May 22,2002

Senate Passes Grassley Resolution on Russia


WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking member of the Committee on Finance,today offered an amendment expressing a sense of the Senate in support pf President Bush’s effortsto strength the U.S.-Russian relationship. The Senate accepted the amendment on a voice vote.Grassley’s statement on the amendment and the amendment text follow.

Statement of Sen. Chuck Grassley on the Sense of the Senate

Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment which expresses a sense of the Senate in supportof the President’s efforts to strengthen our relationship with Russia. The amendment also seeks tobuild upon that relationship by expressing the Senate’s support for restoring permanent normal traderelations with Russia.

Given the upcoming meeting between President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin,this resolution is a timely opportunity for the Senate to express its support for recent developmentsbetween the two countries and also express encouragement for the two Presidents when they meetlater this week.

Since September 11, a new partnership has grown between the United States and Russia asa result of our close cooperation and common efforts in the fight against international terrorism.This enhanced relationship recently produced a new strategic framework between Russia and theUnited States to significantly reduce stockpiles of nuclear weapons by 2012.

And, the United States and Russia, along with our NATO partners, have furtherinstitutionalized the U.S.-Russia security cooperation through the establishment of the NATO-RussiaPermanent Joint Council, which meets for the first time on May 28, in Rome. It is clear that historicprogress is being made between the United States and Russia, and that even more forward movementwould be beneficial for both countries.

For that reason, I believe the time has come for Congress to seriously consider theelimination of the Jackson-Vanik requirements with regard to Russia, and begin to debate theextension of normal trade relations. President Bush has recently asked Congress to restorepermanent normal trade relation status for Russia based on its policies of free and unfetteredemigration.

However, there are important issues that must be addressed during this discussion. Forexample, there are some outstanding trade issues that need to be addressed. Among these are recentproblems dealing with U.S. poultry exports to Russia. We also need to see greater progress onreligious freedom and human rights concerns in Russia. I’m pleased that President Bush has statedhis commitment to work with Russia to help freedom and tolerance become fully protected inRussian law and life.

President Bush has also stated his commitment to work with Russia to advance freeemigration, safeguard religious liberty, and enforce legal protections for ethnic and religiousminorities. I am hopeful that President Bush will further address these concerns openly and candidlywith President Putin during his upcoming visit.

Mr. President, I believe the best hope for a positive future between our two countries is todevelop an understanding of, and appreciation for each culture, with both personal and businessrelationships. The development of commerce, international trade, and the sharing of ideas willfurther advance economic and political stability for both Americans and Russians.

I therefore encourage my colleagues to support this resolution which supports PresidentBush’s policy objectives with respect to the Russian Federation, and calls for the termination, in anappropriate and timely manner, of the application of the Jackson-Vanik provision to Russia.

Text of the Sense of the Senate
SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE UNITED STATES-RUSSIAN FEDERATION
SUMMIT MEETING, MAY 2002.
(a) FINDINGS.--The Senate finds that--

(1) President George W. Bush will visit the Russian Federation May 23-25, 2002, to meet withhis Russian counterpart, President Vladimir V. Putin;

(2) the President and President Putin, and the United States and Russian governments, continueto cooperate closely in the fight against international terrorism;

(3) the President seeks Russian cooperation in containing the war-making capabilities of Iraq,including that country's ongoing program to develop and deploy weapons of mass destruction;

(4) during his visit, the President expects to sign a treaty to significantly reduce American andRussian stockpiles of nuclear weapons by 2012;

(5) the President and his NATO partners have further institutionalized United States-Russiansecurity cooperation through establishment of the NATO-Russia Permanent Joint Council, whichmeets for the first time on May 28, 2002, in Rome, Italy;

(6) during his visit, the President will continue to address religious freedom and human rightsconcerns through open and candid discussions with President Putin, with leading Russian activists,and with representatives of Russia’s revitalized and diverse Jewish community; and

(7) recognizing Russia’s progress on religious freedom and a broad range of other mechanismsto address remaining concerns, the President has asked the Congress to terminate application toRussian of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly known as the “Jackson-Vanik Amendment”)and authorize the extension of normal trade relations to the products of Russia.

(b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.--The Senate--

(1) supports the President’s efforts to deepen the friendship between the American and Russianpeoples;

(2) further supports the policy objectives of the President mentioned in this section with respectto the Russian Federation;

(3) supports terminating the application of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974 to Russia in anappropriate and timely manner; and

(4) looks forward to learning the results of the President's discussions with President Putin andother representatives of the Russian government and Russian society.