[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 55 (Wednesday, April 1, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E836]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE U.S.-PARAGUAY PARTNERSHIP ACT OF 2009

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                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 1, 2009

  Mr. ENGEL. Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the U.S.-
Paraguay Partnership Act of 2009 which will add Paraguay as an Andean 
Trade Preference Act (ATPA) beneficiary country. As Chairman of the 
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, I have 
spent countless hours over the past two years urging greater U.S. 
engagement in the Americas. Congress's passage of the U.S.-Paraguay 
Partnership Act of 2009 will be one small step in that direction.
  Paraguay is the second poorest country in South America--after only 
Bolivia. 30% of Paraguayans live in poverty and 13% live in extreme 
poverty. Paraguay's inclusion as an ATPA beneficiary country would 
allow the country to create well-needed jobs and reduce poverty.
  But, the U.S.-Paraguay Partnership Act of 2009 is about much more 
than poverty reduction. This bill will serve the dual purpose of 
reducing poverty in Paraguay and enhancing the already strong 
relationship between our two countries. I visited President Lugo in 
Asuncion in November, and he expressed to me his interest in a strong 
relationship with the United States. President Lugo is the first 
Paraguayan president to be elected not from the Colorado party in 60 
years, and he is already a good friend of the United States.
  Paraguay is a small, landlocked country that is often left out of 
discussions of U.S. policy toward Latin America. But, it is a crucial 
ally in so many areas. According to the State Department's February 
2009 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report, in 2008, 
Paraguay's National Anti-drug Secretariat (SENAD) seized a record 172 
metric tons of marijuana. Paraguay also works closely with the U.S. and 
its neighbors Argentina and Brazil in the ``3+1 process'' to curb 
illicit activities in the so-called tri-border area where the borders 
of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil meet.
  Over the past two years, I have been highly critical of Congress's 
short-term extensions of ATPA. It is my hope both that Paraguay will be 
quickly added to ATPA and that ATPA will then be extended for a much 
longer time period than in the past.
  During his campaign, President Obama said that ``my policy toward the 
Americas will be guided by the simple principle that what's good for 
the people of the Americas is good for the United States.'' The U.S.-
Paraguay Partnership Act of 2009 embodies the spirit of President 
Obama's statement, and will be a win-win for both countries.

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