Phil Crane

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Watkins), another distinguished colleague on the Committee on Ways and Means. (Mr. WATKINS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 213) expressing the sense of the Congress that the European Union is unfairly restricting the importation of United States agricultural products and the elimination of such restrictions should be a top priority in trade negotiations with the European Union, as amended.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 213, as amended.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, as amended by the Committee on Ways and Means, House Concurrent Resolution 213 calls on the President to first develop a trade agenda which actively addresses agricultural trade barriers and trade negotiations; secondly, seek competitive opportunities for U.S. exporters that are substantially equivalent to those opportunities foreign products enjoy in the U.S. market; and finally, aggressively pursue full compliance by our trading partners with dispute settlement decisions of the World Trade Organization. The United States possesses the most efficient and competitive agriculture sectors in the world. Agricultural goods accounted $93.1 billion in total two-way trade during 1997, up 40 percent or $26.6 billion, from 1992. U.S. agricultural exports alone stood at about $56 billion in 1997. However, this number is projected to fall by about $4 billion in 1998. My own State of Illinois is the third largest agricultural exporting State, shipping nearly $4 billion in agricultural exports abroad, or 6.7 percent of the U.S. total in 1996. The largest export categories, feed, grain, and soybeans, accounted for over 75 percent of Illinois' agricultural exports in 1996. The resolution notes that agricultural markets in Asia, accounting for more than 40 percent of U.S. agricultural exports worldwide, have been severely affected in a negative way by the Asian financial crisis. Because of this economic downturn, combined with the fact that domestic food consumption is projected to remain relatively stable, the further elimination of trade barriers and development of new export opportunities is essential to the economic health of U.S. agricultural producers. The Administration's inaction on the fast track issue means we are missing opportunities every day to improve the well-being and future security of U.S. farmers and ranchers. House Concurrent Resolution 213 makes the point that disputes regarding agricultural matters involve the most difficult and intractable intractable issues between the U.S. And our largest trade and investment partner, the European union. For example, Europe continues to maintain an import ban on beef produced using growth-promoting hormones, despite the fact that WTO has ruled that there is no scientific basis for this ban and that it must be removed by May 13, 1999. House Concurrent Resolution 213 underscores the fact that Congress fully expects that Europe will come into compliance with its international obligations by this date, at the latest. In another important ruling for U.S. interests, the WTO determined that the convoluted licensing and quota system restricting the importation of bananas into the EU violates numerous provisions of the WTO and must be brought under compliance by January 1 of 1999. Full implementation of these WTO decisions against the EU will show the world whether Europeans are committed to the credibility and long- term viability of the WTO dispute settlement system. This resolution underscores the importance that this body places on aggressively pursuing trade negotiations to eliminate trade barriers to American agricultural exports. It calls upon the President to develop a trade agenda that puts a priority on addressing these barriers in negotiations under the auspices of the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum, and trade negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement of the Americas. I hope my colleagues will give their unanimous support to the important objective of achieving additional market opportunities for U.S. agricultural exports, and I urge a yes vote on House Concurrent Resolution 213. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4342) to make miscellaneous and technical changes to various trade laws, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Camp), my distinguished colleague from the Committee on Ways and Means.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter), chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific of the Committee on International Relations. (Mr. BEREUTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest).

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to remind Members that they all received a letter from 17 of our colleagues, on a bipartisan basis, Vietnam vets, all in support of the waiver. I would urge them to make sure that they read it critically. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my colleague, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo).

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Let me remind everyone, Mr. Speaker, that this waiver only allows that Vietnam be reviewed for possible coverage by U.S. trade financing programs. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Dreier). (Mr. DREIER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 120 and in support of the extension of Vietnam's Jackson-Vanik waiver. Since President Clinton lifted the trade embargo against Vietnam in 1994, the administration has taken steps to normalize U.S. trade relations with that country. This process is subject to the Jackson- Vanik amendment to the Trade Act of 1974, the provision of U.S. law which contains emigration criteria that must be met or waived by the President before a country subject to Jackson-Vanik can engage in normal trade relations, including normal tariff treatment, with the United States and gain access to U.S. trade financing programs. Because Vietnam is not eligible for normal trade relations with the U.S., pending the completion and approval by Congress of a bilateral commercial agreement, the immediate effect of Vietnam's Jackson-Vanik waiver is quite limited. Specifically, the waiver only allows Vietnam to be reviewed for possible coverage by U.S. trade financing programs such as OPIC, Eximbank, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Vietnam is not automatically covered by these programs as a result of its waiver, and must still face separate individual reviews against each program's relevant criteria. The significance of Vietnam's waiver is that it permits us to stay engaged with the Vietnamese and to pursue further reforms. Vietnam is not an easy place to do business. However, our engagement enables us to influence the pace and direction of Vietnamese reform. Madam Speaker, I would at this time insert in the Record a letter I received from 28 trade associations supporting Vietnam's Jackson-Vanik waiver as an important step in the ability of the business community to compete in the Vietnamese market which is the 12th most populous market in the world. I would also insert in the Record a letter from our distinguished former colleague, Mr. Charlie Vanik. It is a letter that he sent to our current colleague, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) in support of this waiver. July 22, 1998. Hon. Philip Crane, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Crane: The American business community supports pursuing a policy of economic normalization with Vietnam. We endorse the decision to grant Vietnam a waiver of the ``Jackson-Vanik'' amendment. The waiver gives American companies selling to Vietnam access to crucial U.S. export promotion programs and is an important first step to normalizing trade relations with Vietnam. We strongly oppose H.J. Res. 120, which would overturn the waiver. A vote on this legislation might come during the week of July 27. Vietnam has met the requirements for a waiver. The Jackson- Vanik amendment is meant to encourage a policy of free emigration in countries with nonmarket economies. Since the Administration normalized diplomatic relations with Hanoi in 1995, Vietnam has cleared for interview over 80 percent of all remaining applicants of the Resettlement Opportunity for Vietnamese Returnees agreement. Pending legislation, H.J. Res. 120, would overturn the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam and deliver a serious setback to U.S.-Vietnam commercial relations. Without the waiver, American companies would be denied access to export promotion programs offered by the U.S. Export-Import Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. These programs are vital to meeting the challenges of doing business in Vietnam's emerging market. Overturning the Jackson-Vanik waiver also would derail bilateral negotiations seeking commitments from Vietnam on market access, services, intellectual property and investment. The eventual agreement will bring Vietnamese law closer to international trade norms, thereby helping U.S. companies to tap the long-term potential of the Vietnamese market. If we fail to remain on the path of economic normalization, we risk ceding the potential of that market to competitors in Europe, Japan, and elsewhere in Asia. Finally, overturning the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam would have important political implications. Vietnam has cooperated with efforts to search for American POWs and MIAs. Cooperation could be jeopardized if the House passes a disapproval resolution. The American business community believes that a policy of economic normalization with Vietnam is in our national interest. We applaud the House Ways and Means Committee and Senate Finance Committee for reporting unfavorably disapproval resolutions regarding the Jackson-Vanik waiver for Vietnam. We urge you to support economic normalization with Vietnam by voting against H.J. Res. 120. Sincerely, Aerospace Industries Association. American Chamber of Commerce, Hanoi. American Chamber of Commerce, Ho Chi Minh City. American Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong. American Farm Bureau. Asia-Pacific Council of American Chambers of Commerce. Association for Manufacturing Technology. Chemical Manufacturers Association. Coalition for Employment through Exports, Inc. Electronic Industries Alliance. Emergency Committee for American Trade. Fertizlier Institute. Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America. International Energy Development Council. International Mass Retail Association. National Association of Manufacturers. National Center for APEC. National Foreign Trade Council. National Oilseed Processors Association. Pacific Basin Economic Council--U.S. Member Committee. Securities Industry Association. Telecommunications Industry Association. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. U.S. Council for International Business. U.S. National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation. U.S.-Vietnam Business Committee of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council. U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council. USA*Engage.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on House Joint Resolution 120.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, pursuant to the previous order of the House of Wednesday, July 29, 1998, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 120) disapproving the extension of the waiver authority contained in section 402(c) of the Trade Act of 1974 with respect to Vietnam, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe), a combat veteran who served in southeast Asia. (Mr. KOLBE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield one-half of my time to our distinguished colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) in support of the resolution. I further ask that the gentleman from California be permitted to yield blocks of time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I saw our distinguished ambassador, Mr. Peterson, sitting back here. I think he deserves the respect and honor of all of us not only for the outstanding job he has done there but for his service, his tour of duty, which included 6\1/2\ years at the Hanoi Hilton. And so we pay tribute to you, Pete. Keep up the good work. Mr. Speaker, one of the issues that has not been elaborated on in this proposal deals with immigration. I want to just touch briefly on that and point out that over the past 10 to 15 years, more than 480,000 people have entered the U.S. under the Orderly Departure Program from Vietnam. Applicants under the Resettlement Opportunity for Vietnamese Returnees, what is called the ROVR program, those numbers are also impressive. The government of Vietnam has cleared for interview over 15,500 of the ROVR applicants and permitted over 4,300 persons qualified for ROVR already to depart to the United States. INS expects to complete most interviews of ROVR applicants by the end of this year. I think basically what we are talking about is maintaining an improved relationship rather than putting barriers to increased communication and improved relations with a country that is going through transition and going through a transition in a positive way, and we have encouraged that transition, and for that reason I would ask all of my colleagues to join with us in voting to oppose H.J.Res. 120 because I think it sets us back.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, today, this House has an opportunity to improve the health care system for millions of Americans. Like everyone, I want a health care system that is more accessible, more affordable and more accountable. With that goal in mind, I will cast my vote for H.R. 4250, the Patient Protection Act. It is not a perfect piece of legislation and while there are provisions I think could be improved, there are also other provisions I have long supported. I am particularly pleased with the expansion of medical savings accounts, the creation of association health plans, medical malpractice reform and improving the patient appeals process without increasing the involvement of trial lawyers. In response to the concerns we have heard from our constituents, the bill prohibits gag rules, allows women direct access to gynecological and obstetrical care and allow parents to choose a pediatrician as their child's primary care provider without having to get a referral from a health plan. This legislation will not only improve health care for the currently insured, we expect it to also make insurance more affordable to the 41 million uninsured Americans, including the 1.3 million uninsured in my state of Illinois. As a member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, I have taken an active interest in the many innovative ideas in health care. The Patient Protection Act represents the only choice for those of us who do not want a heavy-handed, big-government takover of our health care system. The American people overwhelmingly rejected that proposal and made it clear they want quick access to the best medical care in the world at an affordable price. The Patient Protection Act moves us in that direction and I would urge my colleagues to vote in support of it.

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for another quotation. ``Vigorous economic development leads to independent thinking. People hope to be able to fully satisfy their free will and see their rights fully protected. And then demand ensues for political reform * * * The model of our quiet revolution will eventually take hold on the Chinese mainland,'' end of quote. That was from the new Taiwanese President, the first elected President of Taiwan, in his inaugural address 2 years ago. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cunningham), our distinguished colleague.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to share another quote with my colleagues. ``The current debate about renewing China's `Most Favored Nation' trading status no doubt raises many complex and difficult questions. . . However, I am in favor of doing all we can to strengthen our relationship with the Chinese people. . . Furthermore, in my experience nations respond to friendship just as much as people do.'' The Reverend Billy Graham, June of last year. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Barrett).

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind all colleagues that China is our fastest growing export market. And in addition to that, its growth rate in terms of U.S. exports to China has more than doubled in the last six years. So, there is considerable hope about vast improvement in our economic relations. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I have a quote here for my friend who was just in the well from President Ronald Reagan while he was President. He said, The U.S. and China, despite their differences, hold more than enough in common to provide firm ground on which they can work together for the benefit of both. China and America have begun a productive partnership. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson).

Mr. CRANE. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Kolbe).

Mr. CRANE

Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.