For the past two weeks, the Senate has been debating legislation (H.R. 4444) to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) to China. The House passed, 237-197, the measure on May 24. During debate on September 13, the Senate rejected, 43-53, an amendment by Sen. Jesse Helms (R-NC) dealing with forced abortions in China.
The amendment would have expressed the sense of Congress that the President should urge China to “cease its forced abortion and forced sterilization policies and practices” and that the President should urge China to “cease its detention of those who resist abortion or sterilization.”
Speaking in support of the amendment, Sen. Helms stated, “China’s practice of forcing its women citizens to submit to abortions and/or sterilization—usually both—is not only revolting; it is shameful, because it is a practice that has been repeatedly documented for 20 years now,” adding: “I think this is a modest measure. It doesn’t condition PNTR on China’s government changing its abhorrent behavior.”
Sen. William Roth (R-DE) opposed the amendment, saying, “China’s record on family planning and its use of forced abortion is indefensible….I do not oppose his amendment on its merits. I only oppose it as an amendment to H.R. 4444.”
