[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1680-E1681]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CALLING ON CHINA TO END HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES PRIOR TO THE OLYMPICS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 30, 2008

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, I rise to express my concerns with H. 
Res. 1370.
  I certainly am supportive of many of the provisions of the bill. I am 
a friend of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and I continue to voice my 
displeasure of the treatment of the Tibetan people by the government of 
the People's Republic of China. The human rights consequences that 
persist in Tibet have the potential to devastate Tibet and completely 
abolish any chance of peaceful reconciliation.
  I also support efforts to hold repressive governments in Sudan and 
Burma accountable for their reprehensible treatment of their citizens. 
It is outrageous that these governments continue to prosper and enjoy 
support from other

[[Page E1681]]

governments, such as China, as they systematically dismantle the 
economic and physical security of their citizens and routinely violate 
universally accepted human rights principles.
  However, this legislation continues a troubling pattern of addressing 
political and social issues in a cosmetic and superficial manner, while 
ignoring the devastating impact of our trade policies with China on the 
American economy and American families. The Economic Policy Institute 
recently released a report that asserted between 2001-2007, our trade 
deficit with China has more than tripled, from $84 billion to $262 
billion. This trade deficit has lead to a veritable hemorrhaging of 
jobs: the American economy has shed approximately 2.3 million jobs 
during that time span, the vast majority being manufacturing jobs.
  Moreover, China continues its practice of currency manipulation, 
where the Yuan is pegged to the American dollar at a depressed and 
fixed rate. This distorts the prices of imports and exports, making 
American imports artificially high and Chinese exports low. China is 
currently one of the top two holders of U.S. Treasury bonds; the other 
is Japan.
  Nonbinding saber rattling will not improve the human rights situation 
in China. We must get our priorities in order. If we take a hard look 
at the economic and financial policies that guide our relationship with 
China, we will realize that they continue to erode the American 
economy, attack the American family, and compromise our national 
security.
  I will continue to advocate for the open channels of dialogue and 
discussions that will lead to real change and understanding, and I will 
reject demagoguery that has no real effect and serves no valuable 
purpose in our foreign policy.

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