Doug Bereuter

Mr. Speaker, this Member voted for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), P.L. 104-199, which defines marriage as ``a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife'' and a spouse as ``a person of the opposite sex that is a husband or a wife.'' It allows each state to determine if it will recognize the same sex marriages sanctioned by other states. Also, it is this Member's view that the legal approval of same-sex marriages is not in the public interest--as contrasted with legislation authorizing civil unions between two people of the same sex. In short, that means this Member opposes same-sex marriages and believes that the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision was both ill-advised and harmful.

However, I believe that attempting to strip the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court to possibly consider this issue is a rather extraordinary step that is an unfortunate and even dangerous precedent for future attempts to justify stripping the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court on other controversial societal issues. Therefore, this Member voted ``no'' on H.R. 3313. The rights of the minority must be protected from inappropriate use of power by a majority, and the Supreme Court sometimes is the final protector of the minority; stripping the court of jurisdiction gradually by legislative action will disturb the necessary checks and balances established in the U.S. Constitution.

This Member makes this statement fully acknowledging that judicial activists in both the Federal Government and state governments sometimes badly abuse their position as was the case with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Mr. Speaker, this Member rises in support of H. Res. 652, which calls on the government of Belarus to ensure that Parliamentary elections which will take place in Belarus in October of this year are democratic, transparent and fair.

Thirteen years after the fall of communism, Belarus remains one of the few nations in Europe where the transition to democracy has not taken sufficient root.

The current political leadership continues to rule in an authoritarian manner and its government continues to crack down on those individuals and organizations who are trying to help build support for democracy and democratic institutions.

Unlike the situation in Ukraine, the government in Belarus has thus far not given any clear indication that it is committed to free and fair elections. However, in a recent meeting with the Ambassador from Belarus, this Member was led to believe that the government's position on the elections could be positive. The Ambassador gave assurances that the government would enforce the election codes and would allow all political parties to have representatives on the electoral commissions which oversee the implementation of the elections. He also indicated that Belarus would cooperate with the OSCE and would allow international observers.

At a hearing the Europe Subcommittee held in March on Belarus, this Member mentioned that Speaker Dennis Hastert and this Member met with the leaders of the Belarus opposition, collectively known as the Coalition Five-Plus, to discuss the elections and their vision for a democratic future for Belarus. This group of political parties has united in a common platform in an attempt to bring democracy and respectability back to the Belarus Parliament. Unfortunately, members of the opposition political parties and participants in political demonstrations continue to be subjected to increased harassment, surveillance by government agents, arrests, and physical abuse.

For these reasons, it is important that the United States Government, including this Congress, continue to emphatically express our strong support for free, fair and transparent elections and more definitive progress toward establishing a functioning democracy in Belarus.

In Europe, the situation in Belarus understandably seems to be 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 forthcoming elections. In fact, this Member is informed that the Chair of the Belarus Working Group of the OSCE PA recently visited Minsk for additional discussions on the elections.

Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 652 emphasizes that if Belarus is ever to become more integrated into the community of democratic nations, it must work toward the establishment of a genuinely democratic political system in which the freedom of association and assembly are guaranteed. It also must be a fact that political candidates from the opposition will be free from political harassment and intimidation as they campaign for office and in which the media is free to act independently, free from government control or intimidation. Finally there must be a system in which elections and the electoral process are open, transparent and fair if Belarus wishes to be included in the community of democratic nations.

The parliamentary elections this fall will be a litmus test for President Lukashenko's commitment to democracy and the direction he intends to take Belarus in the future.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 652 rather precisely explains the concerns and recommendations of the United States House of Representatives.

I urge the adoption of the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. I thank the chairman for yielding me time.

There are a number of economic reasons why this FTA is very much in the national interest of the United States, but I want to focus a few comments on the diplomatic or foreign policy reasons. The FTA with Morocco is in our Nation's interest because it will begin to implement the President's vision for a U.S.-Middle East free trade area. I also believe it is important to support the economic reform that is going on in Morocco, a nation where Islam has deep roots and which occupies a leadership position in the Arab world.

As mentioned frequently here, American friendship in Morocco extends back to the beginning of our Republic. We have the longest-standing friendship treaty with that country of any in the world. The enactment of the FTA legislation with Morocco is a vitally important part of the process of boosting economic reform inside the Kingdom of Morocco. In addition, this FTA helps further link the Middle East into the global economic system and spur economic growth and investment. These closer commercial links with our key allies such as Morocco are critically important to the region of the world. And hear this: this legislation makes it less likely, less likely that jobs and businesses will move to Morocco, not more likely.

It is also vital to point out that Morocco has recently undertaken a diplomatic offensive designed to improve its relations with its neighbors to settle a 3-decade-old Saharan conflict. It is also stepping up its antiterrorism cooperation with the U.S. and with Algeria. And recently, it was designated as a major non-NATO ally. That should enable it to get the requisite assistance and cooperation to strengthen our regional and bilateral relationship.

Mr. Speaker, for economic or export reasons, there are three primary reasons why this is a good step for us. This FTA is in the best agriculture interest of the United States. Number two, the FTA will give us market access for businesses. And, three, it meets the labor and environmental standards set out in the Trade Promotion Act.

In the area of agriculture, it means, for example, that we are going to have an estimated triple increase in our exports to Morocco. In the area of industrial products, it is suggested that our greater market access will be very important. More than 95 percent of the bilateral trade industrial products will become duty-free immediately upon entry into force of this agreement. And in the third area, as I mentioned, it does meet the labor and environmental standards.

Moreover, Morocco recently passed a comprehensive new labor law that meets international labor organizational core labor standards, including right of workers to strike.

In conclusion, this is a very good step for the United States. It is very good for our bilateral relations, and I would say finally that the Mediterranean Group of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, I happen to be the president, recently visited Morocco, and as a result of that visit, by unanimous action in the standing committee, we decided to upgrade Morocco from observer status to an associate member status because of the significant progress they are making in democracy in their parliament.

For all of these reasons, I urge strong support of the legislation.