Extension of Normal Trade Relations to Serbia and Montenegro

EXTENSION OF NORMAL TRADE RELATIONS TO SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

    Mr. GRASSLEY. I rise in strong support of granting normal trade relations status to Serbia and Montenegro, which was revoked from Yugoslavia under U.S. sanctions in 1992. Senator VOINOVICH submitted an amendment to the Department of State Authorization bill to grant normal trade relations status to Serbia and Montenegro. However, because this matter is within the jurisdiction of the Finance Committee, which I chair, I felt it necessary to object to including the provision on that piece of legislation.

    Still, I understand Senator's VOINOVICH's frustration. The Finance Committee reported out legislation which would renew normal trade relations status for Serbia and Montenegro on March 20, 2003, in the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003, S. 671. This bill generally passes each year by unanimous consent in the Senate.

    Unfortunately, the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill has been held up for months by the insistence of some Senators on including an unrelated, controversial provision to the bill. This provision cannot be included in the bill because other Senators will object. By holding up this important piece of legislation, U.S. manufacturers and workers whose businesses rely on duty suspensions are being harmed. They are losing money, and facing the possibility of laying off workers every day that we fail to act.

    This is important legislation, and I know that I am not the only one who thinks so. Sixty-six of my colleagues sent a letter to the Majority Leader, urging him to bring up S. 671 for a vote. I support their efforts, and hope this vitally important legislation will move as soon as possible. I would like to thank Senator VOINOVICH for raising the issue, and ask that all my colleagues recognize not only the importance, but the urgency of this legislation.

    I will submit for the record a letter in support for NTR for Serbia and Montenegro, from the America's Development Foundation, ADF, a nonprofit organization assisting the international development of democracy. The ADF is working in Serbia to promote economic and social development through a program called Community Revitalization through Democratic Action, or CRDA.

    I will continue to try and pass normal trade relations for Serbia and Montenegro and appreciate my colleague's strong support and advocacy on the issue.

    I ask unanimous consent that the letter to which I referred be printed in the RECORD.