Date: 1999-08-03
Speaker: GEORGE MILLER (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: California

Mr. Speaker. earlier this year I had an opportunity to travel to Vietnam and to talk to members of the business community. to the international environmental community. to workers. to representatives of labor organizations. and to U.S. manufacturers and had an opportunity to travel throughout the country. I think that my conclusion is that the waiver can continue to be justified because of the progress that is being made. I think it is also clear that the waiver helps to empower our ambassador. Pete Peterson. who may be the greatest catalyst for change inside this country. so that he can continue his work to get Vietnam to improve its human rights conditions. to improve its labor conditions. to improve its environmental conditions and so many of the other issues that are of concern to all of us here. This is not about not being concerned about human rights. labor conditions. or any of the rest of it. It is about whether or not we can have a process where we can continue to make progress. Unlike the vote last week on China. where I voted against extending the relationship with China because. in fact. there we have gone backwards. here we have an opportunity to continue the progress forward. We will have much debate on the trade agreement and whether or not that can be justified or not be justified. but the fact of the matter is. in this particular case. the continued waiver for another year so that we can continue to monitor. continue to work with the government of Vietnam on all of these issues. is a positive step that we should and can take today. Mr. Speaker. I rise in opposition to H.J. Res. 58 so that we might continue the existing waiver of the JacksonVanik restrictions as they apply to Vietnam. Mr. Speaker. I had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam earlier this year on official business to attend an international environmental conference. to inspect labor conditions at factories that subcontract for United States manufacturers. and to meet with our Embassy officials on a broad range of United StatesVietnam issues. Vietnam today is a country struggling to become a player in the global economic market. It is once again a major agricultural power and is the worlds second largest exporter of rice. Hundreds of foreign companies are investing in this nation of 80 million people. the 12th largest population in the world. because of its key role in Asia and its educated and diligent work force. Most of the representatives of American businesses with whom I spoke in Vietnam praise the local business opportunities and actively promote the normalization of economic relations so that trade between the United States and Vietnam. now less than $300 million a year. can expand and investment can flourish. The conditions for waiving JacksonVanik are quite specific. and in my view. Vietnam has met those tests and should again be granted the waiver as it was last year by nearly 100 vote margin in the House. JacksonVanik was developed to use our economic leverage to force political and immigration reforms. and it has had the desired effect in Vietnam where we have seen significant and steady movement towards expanded emigration. Our Ambassador. who is our former colleague and a distinguished Vietnam veteran. Pete Peterson. has documented broad cooperation by the Vietnamese government with the emigration program and has even noted that in some cases. it has been impossible to fill the slots allocated for some categories of applicants. Ambassador Peterson has also noted expanding religious activity and I was able to observe the expanded construction of churches in northern Vietnam. Lastly. the Vietnamese and United States governments now operate a Joint Task Force that conducts interviews. archaeological digs. genetic testing. and other efforts to locate the remains of United States soldiers and pilots. Nearly 400 remains have been repatriated since the end of the war. several just this past month. Vietnam has a considerable way to go to fully open its economy and bring it into conformity with international standards on transparency. Moreover. I remain concerned by the continued denial of labor rights by the government. including the fundamental right to join an independent labor union. Some of these issues will be addressed when we have the opportunity later this year to debate the United StatesVietnam Trade Agreement. Last week. this House voted on granting normal trade relations to China. and many members took the floor to denounce. rightly I believe. that nations continued repressive government and its unacceptable human rights record. It is terribly important that. during this current debate. we distinguish what is different in Vietnam from the Chinese example: For Vietnam has made and continues to make major steps forward on economic reform. is cooperating on emigration and MIA issues. and is showing promising signs of political liberalization. If we see retrenchment in Hanoi. then I believe many of those who today are prepared to vote for this waiver and for expanded trade between our countries will reconsider their decision. We vote to waive JacksonVanik in recognition of Vietnams changing political system and to encourage further liberalization. But understand that the Congress and the American people are serious about assuring that open trade is also fair trade: that working men and women in America are assured that their counterparts in Vietnam labor under reasonable conditions and with the enjoyment of basic human and labor rights recognized by international law. The continued waiver of the JacksonVanik restrictions should be voted by the House tonight to recognize Vietnams steady steps towards reform. Similarly. the Congress should expect that the waiver of JacksonVanik will promote a continuation of democracy in Vietnam. unlike the China case where despite expanded trade relations. political reform has worsened.