Posts Tagged ‘HR6156’
Russia Must Be Held Accountable for its Human Rights Violations, Ros-Lehtinen Says
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made the following statement today in support of the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act which has been incorporated as Title IV into H.R. 6156, the Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012. The bill passed the House by a vote of 365-43. Floor statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“I plan to vote for this bill, H.R. 6156, even though I remain strongly opposed to granting Russia Permanent Normal Trade Relations, or PNTR, at this time. I would like to explain the reasons why. Those who argue for granting Russia PNTR, which has until now been prevented by what is known as the Jackson-Vanik amendment, focus on the supposed bilateral trade benefits. But the issue that concerns me and many Members is not trade but human rights.
“Advocates of repeal say that the Jackson-Vanik amendment is outdated and purely symbolic and therefore should be disregarded. But in the area of human rights, symbols can have a very great importance. Over the years, Jackson-Vanik has become a sign of the continuing U.S. commitment to human rights in Russia and elsewhere. Repealing the amendment could very well be interpreted as an indication that our commitment is now weakening.
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House OKs expanded trade with Russia in 365-43 vote
The House passed legislation Friday morning that expands trade with Russia, but also allows for sanctions against Russian officials involved in human rights violations.
Members approved H.R. 6156, which gives Russia and Moldova permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) status, in an overwhelming 365-43 vote. The bill was opposed by a handful of Republicans and about three dozen Democrats.
Granting Russia the trade status is a step the United States needs to take if it is going to benefit from the concessions Russia made when it entered the World Trade Organization (WTO) in August. Russia’s ascension marked the end of a nearly two-decade effort to join the WTO, which sets global trade rules and fosters favorable trading terms between members.
House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) on Friday said the bill would help dramatically expand U.S. exports to Russia.
“This bill would allow us to gain important rights and powerful new enforcement tools with respect to one of the world’s largest economies without giving up a single tariff or other concession,” he said. “We could double or even triple U.S. exports to Russia within five years.”
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