House overwhelmingly OKs bill to graduate Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions (03/12/06)

House overwhelmingly OKs bill to graduate Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions

WASHINGTON - The House of Representatives on March 8 passed landmark legislation to graduate Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. HR 1053, sponsored by Rep. Jim Gerlach (R-Pa.), grants Ukraine permanent normal trade relations status with the United States.

The final vote on the bill was 417 votes in favor, two against and three abstaining. Voting no were: Virgil H. Goode (R-Va.) and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.); answering present, but not voting were: Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Alcee Hastings (D-Fla) and Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio).

The Senate, which passed a similar bill back in November 2005, is expected to quickly act on this latest legislation. The bill will then go to President George W. Bush for his signature in order for it to become law.

Passage of legislation to graduate Ukraine from Jackson-Vanik recognizes the progress that Ukraine has made in building a democracy and a market economy. It complements the U.S. move on February 17 to grant Ukraine market economy status, and the WTO bilateral protocol signed on March 6 by the United States and Ukraine.

Rep. Gerlach stated on the floor of the House before the vote on HR 1053 that his bill "is another important step for Ukraine as it becomes a partner in the global economy."

"The message we are sending by making this relationship permanent is priceless to the people of Ukraine. It strongly reaffirms our long-term partnership and support as Ukraine continues down the path of reform and democracy, " he added.

"President [Viktor] Yushchenko has continuously called for this action that we take today and certainly the timing is appropriate because in several weeks Ukraine will elect a new [Verkhovna] Rada. This sends a signal that Ukraine now has the full and equal respect of the government and of the people of the United States," Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) noted.

The Ukrainian National Information Service reported that among those speaking in support of the HR 1053 were: William Thomas (R-Calif.), Phil English (R-Pa.), Candice Miller (R-Mich), Lincoln Diaz Balart (R-Fla.), Clay Shaw (R-Fla) and Sander Levin (D-Mich.).

According to UNIS, Rep. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) stated that "Congress should demonstrate support for Ukraine and permanent normal trade relations (PNTR)" with that country.

Rep. Tom Lantos (R-Calif.) raised the issue of the Interregional Academy of Personnel Management (known by its Ukrainian acronym as MAUP), which he said is "the principal source" of "anti-Semitic agitation" and a "disgrace to the civilized world."

However, he also pointed to Ukraine's commitment to defending the rights of all national minorities in Ukraine and noted that "a number of positive steps have been taken," pointing out that President Yushchenko had "condemned all manifestations of anti-Semitism and xenophobia" and Foreign Affairs Minister Borys Tarasyuk had "strongly condemned MAUP."

"The Ukrainian officials are acting in good faith ... and that is why I am supporting the lifting of the Jackson-Vanik amendment for Ukraine," Rep. Lantos said. At the same time, however, he called on the government of Ukraine to revoke MAUP's license.

Coalition's reaction

Prior to the vote, the Jackson-Vanik Graduation Coalition - which represents more than 250 businesses and Ukrainian American, Jewish American and other non-governmental organizations - held a press conference on Capitol Hill. Speakers included Reps. Gerlach, Weldon and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.), as well as coalition co-chairmen Ambassador Steven Pifer and Ambassador William Green Miller, and NCSJ Chairman Dr. Robert Meth.

Among other things, the speakers noted that the impending passage of HR 1053 - which had 61 co-sponsors - would recognize the progress that Ukraine has made along its path toward reform.

Later, the Jackson-Vanik Graduation Coalition expressed its great appreciation to the House of Representatives for its passage of the bill. The coalition in particular noted the bipartisan leadership of Reps. Gerlach, Weldon and Levin. The coalition also cited the strong support of the House leadership and the White House in achieving passage of HR 1053.

In addition, the coalition expressed its appreciation for the leadership in the Senate of Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) in graduating Ukraine from the provisions of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.

The Jackson-Vanik Amendment was enacted in 1974 in reaction to the severe restrictions the Soviet Union had placed on emigration of its citizens, most notably those of Jewish descent. Since regaining its independence in 1991, Ukraine has built a strong record of open emigration and has fully met Jackson-Vanik's freedom of emigration requirements, a fact recognized by both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. For more than a decade, Ukraine has been granted annual waivers of Jackson-Vanik trade restrictions.

The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation initiated the Jackson-Vanik Graduation Coalition as a result of the U.S.-Ukraine Policy Dialogue. Several task forces within dialogue had identified the graduation of Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment as one of the priorities for strengthening U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Acting separately, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and its Washington bureau, the Ukrainian National Information Service, also advocated the repeal of this measure for several years.

UNIS pointed out that "special mention must be made of Congressional Ukrainian Caucus co-chairs Reps. Levin and Weldon." As noted by Rep. Levin. "We [the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and the Ukrainian community] have been working on this legislation for years ...This bill will spark further reforms in Ukraine." Rep. Weldon mentioned that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment has been "the No. 1 priority for the U.S. Congress-Ukrainian Parliament [Rada] exchange program for years."

A statement released by the American Jewish Committee also hailed the passage of HR 1053. "This landmark measure is a sound U.S. endorsement of democratic trends in Ukraine," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. "We look forward to President Bush signing the bill, for which he already has indicated his support."

The AJC, a leading advocate for strengthening democracy in the former Communist countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in August 2005 sent a letter to all members of Congress urging the "graduation" of Ukraine from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment.

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