Reprinted from The Washington Times , 5am -- May 15, 1998
TOP POLITICAL STORY
House votes 375-41 to punish religious persecution
By Tom Carter
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The House overwhelmingly passed the Freedom From Religious Persecution act Thursday with a veto-proof majority that makes it all but certain that governments that abuse their religious minorities will face some kind of U.S. censure.
Despite a White House veto threat, the House voted 375-41 to pass the bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank R. Wolf, Virginia Republican.
The bill -- a different form of which will be considered in the Senate soon -- would impose economic sanctions on nations that persecute their religious minorities but allow humanitarian aid to continue.
It also would create a State Department post to investigate and monitor religious persecution around the world, expedite immigration procedures for those facing religious persecution, and require the State Department to report periodically on which nations are violating the religious rights of their citizens.
The bill allows the president to waive any of the bill's sanctions.
"We thought we'd get a veto-proof majority, but we didn't know it would be this big," Rep. Christopher H. Smith said just after the vote was taken.
"This makes religious freedom a priority," the New Jersey Republican said. "Under Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton it has not been, and the State Department has been more concerned about stability than rocking the boat."
Mr. Wolf said the vote was a moral victory for those suffering for their faith in prisons around the world.
"This news will be on Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and the Voice of America tonight. They will know about it in Tibet tonight," said Mr. Wolf. "The prisoners will tell you that when there is action in Congress, the bullies ease up on their beatings."
China's most celebrated political dissident, Wei Jingsheng, hailed the overwhelming vote for the bill as "a blow to oppression and a vote for freedom." Mr. Wei, who was recently released after two prison terms spanning nearly two decades and is now in the United States, sent a letter to Mr. Wolf congratulating him on his fight for the legislation.
A State Department official said Tuesday that if the bill passed in its current form, Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright would recommend that the president veto it.
The State Department's office of human rights did not return calls Thursday asking for comment on the bill's passage.
Rep. Lee H. Hamilton, Indiana Democrat, led the group opposed to the bill.
He said it harms U.S. national interests by making foreign policy subject to a single issue.
The bill would mandate sanctions on Egypt, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia without helping religious minorities in those countries, Mr. Hamilton said.
"We all agree that the United States should do more to promote religious freedom around the world, ... but this bill shackles the United States and says sanctions is the answer. Foreign policy is not that simple."
Mr. Smith said that mandatory sanctions, with the presidential waiver, were the key to giving the bill teeth.
"Look what just happened in India. Without sanctions, where would we be now? The president had to impose sanctions. He couldn't do anything else. Hate is not the opposite of love. Indifference is. This bill says the United States will no longer be indifferent."
The Senate is expected to take up a similar measure later this month or in early June. Sponsored by Sen. Don Nickles, Oklahoma Republican, that bill offers the president what supporters say is more flexibility in his response to religious persecution.
The Nickles bill, which is co-sponsored by Sen. Jesse Helms, North Carolina Republican and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, broadens the definition of persecution to include discrimination.
It proposes two new State Department positions -- one to investigate and monitor religious persecution and the other to give policy advice. The Nickles bill also offers a graduated "menu" of responses to religious persecution, as opposed to the House's mandatory sanctions.
Mr. Wolf said the House version would not be undermined by the Senate bill.
"I've talked to Mr. Nickles. He's a good friend. He lives in my district," said Mr. Wolf. "We will be able to work out any differences we have in conference."Copyright 1998 News World Communications, Inc.
Reprinted with permission of
The Washington Times.
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