Extending Normal Trade Relations Treatment to Ukraine

EXTENDING NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS TREATMENT TO UKRAINE -- (House of Representatives - March 08, 2006)

Mr. Speaker, as has been discussed here today certainly, the Jackson-Vanik restrictions were made as an amendment to a 1974 trade bill actually to punish the Soviet bloc nations for their despicable human rights record.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Jackson-Vanik restrictions were placed on all of the former Soviet Republics, including the Ukraine. In recent years, the world has watched as the Ukraine has embraced democracy and freedom through their Orange Revolution.

The Ukraine has been a great ally in the war on terror. The Ukraine has clearly taken appropriate steps to open their society and economy and becoming an important member of the community of free nations. The Ukraine should be free of the onerous restrictions, because they have met each of the tests laid out by the law. In fact, the Ukraine has been granted an annual waiver from these restrictions each year for nearly a decade.

Mr. Speaker, my district is home to many people of Ukrainian descent. In fact, southeast Michigan, I believe, has, if not the largest, certainly one of the largest Ukrainian populations in our entire Nation.

These people are great Americans. They are great patriots. For years they have fought against Soviet oppression of the Ukrainian people and on behalf of freedom. They now embrace democracy and freedom that has come to their homeland, and they know it is both appropriate and very necessary for this Congress to act on this issue.

It is time for us to recognize the friendship of the Ukraine as well as permanently remove them from the restrictions of Jackson-Vanik.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this very, very important legislation today on the floor.

http://thomas.loc.gov/