also want to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde)
for moving this legislation through the committee and to the floor
today. I also want to especially thank the Speaker, the majority
leader, and the majority whip for placing it on today's suspension
calendar. But most of all, Madam Speaker, I want to thank Ms. Tanya
Shamson, a distinguished member of the committee staff, bilingual and
bicultural, for doing extraordinarily effective work in crafting this
legislation.
Madam Speaker, the House could not have chosen a more fitting time to
consider this bill. As you know, President Bush recently concluded a
most productive summit with President Putin in Texas and Secretary of
State Powell was in Moscow just a couple of days ago on a most
successful visit.
When I first introduced the Russia Democracy Act of 2001, the world
was a very different place. Our administration was embarking on a
comprehensive inter-agency Russia policy review with many complications
and many problems. The relations between our two countries were neither
friendly nor cordial. Today, in the post-September 11 world, the
picture is drastically different.
President Putin made a courageous decision on September 11 to join
the civilized world and to stand with us against global terrorism.
There are elements within Russia, Madam Speaker, who are not happy with
this decision. That is one of the many reasons why we must craft a
creative and responsible policy toward Russia that will firmly anchor
that important country in the West.
I was very pleased to hear President Bush mention the importance of a
free press during his Shanghai press conference with President Putin
and during President Putin's visit to the United States. I passionately
believe that the existence of a vibrant, self-sustaining, nonstate-
owned and nonstate-controlled media in Russia is the key to Russia's
successful integration with the democratic societies of the West. My
bill will support such media activities, including access to the
Internet and the use of modern technologies to improve media outreach
throughout Russia.
The Russian nongovernmental sector also needs our support. Although
President Putin chastised Russian NGOs for accepting financial support
from abroad, Russia simply does not yet have a culture of either
corporate philanthropy or private donations to make these
nongovernmental organizations viable. The plethora of nongovernmental
organizations that have sprung up in Russia since 1991 provides us with
an enormous opportunity to
[[Page H9111]]
build this democratic component into the new Russian society.
U.S.-Russian relationships have entered a new era. Our cooperation in
the fight against global terrorism is unprecedented since our alliance
during the Second World War more than a half a century ago. Recently, I
had the privilege of meeting with President Putin, with Foreign
Minister Ivanov, and other Russian officials; and we discussed our
relationships in detail. There are still many areas where we disagree,
such as Russian arms sales to Iran; but today, there are many areas
where we do agree, and the U.S.-Russia relationship today is
fundamentally a healthy one.
The Russian leadership has clearly shown where it sees Russia's
future to be; and it is our responsibility to stay engaged, to be
responsive, and to support Russian democracy and the private sector.
At President Bush's request, I shall shortly be introducing
legislation putting an end to the Jackson-Vanik legislation,
legislation which was one of the most important pieces of human rights
legislation in our Nation's history. But things have changed and Russia
now permits free immigration. The repeal of Jackson-Vanik will be yet
another demonstration of our growing cooperative, constructive, and
healthy relationship with Russia.
The Government of Russia, Madam Speaker, has introduced, and the
Russian Duma has passed, landmark legislation during this past session.
For the first time since 1917, Russian citizens can now own their own
land. This is not only an important new economic fact, it is a
psychological breakthrough of immense proportions. It is obvious that
the government and the Duma are now serious about tackling other
sectors that have long been resistant to reform. Mr. Putin understands
that the creation of a welcoming investment climate is one of the key
pillars to sustained economic growth in Russia.
Madam Speaker, I strongly believe that supporting democracy, the
consolidation of the market economy, and developing a vibrant private
sector is in our national interest. By funding the development of civil
society in Russia and a free and independent media, H.R. 2121 will play
a critical role in strengthening U.S.-Russian relations and
strengthening democracy in Russia. Let us not squander this
unprecedented moment to bring Russia closer to the West. I urge all of
my colleagues to support H.R. 2121.
Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such time as
he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from New Jersey (Mr.
Smith), the vice chairman of the committee.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank my good friend, the
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), for yielding me this time; and
I want to commend my good friend and colleague, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking Democrat on the committee, for
authoring this proposal that is before us today.
This is a very worthy and I think very important contribution to U.S.
bilateral relations with Russia. Russia is a country that is of vital
strategic, economic, and military importance to our Nation. I think the
pending legislation outlines within the text a number of very
constructive initiatives.
Madam Speaker, I recently led the U.S. delegation to the OSCE
Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest, Romania; and we spent the better
part of a week exploring the destructive consequence of corruption.
Parliamentarians from all over the world, Madam Speaker, 54 nations
that make up the OSCE, we probed corruption as it relates to undermine
democracy. Our conclusions were clear: Corruption represents one of the
greatest threats to democracy and market oriented economies on the face
of the earth.
Corruption, to a very large degree, has replaced ideology communism
as the greatest potential threat to undermining the emergence of
democracy in central and Eastern Europe, and especially in Russia
itself. We now know that organized crime and criminal elements, some of
whom used to be the old KGB, are growing and expanding in Russia. The
emerging democracy is being hijacked by thugs and brigands. We know
that drugs and weapons are very big money-makers for
Russian Mobsters. But not far behind we also know that trafficking of
human beings--especially women--has emerged worldwide and in Russia as
the number three money-maker for organized crime.
I am very glad that the pending legislation seeks to target
assistance to fight corruption and crime and to help the Duma draft new
criminal statutes and a new criminal code. Let us not forget that the
most recent report that was issued by the State Department cited Russia
as a tier three country that has a major problem with trafficking in
human beings--And is doing far too little to stop it.
Madam Speaker, we know that worldwide about 50,000 of those
trafficked, mostly women, mostly for forced prostitution, come into
this country and that anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million persons are
trafficked worldwide each year. Many of those women are coming out of
Russia and the Ukraine and countries in Europe. This legislation
directs the State Department, to do more. There is no doubt that the
United States wants and desire a good relationship with Russia, but
they have to stop trafficking women into prostitution; they have to
crack down on organized crime and provide safe havens for these
victimized women who are being exploited in this way.
This is a good bill. I think it deserves the support of every Member
of this body. The United States has declared war on organized crime
figures who rape and exploit women. Countries of origin--like Russia
have to do their part!
Tough, antitrafficking laws are needed in every country. And I hope
that this legislation builds on our earlier laws to move that along so
that we have trafficking laws that are uniform, to the greatest extent
possible. Traffickers must know that if they exploit women, they go to
prison, and they go to prison for the rest of their lives. Our law now
says that. It is about time the laws of every country, including
Russia, said it as well.
{time} 1545
I will never forget, Madam Speaker, I brought this legislation up in
St. Petersburg at an OSE Parliamentary Assembly. The Duma speaker
looked at me when I mentioned trafficking as if I was talking about
something that was happening on the moon. That has changed. The next
year and the year after in Paris, when the trafficking resolution came
up on the floor among the Parliamentary Assembly participants, the
Russians embraced that language and said we need to do something at
home as well. I hope that we work uniformly to crack down on this
scourge of modern-day slavery.
Mr. Hyde. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
This bill, the Russian Democracy Act, ensures that American
assistance will continue to be available to help strengthen democracy
in the Russian Federation. Seemingly a routine measure, we should pause
for a moment and note what this bill represents. The mere fact that we
can speak of democracy in Russia as an emerging but actual reality in
the present tense, and not as some dim prospect in the hazy future, is
one of the many wonders of the past decade that have grown familiar and
that are now taken largely for granted. Its existence, however, is a
testament to the deep commitment to fundamental values shared by
peoples all over the world.
The United States and the West as a whole owe an immense debt to all
the men and women of Russia who have struggled to establish and defend
a democracy in their country and thereby create a new era of freedom
after a thousand years of autocratic rule. The benefits of that
freedom, of course, are most directly felt by Russia's own citizens.
But the West has benefitted enormously as well. A half century of
effort by the United States and its allies to contain and undermine
Soviet imperialism enjoyed many successes, but it was only with the
advent of the earliest stages of democracy in Russia that the Soviet
empire finally crumbled.
The creation of a democracy in Russia must be counted as one of the
great achievements of the past century. Yet for all of its
accomplishments, that democracy is not yet firmly established. The
civil society on which all democracies ultimately rest remains weak in
Russia; much of the legacy inherited from Russia's authoritarian past
is still to be overcome; the institutions of democracy are largely
untested; the habits of freedom have yet to
[[Page H9112]]
become universal. Given these and other concerns, the Russian
government's current campaign against independent voices in the media
is a most worrisome one.
Why is this our concern? Because the strengthening of Russian
democracy and advancing Russia's integration into the West are
unquestionably in the long-term strategic interests of the United
States. These advances are necessary if we are to make permanent the
gains we have derived from the liberation of Europe, a commitment that
stretches unbroken for half a century, from the landings on the
Normandy beaches to the final dissolution of the Soviet empire. To
this, an even broader motivation can be added. By helping other peoples
share the benefits of liberty, we demonstrate a continuing commitment
to the universal principles on which our country was founded and the
promise these represent to all who endure oppression. Thus, our own
interests and our hopes for the world, together argue, that we should
provide direct and ongoing assistance to securing democracy in Russia.
The bill before us represents an important part of that effort. It
focuses our attention and assistance on many of the prerequisites of a
free and prosperous society, including the creation of a resilient
civil society, the strengthening of an independent press, and the
establishment of the rule of law.
Yet even as we assist Russia's democrats in their unfinished tasks,
we must recognize that the building of a fee society in that country
can only be accomplished by the Russian people themselves. We cannot do
it for them. But neither do we need to. Although there are many in this
country and elsewhere who would despair of the fate of democracy in
Russia, I am not among them. Its course may occasionally surprise and
concern us, but the ultimate destination aimed at by Russia's democrats
should not be in doubt. The depth of their commitment to freedom has
been demonstrated by the enormous obstacles they have already overcome.
Freedom was not handed to the Russian people; they freed themselves.
Lacking a direct experience of liberty in their past, they nonetheless
have continued to lay the foundation to secure it for themselves and
for their countrymen, even as they have encountered the inevitable
setbacks and disappointments.
It is for these reasons that their efforts to strengthen democracy in
their country deserve our assistance and respect, and it is my hope
that Russia's assumption of its rightful place among the free nations
of the world shall prove to be a permanent one.
Madam Speaker, I urge strong support for this legislation and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 2121, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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