June 30, 1999

Dear Colleague:

We extend a special invitation to you to join us in cosponsoring bipartisan legislation H.R. 1244, the Enhancement of Trade, Security and Human Rights through Sanctions Reform Act. To date, this legislation has over 90 cosponsors.

As you may know, there has been much talk and debate about sanctions reform in general and HR 1244 in particular. Unfortunately, there has also been a lot of misinformation and misinterpretation about this legislation. We wanted to clearly spell out to you why we think that you should also cosponsor 1244.

First, we support this legislation because we want to improve our foreign policy making process. HR 1244 is not a blanket ban on imposing unilateral sanctions. It simply requires that before we impose sanctions, either through the Legislative or Executive branch, we should examine all the ramifications and possible alternatives. As former Representative Lee Hamilton said this bill is a yellow light - not a red light - for sanctions.

Second, this legislation is prospective only. It does not deal with existing sanctions with the sole exception of granting the President permanent waiver authority regarding the sanctions imposed on India and Pakistan. All of us have taken different positions on existing sanctions. However, we are united in support of HR 1244 because it does not repeal or amend exisiting sanctions with the one exception already noted.

All of us agree that economic sanctions can play an important role in our foreign policy. This bill simply insures that we will go after the right target with measured response.

Enclosed you will find a copy of the Executive Summary of the recently released report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) entitled, "Altering U.S. Sanctions Policy." I hope that you will carefully review the findings and recommendations and agree to cosponsor HR 1244.

Sincerely yours,

Donald Manzullo (IL-16)
Kevin Brady (TX-8)
Edward R. Royce (CA-39)
Tom Campbell (CA-15)
Jim Davis (FL-11)
Cass Ballenger (NC-10)
Matt Salmon (AZ-1)
Earl Pomeroy (ND-At Large)
Amo Houghton (NY-31)
Matthew Martinez (CA-31)
Doug Bereuter (NE-1)