July 14, 2004

 Dear Member:

 On behalf of the U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, I am writing to express my concern over H.R. 1587, the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2003.  The U.S.-Vietnam Trade Council, founded in 1989, is a trade association with strong membership from the American business community and offices in Washington D.C., and Vietnam.  We have worked to help improve relations between the United States and Vietnam with educational exchange programs, annual conferences, Congressional delegations, and programs designed to provide technical assistance on international trade norms and standards. 

Based on our 15 years of experience in Vietnam, we do not believe that the proposed legislation will advance the human rights dialogue with Vietnam.  Instead, by capping non-humanitarian assistance, the bill could be counterproductive.  Vietnam and the United States currently benefit from a wide array of U.S.-sponsored non-humanitarian programs – including those that promote market-based legal reform and support educational exchanges.  These programs underpin the positive efforts that the United States makes on a daily basis to help Vietnam integrate more closely with the world community, including the effective implementation of the U.S.-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement.

The Trade Council has been active in Vietnam for 15 years.  Over this time, we have seen the extent to which U.S. support and encouragement makes a difference.  We urge you to maintain this support and not to enact legislation that threatens to undermine the progress the United States and Vietnam have made together.

Sincerely,

Virginia B. Foote

President