Supporting the goals and ideals of National Transparency Day, which promotes the financial transparency of charitable organizations.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge passage of H.R. 854, the Belarus Democracy Act. With important parliamentary elections in Belarus scheduled for October 17, it is essential that we pass the Belarus Democracy Act. This Congress must demonstrate its strong support for pro-democracy forces in Belarus and advance U.S. interests in the region. Now is the time to send a strong signal.

Since his election in 1995, Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenka has steadily undermined democratic institutions through a series of unfair elections and a seriously flawed constitutional referendum. The U.S. State Department, Helsinki Commission which I Chair, as well as the OSCE, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the European Union and other international entities have all chronicled the appalling state of human rights and democracy there. Located in the heart of Europe, Belarus is juxtaposed to our NATO allies and will soon border the European Union.

The Lukashenka regime has repeatedly violated basic freedoms of speech, expression, assembly, association and religion. Since I introduced the Belarus Democracy Act last year, the situation in Belarus has only become more difficult.

Just within the last few months, the independent media, non- governmental organizations (NGOs), independent trade unions, religious groups, and democratic opposition leaders have faced increased harassment, arrest, detentions, and even violence. Opposition leaders have been imprisoned and beaten. NGOs have been closed down with increasing frequency. Independent media outlets continue to feel the wrath of the powers-that-be, including closures, defamation lawsuits, exorbitant fines, confiscations of newspapers or the suspension of their distribution, censorship and the deportation of an independent journalist from Ukraine who had lived in Belarus since 1990. Independent trade unions are subject to a pattern of obstruction, harassment and intimidation by the authorities.

In short, the situation in Belarus continues its downward spiral with daily reports of growing repression and human rights violations.

Here in Washington and at various OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meetings, I've had occasion to meet with the wives of the disappeared. The cases of their husbands--Yuri Zakharenka, Victor Gonchar, Anatoly Krasovsky, and journalist Dmitri Zavadsky who disappeared in 1999 and 2000 and are presumed to have been murdered--are a stark illustration of the climate of fear that pervades in Belarus. I am pleased that just last week the United States, together with the European Union, has decided to restrict admission to four top Belarusian officials implicated in these politically motivated disappearances. Reports of arms and weapons deals between the Belarusian regime and rogue states continue to circulate. Lukashenka and his regime were open in their support of Saddam Hussein. On August 24, the Treasury Department charged that Infobank of Belarus has been involved with money laundering involving fraudulent transactions pertaining to Iraq, where funds laundered by Saddam Hussein's regime were derived from schemes to circumvent the UN Oil-for-Food program.

provisions of BDA

Mr. Speaker, the main purpose of the BDA is to demonstrate U.S. support for those struggling to promote democracy and respect for human rights in Belarus despite the onerous pressures they face from the anti-democratic regime. This bill authorizes necessary assistance for democracy-building activities such as support for NGOs, independent media--including radio and television broadcasting to Belarus--and international exchanges.

The bill also encourages free and fair parliamentary elections, conducted in a manner consistent with international standards--in sharp contrast to the 2000 parliamentary and 2001 presidential elections in Belarus which flaunted democratic standards. As a result of those elections, Belarus has the distinction of lacking legitimate presidential and parliamentary leadership, which contributes to its self-imposed isolation. Parliamentary elections now have an added dimension, with Lukashenka's September 7 announcement of a referendum to take place on the same day, that would pave the way to extend his rule beyond 2006, when his tenure is due to expire, to potentially join the ranks of ``presidents for life'' like President Niyazov in Turkmenistan and others in Central Asia.

As matters stand now, the deck appears to be stacked in Lukashenka's favor, as the Belarusian Government has almost total control of the electoral process. Opposition parties have been allocated a negligible percentage of seats on district and precinct election commissions, and many candidates proposed by Belarusian democratic opposition parties have been denied registration. To their credit, the embattled opposition and non-governmental organizations have not given up. I have met with the leaders of the Belarusian opposition and have been impressed with their determination to participate in the coming elections and their courageous work to advance democracy, human rights and the rule of law, despite all of the obstacles placed in their way by the Lukashenka regime.

In addition, this bill includes ``sense of Congress'' language that would impose sanctions against the Lukashenka regime. U.S. Government financing would be prohibited, except for

humanitarian goods and agricultural or medical products. The U.S. Executive Directors of the international financial institutions would be encouraged to vote against financial assistance to the Government of Belarus except for loans and assistance that serve humanitarian needs. This bill also requires reports from the President concerning the sale or delivery of weapons or weapons-related technologies from Belarus to rogue states and on the personal assets and wealth of Lukashenka and other senior leadership in Belarus.

I hope that the Belarus Democracy Act will help support those who desire a genuinely independent, democratic Belarus and serve as a catalyst to facilitate Belarus' integration into democratic Europe. The measure is designed to be a counterweight to the pattern of clear, gross and uncorrected human rights violations by the Lukashenka regime. The Belarusian people--who have suffered so much both under past and present dictatorships--deserve to live in a society where democratic principles and human rights are respected. We must stand firmly on the side of those who long for freedom.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, first I would like to commend my friend and colleague from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for being a stalwart supporter of democracy in Belarus and for his willingness to offer this legislation.

Just a few months ago, this House passed an important resolution on the

upcoming parliamentary elections in Belarus. This resolution, authored by our former colleague Doug Bereuter and myself, called upon the Government of Belarus to ensure that these important elections be conducted in a free and fair manner. Regrettably, since then, the political situation in Belarus has deteriorated, not improved.

The dictatorial regime of Aleksandr Lukashenka continues to cling to power, using brutal force, intimidation, and illegal maneuvering to secure his reign. If Lukashenka succeeds, as he did in 1996 when he amended the constitution in a seriously flawed referendum, and as he did in 2001 when he extended his term in office through an election that was neither free nor fair, and as he did in 2003 when he similarly stole local elections, the United States Government must have a clear and effective strategy to promote human rights and democracy in Belarus.

Our legislation directs the President to focus our assistance on core democracy programs in Belarus, namely, promotion of free elections, support for civil society, strengthening of democratic political parties, and support for independent media and international exchanges. Lukashenka's regime must understand that we will not forget the cause of human rights and democracy in Belarus, and that the United States and Belarus will not have a fully normal relationship until Belarus moves assertively towards a democratic form of government.

Belarus is strategically located in Eastern Europe, bordering Poland and Lithuania, both members of NATO and the European Union, and Ukraine and Russia. We cannot afford to give up on the cause of democracy and freedom in Belarus.

The Lukashenka regime is one of the most notorious human rights abusers in the world, routinely suppressing the rights of Belarusian citizens. The regime has been implicated in the political murders of its opponents, disappearances of opposition leaders, repression of independent media, harassment of NGOs, and other egregious violations of internationally recognized and accepted democratic norms.

Lukashenka bears full responsibility for these abuses, as nothing in Belarus happens without his knowledge or full acquiescence. The United States, the European Union, member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and international human rights NGOs have all called upon the Lukashenka dictatorship to end its human rights abuses and restore democracy to Belarus.

Although the anti-Lukashenka forces in Belarus have boycotted previous elections, the opposition is participating in the upcoming elections and has united into a coalition of five democratic parties that will campaign as a block.

Although this coalition faces an uphill battle, we should nevertheless commend the leaders and members of this coalition for their courage and determination to bring democracy to Belarus and provide them our unqualified support.

In the congressional tradition of setting policy that has been instrumental in defeating dictatorships in Europe, Asia, and Africa, this legislation will promote democracy, human rights, and the rule of law and consolidate the independence and sovereignty of Belarus.

I strongly support passage of this bill and urge my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 854) to provide for the promotion of democracy, human rights, and rule of law in the Republic of Belarus and for the consolidation and strengthening of Belarus sovereignty and independence, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 854.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 854 and would like to commend the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) for his tireless efforts in support of democracy worldwide, and in this case in Belarus.

Belarus is perhaps the last country in Europe to embrace democracy. In just 2 weeks that nation will hold important elections for parliament in what will be a litmus test for President Lukashenko's commitment to democracy and the direction he intends to take Belarus in the future. I regret that the political situation there at the moment does not look very promising.

In June, the House overwhelmingly passed H. Res. 624, introduced by our former colleague Doug Bereuter, which emphasizes that if Belarus is ever to become more integrated into the Western community of nations, it must work towards the establishment of a genuinely democratic political system in which the freedom of association and assembly are guaranteed, where political candidates from the opposition will be free from political harassment and intimidation as they campaign for office, and in which the media are free to act independently, free from government control or intimidation, where there exists a system in which elections and the electoral process are open, transparent and fair.

For all of these reasons, it was important that the Congress emphatically express our strong support for free, fair and transparent elections and more definitive progress towards establishing a functioning democracy in Belarus.

The bill we have before us today provides a mechanism by which we can influence that progress. H.R. 854 would authorize assistance for democracy promotion, for building strong democratic institutions, radio broadcasting, and the development of an independent media. But we know how the current government feels about these matters, and we anticipate a lack of cooperation. So the bill also provides a series of sanctions which could be implemented if certain conditions in Belarus are not adequately addressed or resolved.

I would also note that in Europe, the situation in Belarus is of equal concern. The OSCE, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have all expressed deep concerns over Belarus and its elections.

H.R. 854 rather precisely explains the concerns and recommendations of the United States Congress, and I urge adoption of this important bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the sponsor of this bill, who works tirelessly to promote democracy over in Europe; and I am sorry he is not here to speak on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I submit for the Record an exchange of letters concerning the bill H.R. 854 between the Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary.

Congress of the United States, Committee on International

Relations,

Washington, DC, July 13, 2004.

Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.,

Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary,

House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter concerning

H.R. 854, the ``Belarus Democracy Act of 2003,'' which was

referred primarily to the Committee on International

Relations and additionally to the Committees on the Judiciary

and Financial Services. This Committee ordered the bill

reported favorably on February 25, 2004.

I concur that the referral to the Committee on the

Judiciary was based on Sec. 5(c), a sense of Congress

provision that the President should use his powers under the

Immigration and Nationality Act to deny entry to the United

States to the senior leadership of the Government of Belarus.

The manager's amendment which the Committee will call up does

not include Sec. 5(c) or any other provisions that fall

within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the

Judiciary.

I appreciate your willingness to waive further

consideration of the bill in the Committee on the Judiciary

so that the bill may proceed expeditiously to the floor. I

concur, that in taking this action, your Committee's

jurisdiction over the bill is in no way diminished or

altered. I will, as you request, include this exchange of

letters in the Congressional Record during consideration of

the legislation on the House floor.

I appreciate your cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

Henry J. Hyde,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 854, the Belarus Democracy Act of 2003. This important piece of legislation will take significant steps toward the democratization of Belarus and offer support for those living in the country and seeking a democratic process in fundamental areas such as elections, media and human rights. If passed, this bill will ensure that a fair and free electoral process will exist in the former Soviet state. In addition, this bill will work toward the development of a media that is non-state controlled and independent. Furthermore, this bill will establish training programs and methods of international exchange for the individuals that will advance the development of a democratic and civil society.

By placing specific economic sanctions on Belarus, the United States will send a clear message that major democratic reforms must take place in order for the country to become an independent state that is integrated into Europe. I am in full support of H.R. 854, and I urge my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of this vital piece of legislation, which will go very far in assisting the democratization process in Belarus.