[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17591]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 AMERICAN EMBASSY SECURITY ACT OF 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 21, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2415) to 
     enhance security of United States missions and personnel 
     overseas, to authorize appropriations for the Department of 
     State for fiscal year 2000, and for other purposes:

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the 
Goodling amendment.
  India is one of our most valuable allies. The oldest democracy and 
the largest democracy share many things in common. India is moving 
forward with free-market reforms that offer tremendous opportunities 
for American trade and investment.
  U.S. assistance to India, and elsewhere, serves our national 
interests and is provided because it promotes our policy priorities, 
not as a reward for voting with us.
  We should not cut assistance to countries based solely on their 
voting practices in the United Nations General Assembly. We should 
consider more than just a voting record. For example, we agree on a 
host of other UN activities. India has sent significant troop 
contingents to various peace-keeping missions around the world, serving 
as a partner to further our mutual interests.
  But even if you consider their voting record, in votes identified by 
the State Department as ``important,'' India voted with the U.S. 75% of 
the time. This amendment will no nothing but damage our relations with 
a valuable ally by identifying India as an opponent of U.S. policies, 
when, in fact, we have a great deal in common.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against this 
amendment.

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