[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15039-15040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            REPEALING SECTION 907 OF THE FREEDOM SUPPORT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RANDY HULTGREN

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 23, 2012

  Mr. HULTGREN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of repealing 
Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act. Since 1992 the people of 
Azerbaijan have been under unfair restrictions for American assistance.
  Twenty years ago tomorrow, President George H.W. Bush signed into law 
the FREEDOM Support Act.
  While a well intentioned effort at lifting out of poverty and tyranny 
the afflicted peoples of the former Soviet Union, the law also 
contained a provision under Section 907 of the bill, which restricted 
Azerbaijan from receiving assistance.
  Azerbaijan was the only former Soviet state restricted in this 
manner, and bound by outdated criteria.

[[Page 15040]]

  Every year since 2001, the restrictions under Section 907 have been 
waived. The US-Azerbaijan alliance has grown immensely over the 
previous 20 years across all sectors of cooperation, from military 
intelligence, to trade and business, to academic and cultural ties.
  It is time to do away with this unnecessary and unfair law. 
Azerbaijan is a key ally in the War on Terror, and is a strategic 
geographic partner given its close proximity to Iran and Israel.
  Instead of dwelling on conflicts of the past, we should be embracing 
economic growth of the future while continuing to foster and encourage 
democratic values in Azerbaijan.
  Congress should repeal Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act and 
allow Azerbaijan access to the support it deserves.

                          ____________________