April 11, 1998

Deaf Watch Newsletter
Richard Roehm
( Address Snipped)

The Honorable Loretta Sanchez
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.  20515  

Dear Representative Sanchez:

I strongly urge you to vote for the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act, 
H.R. 2431.  This bill constitutes an important first step in defending millions 
of people who are tortured, imprisoned, starved, enslaved and even murdered 
because of their religious faith.  It is about time that we Americans, who so 
often take our religious freedom for granted, work to help, save and comfort 
those who suffer at the hands of their government simply because of their faith.    

This legislation, sponsored by Congressman Frank Wolf (VA-10) and Senator Arlen
Specter (PA), raises the issue of religious persecution to a higher priority 
when considering United States' foreign policy.  Currently, U.S. aid is 
distributed with very little consideration of whether or not foreign governments respect their citizens' inalienable right to religious freedom.  As the leader 
of the free world, the U.S. should no longer ignore the denial of the basic human
right to worship as one chooses.    

While religious persecution would become a priority under this legislation, it 
would not become the only issue in considering foreign policy.  Issues such as
political, racial or ethnic oppression, plus our own national security, can - 
and will -  still be considered.  In fact, when considering asylum seekers, 
this legislation does not allow victims of religious persecution to displace 
other eligible refugees.    

A special adviser office to monitor religious persecution abroad would be 
established in the White House, appointed by the President and confirmed by 
the Senate.  His responsibility in fact-finding is to collect information on 
which countries engage in widespread, ongoing religious persecution.  The 
Adviser is required to investigate, make findings and impose sanctions.  
Sanctions will take effect after 90 days, unless the President seeks a waiver 
to include a ban on exports of persecution products such as so-called cattle 
prods and barbed wire.  Non-humanitarian foreign aid would end and taxpayer-
subsidized U.S. government loans would end.  The U.S. would also vote against 
loans from international agencies.  The sanctions under this bill are foreign 
aid related -- not trade related.    

Enacting this legislation will send a clear signal to persecuting countries 
that our great nation will no longer stand idly by and tolerate such oppression.
Please vote for the Freedom from Religious Persecution Act in order to protect persecuted communities of faith.  We must honor our moral obligations to vulnerable
victims and make the 21st century safe for faith. 

Sincerely,


Richard Roehm
Deaf Watch Newsletter