Entrepreneur Soldiers Empowerment Act

Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank Mr. Thomas for the manner in which this legislation has been brought forward, in allowing us to vote on the permanent normal trade relations with the Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago, in my capacity as ranking member at the U.S.-Helsinki Commission, I traveled to the Ukraine with my colleague and chairman, Congressman Chris Smith. We made our trip shortly after the historic Orange Revolution, and I was impressed by the commitment of the Ukraine's new leaders to consolidate democracy, promote respect for human rights, and modernize the country's economy.

I also was impressed by the leader's commitment to further integrate Ukraine into the European and Euro-Atlantic community.

I am not the only one to have been impressed by Ukraine's efforts. International organizations such as Freedom House have acknowledged Ukraine's progress of recent years in protecting the political rights and civil liberties of its citizens.

Mr. Speaker, I believe Congress should demonstrate its support for Ukraine's reforms by approving legislation today that would grant Ukraine's permanent normal trade relation status, and, therefore, take it one step closer to becoming a member of the WTO.

The passage of PNTR for Ukraine will also show Congress's support for the efforts of the Yushchenko government to ensure that the upcoming March 26 parliamentary elections will be free and fair. I am pleased that my Helsinki Commission colleague from Florida, Congressman Alcee Hastings, has been appointed as the OSCE PA Special Coordinator for our election observation mission there, and I look forward to reviewing the mission's findings and reports.

So far, the pre-election process, while not completely problem free, has been dramatically different from the period leading up to the fraudulent elections of November 2004, which ignited the Orange Revolution. In the 2004 elections, the Ukraine and government instructed the media about how to cover the elections and systematically abused government resources. In contrast, the upcoming elections are expected to be free and fair.

Mr. Speaker, I also want to take a few moments to comment on the issues of the underlying legislation we are considering today. The issue Congress is formally considering today is whether to withdraw the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine and thereby grant Ukraine permanent normal trade relations status. The Jackson-Vanik amendment, which was adopted in 1975, was intended to provide a way for the United States to deny trade benefits to countries that are denying the rights of its citizens, particularly religious minorities.

Mr. Speaker, in light of the commitment that Ukraine has demonstrated in protecting the rights of religious minorities, I think it is appropriate that we withdraw the application of the Jackson-Vanik amendment to Ukraine.

Since independence, each successive Government of Ukraine has demonstrated a consistent commitment to defending the religious and ethnic rights of all of the people of the Ukraine. Current President Victor Yushchenko has continued this unambiguous commitment by pledging to bring minority groups together and reconciling historic conflicts. The International Religious Freedom Report of 2005 published by the United States State Department recognizes, ``President Yushchenko has, since taking office, spoken publicly about his vision of a Ukraine in which religious freedom flourishes and people are genuinely free to worship as they please.''

It must be understood, however, that there remain issues of concern, most notably the return of communal religious property that was confiscated during the Soviet era, and the anti-Semitic activities of Ukraine's largest private university, the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management.

Mr. Speaker, I have raised both of these issues in recent days with the Ambassador from the Ukraine and from other Ukrainian officials, and I have been impressed by their commitment to address these issues. Ukrainian officials have assured me that the

government is committed to continuing its effort to return communal property and that the Government of Ukraine will continue to condemn at the highest levels the anti-Semitic activities of the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management and any other anti-Semitic activities.

Mr. Speaker, given these concerns, I am pleased that the legislation we are considering today highlights the importance of Ukraine's continuing commitment to ensure freedom of religion, respect for minorities, and eliminating intolerance.

Shortly I will yield time to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), the ranking member of the International Relations Committee and our leader in Congress on the issue of human rights, democracy and religious freedom. Mr. Lantos is the leader in Congress of our Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism, and I want to thank him for working with me, the Helsinki Commission, and the OSCE as we have battled against the rise of anti-Semitism globally, and particularly within the OSCE states.

Ukraine has agreed to certain commitments to fight anti-Semitism, as have all of the 55 participating states of the OSCE. And let me make this crystal clear: today we intend to hold Ukraine to these commitments, including the responsibility to denounce anti-Semitism statements and vigorously enforce hate crime laws and promote diversity and tolerance in school curriculum. I am pleased that section 1, paragraph 4 of the resolution before us references these OSCE commitments.

Let me make a personal reflection here. During my visit to Ukraine last year, I visited two monuments, the Ukraine Famine Memorial, honoring the millions of victims of Stalin's genocidal 1932 and 1933 famine, and Babi Yar, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and others were massacred by the Nazis during World War II.

Mr. Speaker, it was a moving experience for me to lay a wreath at these sites in the Ukraine. These horrific events were a testimony to the cruelty and intolerance of dictatorships, and I do believe that today's independent Ukraine now understands that respect for human rights and a commitment to democracy and tolerance are the best inoculation against the horrors like the famine and Babi Yar.

The United States Government, the Helsinki Commission, and the OSCE look forward to working with a democratic Ukraine as they continue to build their institutions of democracy, establish the rule of law, protect human rights and religious freedom and combat corruption.

I commend Ukraine for its progress in promoting political and economic freedom for its citizens and its integration into the global rules-based economy. I urge my colleagues to join me in demonstrating support for the Ukraine's efforts by voting today to grant the country permanent normal trade status.

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

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), our champion on human rights here in the Congress and our leader in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that each side be given an additional 2 minutes.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin).

(Mr. LEVIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, let me once again thank my friends for bringing this legislation forward. I want to acknowledge again Mr. Lantos and his strong work on behalf of human rights and fighting anti-Semitism, and Mr. Levin who authored a bill on our side for PNTR for Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a letter from the Anti- Defamation League acknowledging the changes that have been made by the leadership of the Ukraine, dated January 25, 2006. The Anti-Defamation League is the premier organization fighting anti-Semitism globally.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the bill.

Anti-Defamation League

ADL Welcomes Ukraine's Strong Condemnation of University Fomenting

Anti-Semitism

New York, NY, January 25, 2006 . . . The Anti-Defamation

League (ADL) welcomed the statements and actions of the

Ukrainian government to condemn anti-Semitism, and

specifically one of the country's leading institutions of

higher education, which ADL has called a hotbed for anti-

Semitic incitement. Ukraine's Foreign Minister and the

Ministry of Education and Science publicly condemned MAUP

University's anti-Semitic activities and called for ``anti-

incitement laws to be effectively enforced.''

In a letter to Borys Tarasyuk, Ukraine's Foreign Minister,

Barbara B. Balser, ADL

National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director

welcomed his ``strong statement condemning the anti-Semitic

actions of MAUP University as unlawful and wrongful and

proclaiming that `there is no place for any form of anti-

Semitism and xenophobia in the Ukraine.'''

The League leaders also welcomed the statement of the

Ministry of Education and Science accusing MAUP of breaking

Ukrainian law by persistent incompliance with requirements of

state licensing rules for universities and failure to abide

with legally binding procedures of the State Accreditation

Commission.

``We hope the Ukrainian government will continue to condemn

such anti-Semitic activities and ensure anti-incitement laws

will be effectively enforced,'' Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman

said.

A university with 50,000 students, MAUP has made statements

supporting the President of Iran's denial of the Holocaust

and appeal for Israel's destruction and is a bastion of anti-

Jewish propaganda and incitement in the Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend from Maryland for yielding, for his eloquent statement and for his leadership on all human rights issues that come before this House.

Mr. Speaker, like all of our colleagues, I welcome the democratic strides that Ukraine has taken since the Orange Revolution, and I want to note that the country has met the basic narrow condition for lifting Jackson-Vanik restrictions. Jews are allowed to emigrate from Ukraine. But I am very deeply concerned about the larger human rights questions, and particularly the failure to deal with rampant anti-Semitism in Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, the Anti-Defamation League, which monitors anti-Semitic incidents around the world, reports a disturbing trend in Ukraine. In 2005, 164 incidents of anti-Semitism, ranging from vandalism to brutal violence, were reported there, three times the incidents reported in 2004.

The principal source of anti-Semitic agitation in Ukraine is the so- called private university MAUP, which is officially recognized as an institute of higher education. It is accredited by Ukraine's Ministry of Education, it has tens of thousands of students enrolled

at various campuses around the country, and it offers courses in many fields.

But despite the apparent claim of legitimacy, this is the worst kind of disgrace to academia worldwide. This so-called university organizes sickening anti-Semitic meetings and conferences and regularly publishes anti-Semitic articles and statements in two widely distributed periodicals. Its so-called president and other faculty members have made it their life's goal to resuscitate and spread anti-Semitism in Ukraine, a country with a disgraceful history and mass murder in that subject. The president of this university, Shchokin, is the head of another organization which also uses its license for purely anti- Semitic activities.

One of these institution's most appalling actions has been to court the disgraced and odious American white supremacist David Duke. This ``university'' awarded him a doctorate for a thesis entitled, ``Zionism as a Form of Ethnic Supremism.'' David Duke holds forth in the classrooms in Ukraine on history and international relations. He was also a key participant in a June 2005 conference sponsored by this so- called university entitled, ``Zionism: A Threat to World Peace.''

Other leading anti-Semites in Ukraine were given star billing at that conference, including Holocaust deniers.

Recently the president of the so-called university expressed public support for Iranian President Ahmadinejad's denial of the Holocaust, and approved of his threat to wipe Israel off the map.

Mr. Speaker, in meetings with officials of Ukraine and top officials of our own government, I have repeatedly emphasized that I cannot support lifting Jackson-Vanik provisions for Ukraine when the government fails to deal with the issue of anti-Semitism. I have called upon Ukrainian officials to speak out and publicly denounce this vile venom from the so-called university and its president.

I am pleased to report to my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, that while this ugly problem has not yet been fully resolved, over the last few months a number of positive steps have been taken by the Government of Ukraine, and that is the reason I am willing to support the lifting of Jackson-Vanik for Ukraine.

I would like to mention the most positive actions that have been taken to deal with anti-Semitism in response to the serious concerns that I have raised with both Ukrainian and American officials. The President of Ukraine, Victor Yushchenko, on December 5, 2005, publicly condemned anti-Semitism, and he specifically criticized the so-called university, MAUP, for its systematic publication of viciously and violently anti-Semitic articles.

President Yushchenko urged all Ukrainians to join him in condemning all manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia, which he said the new democratic Ukrainian state will not tolerate. President Yushchenko called upon the faculty of this so-called university to respect citizens of all nationalities and religious faiths and to stop rousing national hatred.

On January 23 of this year, the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Borys Tarasiuk, strongly condemned the anti-Semitic actions of this university. He announced, ``Having exhausted all efforts to convince the university's leaders to drop their unlawful and wrongful actions'', the Foreign Minister broke off all contacts with the university a year ago. The Foreign Minister stressed, ``There is no place for any form of anti-Semitism or xenophobia in Ukraine.''

The Ministry of Education and Science also issued a statement on January 23 accusing this so-called university of violating Ukrainian law. It said that there was persistent noncompliance with requirements of state licensing rules for universities. The ministry's statements said this institution pursued ``activities inconsistent with the status of higher educational institutions in the Ukraine.''

I am calling on the Government of Ukraine to lift the license of the so-called university to function. It is a disgrace to the new Ukraine, and it is a disgrace to the civilized world, and I am looking forward to early action by the Government of Ukraine.

On February 16, Mr. Speaker, the Presidential party made a statement condemning the anti-Semitic activities of this institution, noting, ``Inflaming hostility, anti-Semitism and xenophobia by leaders of MAUP is a blatant violation of the rights and freedoms of the people. It casts a shadow on Ukraine, a country pursuing the way of democracy''.

Just this past Friday, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Borys Tarasiuk, in a letter to me, said that his government takes anti-Semitism seriously and will deal with it in a bold manner. He said that all governmental departments have ceased cooperation with this institution, that it is becoming isolated and marginalized. Its future is more than vague, in view of the ongoing investigations, said Minister Tarasiuk in his letter. He also stated that formal charges are to be filed in the coming weeks.

I look forward to the filing of these formal charges and the lifting of the license of the institution.

Mr. Speaker, at the end of my statement, I will insert into the Record the full text of all of these documents.

Mr. Speaker, I believe Ukrainian officials are acting in good faith to stop the nauseating and repulsive anti-Semitic actions of this so- called university and its vile and despicable leadership. I will continue to monitor anti-Semitism in Ukraine, and I will continue to work with the officials of the Ukrainian Government to bring this ugly process to an end.

I support, Mr. Speaker, reluctantly and with reservations, the legislation before us today to grant PNT status and to remove the Jackson-Vanik provisions from Ukraine. Ukraine has taken important steps forward, and I look forward to working with the Government of Ukraine under the leadership of President Yushchenko in dealing with the problem I discussed.

Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record here the materials I discussed previously:

Ukraine President Condemns Anti-Semitism

Victor Yushchenko urged society to jointly condemn all

manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia, and claimed

that the state would not tolerate them.

The President stressed that government should protect

citizens of all nationalities and religious beliefs. He

pledged that it would consistently fight against national,

racial or religious discrimination in our country.

``There can be no national issue in a civilized country,''

he said. The Head of State is worried that anti-Semitism

spreads throughout Ukraine.

He condemned the Interregional Academy of Personnel

Management (IAPM) as an institution that systematically

publishes anti-Semitic articles in its publication

`Personnel.'

Yushchenko said he had left the supervisory council of the

journal to protest against this inhumane policy. He called on

professors of the IAPM to respect citizens of all

nationalities and confessions and to ``stop rousing national

hatred.''

Mr. Speaker, Congresswoman Nancy Kaptur, co-chair of the Ukranian Caucus, and I have been strong supporters of political freedom in Ukraine and have advanced the cause of Ukranian culture internationally and in the United States.

Today we will vote ``present'' on H.R. 1053, a bill to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Ukraine. We wish to make clear that this was not a ``no'' vote, but a ``we know'' vote.

We know that democracy is on the march in Ukraine. We also know that the conditions for a fully functioning democracy are not in place.

We adhere to the principles of a similar bill to life Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik in the 107th Congress, H.R. 3939. However, that bill specified certain conditions be met prior to lifting that reflect the spirit of the law as much as the letter of the law, including that the government of Ukraine--

(1) Adopt and institute policies that remove undue restrictions and harassment on labor organizations to freely associate according to internationally recognized labor rights; (2) Take additional positive steps to transfer places of worship and related religious property for all confessions to their original owners; (3) Establish an independent legal and judicial system with rule of law that is free of political interference and corruption; (4) Commit to providing funding and administrative support for reforms of the legislature; (5) Demonstrate a firm commitment to freedom of the press by prohibiting physical harm and intimidation of journalists through such means as prevention of abuse of tax and libel laws; (6) Adopt and

vigorously enforce laws to prohibit the trafficking of women and of illicit narcotics; (7) Accelerate governmental structural reform and land privatization policies which benefit ordinary citizens; (8) Adopt a more comprehensive program to protect the environment; (9) Support internationally recognized standards of transparency in monitoring of elections; and (10) Remedy trade disputes involving violation of international property rights, transshipment of counterfeit goods, and dumping of such products as steel into the United States market in such increased quantities as to cause harm to the domestic industry.

Despite our high aspirations for the Ukraine, we do not believe that these conditions have been met, although we are mindful that there are people in civil society working to bring these principles to fruition.

The Jackson-Vanik requirement for annual review of the trading relationship was originally intended as a way to sanction anti-Semitic regimes. According to the Anti-Defamation League, in a document attached to this statement, that we attach for the Record, at least one university in Ukraine, sadly, is still teaching anti-Semitism in Ukraine.

We have both worked to ensure human rights, labor rights and environmental quality standards are including in trade agreements. However, the WTO does not permit trade on this basis. This makes new entrants into the WTO highly vulnerable to the export of their jobs to nations which offer cheap labor and no standards. A transfer of wealth from the great mass of the people of Ukraine to multi-national corporate interests will result unless there are safeguards. Any nation, and Ukraine is no exception, which is heavily influenced by oligarchical interests, could easily be sacrificed. We remain committed to continuing to work with the valiant people of Ukraine and the wonderful groups of the diaspora to lift up the economic, political and social progress of the Ukranian people. We are optimistic about the blossoming of freedom, economic democracy and human rights in Ukraine.

Ukraine University Schooling in Anti-Semitism

maup: schooling in anti-semitism

MAUP is the main source of anti-Semitic agitation and

propaganda in Ukraine. It organizes anti-Semitic meetings and

conferences, regularly issues anti-Semitic statements and

publishes two widely distributed periodicals, Personnel and

Personnel Plus, which frequently contain anti-Semitic

articles.

At the same time, MAUP is a bona fide university--its

English name is the Interregional Academy for Personnel

Management--accredited by Ukraine's Ministry of Education,

with more than 50,000 students enrolled at campuses in

various locations. Business, political science and

agriculture are among the subjects taught.

The anti-Semitic activities are directed by MAUP's

President, Georgy Tschokin, and a number of his colleagues.

In addition, Tschokin is the head of another body called the

``International Personnel Academy'' (IPA), which he also uses

to issue anti-Semitic statements.

White supremacist David Duke has close links with MAUP: he

``teaches'' a course on history and international relations,

has been awarded a doctorate for a thesis on Zionism and was

a key participant in MAUP's June 2005 conference on

``Zionism: Threat to World Peace''.

On November 22, Tschokin issued a statement of solidarity

with Iranian President Ahmadinejad's threat to wipe out

Israel. The statement blended traditional Christian anti-

Semitism with anti-Zionism: ``We'd like to remind that the

Living God Jesus Christ said to Jews two thousand years ago:

`Your father is a devil!' . . . Israel, as known, means

`Theologian', and Zionism in 1975 was acknowledged by General

Assembly of UNO as the form of racism and race

discrimination, that, in the opinion of the absolute majority

of modern Europeans, makes the most threat to modern

civilization. Israel is the artificially created state

(classic totalitarian type) which appeared on the political

Earth map only in 1948, thanks to good will of UNO . . .

Their end is known, and only the God's true will rescue all

of us. We are not afraid, as God always together with his

children!'' .

MAUP's June 2005 anti-Zionist conference was attended by

anti-Semites from all over the region, as well as Duke,

French Holocaust denier Serge Thion and Israel Shamir, a

Russian Jew who converted to Christianity and is notorious

for publishing anti-Semitic essays on the internet. The

Palestinian Authority representative in Ukraine, Walid Zakut,

was also reported to have attended.

MAUP's anti-Semitic activities can be traced back to at

least 2002. MAUP's leading figures have been at the root of

attempts to bar Jewish organizations in Ukraine and, more

recently, a call to ban ``The Tanya'', a classic work of

Hassidic Jewish literature, on the grounds that it promotes

racism against non-Jews.

maup: context and responses

At the Auschwitz liberation ceremonies in January 2005,

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko declared that his

country had adopted a policy of ``zero tolerance'' towards

anti-Semitism. Yet over this year, there has been a sharp

spike in anti-Semitic incidents, including the brutal beating

in August of a Yeshiva student in Kiev, who remains

hospitalized in Israel in a coma. Following this attack, 30

Ukrainian rabbis declared: ``Calls to violence against

Judaism and Jews are published in the press, freely

distributed and sold. On the walls of synagogues, buildings,

bus stops and along the road, anti-Semitic symbols appear

more and more often.''

Critically, Mr. Yushchenko has done nothing against MAUP,

aside from resigning from its Board.

Ukraine needs to take decisive action now. Measures could

include the following: Invoking anti-incitement laws against

Tschokin and his colleagues; the Education Ministry revoking

recognition of MAUP diplomas; a statement of condemnation by

Mr. Yushchenko and a ban on David Duke entering Ukraine.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1053) to authorize the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal trade relations treatment) to the products of Ukraine, as amended.

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

(Mr. THOMAS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, this is really an exciting time in which we recognize the continuing maturation and involvement of a new nation, yet a nation of people who have deserved better over many decades and are now beginning to see the fruit of their struggle manifest itself. We are asking today in this legislation to recognize that the country of Ukraine that has entered into a series of agreements with the United States and other countries, and I include an exchange of letters between the United States Trade Representative Rob Portman and myself as chairman of the Ways and

Means Committee, indicating some certainties as to that agreement, and to anxiously await the comments by my colleagues as we recognize that the Ukraine, through very difficult economic and political transformations, has reached the point of integrating itself into the world economy.

House of Representatives,

Committee on Ways and Means,

Washington, DC, March 6, 2006.

Hon. Rob Portman,

U.S. Trade Representative,

Washington, DC.

Dear Ambassador Portman: I understand the United States and

Ukraine have concluded the bilateral negotiations on market

access issues related to Ukraine's World Trade Organization

(WTO) accession. The Committee has received the confidential

documents related to the accord, and I congratulate you and

your negotiators on a very strong agreement.

The commitments that Ukraine has made related to market

access for goods and services, as well as on sanitary and

phytosanitary (SPS) obligations and intellectual property

rights, are very important for U.S. exporters and to Members

of Congress. It is essential that Ukraine comply fully with

all of its WTO commitments. To that end, I write to seek your

assurances that you will be steadfast in confirming that

Ukraine fully implements all of its commitments as scheduled,

and that you will not support its accession unless that is

the case.

I look forward to moving legislation through Congress to

grant permanent normal trade relations (PNTR) to Ukraine

quickly after the bilateral agreement is signed.

Unconditional normal trade relations is a basic tenet of WTO

membership, and granting PNTR to Ukraine will allow the

United States to benefit from the WTO commitments made by

Ukraine. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,

Bill Thomas,

Chairman.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased by the statement of my friend from Maryland, and am also pleased to underscore the fact that my colleague and friend from California and I will stand together all the time in making sure that the conditions under which we examine and approve normal trade relations follow what should be a model. But, indeed, if you have to make sure it is followed, it will be followed.

Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the chief sponsor of H.R. 1053, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Gerlach).

Mr. Speaker, prior to recognizing him, I yield the balance of my time to the chairman of the Trade Subcommittee, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Shaw), and ask unanimous consent that he control the remainder of the time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. English), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Weldon) who is a very active Member of the Congress with regard to our relationship with the Ukraine.

(Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart), a member of the Rules Committee, a Member who knows what it is to lose freedom and then regain it.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to first of all associate myself with the remarks from the gentleman from Maryland as well as the gentleman from California. I think they expressed very well, as did the other speakers from the majority side, the feeling of the Congress with regard to this resolution. I rise in very strong support of H.R. 1053 which would grant permanent normal trade relations to the products of the Ukraine.

Members of the House have the opportunity to show their support for the important economic and democratic reforms underway by Ukraine by affirming their support to the PNTR status.

As chairman of the Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee, I routinely observe the tremendous benefits that free and fair trade can have on both countries involved. In fact, many times the economic benefit of trade is a carrot that is held out to encourage movements by countries towards a free and open society. To most effectively continue advocating that countries make these reforms, we must take steps to recognize and reward those efforts to demonstrate the benefits of those actions.

In addition to rising in support of this legislation, I applaud the negotiations on both sides for their work on the bilateral market access agreement reached between the United States and Ukraine on March 6, 2006, just 2 days ago. In particular, I commend the strong protections for intellectual property rights contained in the agreement. For example, the Ukraine has agreed to provide 5 years of data protection for pharmaceuticals and 10 years of data protection for agriculture chemicals.

I applaud both the Ukraine and the United States Trade Representative, Mr. Portman, for this and I continue to urge the United States Trade Representative to press for intellectual property rights in future agreements, particularly in the discussions with Russia.

Mr. Speaker, Ukraine has made strong commitments in this and many other areas. In addition, the country has made tremendous economic and democratic strides. All of us were thrilled to watch actually on television the Orange Revolution and watch it go forward and watch the freedom, the human spirit, rise up in the Ukraine and come to bring them where they are today.

Because of this and other matters, I urge my colleagues to support permanent and normal trade relations for the Ukraine and vote in favor of this important bill, H.R. 1053.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.