Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on Normal Trade Relations for Laos From the Senate Floor November 19, 2004 Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong opposition to efforts to push through a provision normalizing trade relations with Laos. I am deeply disappointed that a decision was made to insert this provision into the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2004 conference report. Let there be no misunderstanding -- this bill would sail through the Senate if this provision on Laos was not included. However, I cannot support upgrading Laos' trading status as long as the human rights situation in that country remains so disturbing, and I am not prepared to let this bill pass without at least some debate on this important matter. This is the wrong time to reward the government of Laos with normal trade relations. Reports emerging from Laos continue to demonstrate that human rights conditions in Laos remain appalling. Despite the Lao government's denials, human rights organizations, the U.S. government, my constituents and various news agencies have all documented the Lao government's blatant disregard for human rights. I have closely monitored the human rights situation in Laos as a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs and as a representative of over 35,000 Hmong in Wisconsin, many of whom fled Laos following the end of the Vietnam War. A number of these Hmong provided courageous assistance to the CIA during the Vietnam war, at great risk to themselves and their families. They helped rescue American pilots and hold off North Vietnamese troops. We owe them a debt of gratitude and we owe them better than awarding normal trade relations to a government that has badly mistreated them. I am regularly contacted by constituents concerned about their friends and family in Laos. Again and again, my office encounters reports of atrocities committed against the Hmong in Laos and other deplorable practices by the Lao government. These reports, combined with the Lao government's absolute refusal to investigate allegations or to permit independent monitoring, lead me to believe that it is not in our country's national interest to adopt normal trade relations with the Lao government. The U.S. has an obligation to the Hmong people, and I strongly believe that we have a moral interest in reducing human suffering and protecting human rights abroad. We cannot ignore these allegations of atrocities in Laos. Granting NTR is not appropriate at this time. I know many of my colleagues have provisions in this bill they want passed. I have asked repeatedly that we strip out this one contentious provision and pass the rest of the bill and I am prepared to do so again. I also realize that the 108th Congress is drawing to a close and that many of us are already looking forward to heading home to our families and constituents. But I cannot in good conscience stand by and say nothing against a provision that conflicts so fundamentally with our country's dedication to human rights, to democracy, and to fundamental decency. I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing cloture.

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