[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 23, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I strongly oppose the manner 
in which H.R. 4681 was brought to the floor of the House. To bring a 
bill of this importance up under suspension of the rules, without the 
opportunity for amendment or full debate, was an unfortunate decision 
and is a bad way for this body to be legislating. The process should be 
open, with every chance for members to deliberate and offer substantive 
and positive change to what is a very complex bill.
  H.R. 4681 is well-meaning legislation. Unfortunately, it implements a 
foreign policy that could potentially reduce future diplomatic options 
for the U.S. Department of State. While the legislation should 
specifically target the terrorist group Hamas, it unnecessarily 
includes nearly all members of the Palestinian Authority--PA--
Government, and will punish the entire Palestinian people.
  There is no doubt that Hamas firmly believes in terrorism as a means 
to achieve their goals. The U.S. must continue to denounce the group's 
ideology. However, H.R. 4681 includes provisions which I believe will 
make it even more difficult for the PA to find its way back to the 
roadmap and to achieve peace. This includes expecting Hamas to reach 
specific benchmarks--benchmarks that no other PA government has been 
able to achieve--before receiving aid from the U.S. It includes 
expanding travel restriction and economic sanctions to include all 
members of the PA Government and all Palestinians, not simply those who 
are members of Hamas. Also, it includes no national security waiver 
which would allow the President the flexibility he needs to 
diplomatically deal with the situation.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation is opposed by many non-governmental 
organizations, including those who are providing health, education, and 
humanitarian aid throughout the Middle East. It is also opposed by the 
Bush administration, which believes the legislation to be unnecessary. 
U.S. Secretary of State Rice has repeatedly spoken of the need for the 
U.S. to do all it can to be a leader in promoting peace in the Middle 
East, and she believes that this legislation is not the appropriate way 
in which to continue that leadership. This opposition from the very 
individual who is implementing and creating U.S. foreign policy should 
give us pause, and should give us even more reason not to be bringing 
this legislation up under suspension.
  There is no question that the terrorist actions of Hamas necessitate 
action by the U.S. and that every Member of this body opposes Hamas. 
With passage of H.R. 4681, and passage of similar legislation in the 
Senate, I hope that a conference report takes into account all of the 
concerns that have been raised and substantively alters the content 
within this bill to ensure the Palestinian people do not unnecessarily 
suffer. We must enact smart foreign policy that is strong enough to 
bring about change, but which does not tie the hands of the President 
or marginalize moderate Palestinians who desire positive change.

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