Following are recent statements by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez speaking at the U.S. House of Representatives regarding a number of issues related to Vietnam.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Madam Speaker, I rise today to draw the House of Representatives' attention to statements received at a Member's briefing I cochaired on the human rights situation in Vietnam on September 30, 1997.

This briefing included testimony from experts from international, religious, and human rights' organizations on the social and political state of Vietnam. In addition to myself, the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Zoe Lofgren, the gentlewoman from Ohio, Ms. Marcy Kaptur, and the gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Tom Davis, were also in attendance to hear the recommendations from these witnesses.

Madam Speaker, I request the statements made at the briefing be submitted for the Congressional Record.

This past June, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Vietnam to formally open the U.S. Embassy. The recent establishment of diplomatic relations reflects historic changes of the United States-Vietnamese relations since the end of the Vietnam war in 1975 and the lifting of the embargo in 1994.

I believe that with the normalization of relations between the two countries comes a great responsibility. Now, more than ever before, it is of critical importance we pay careful attention to the progression of developments.

Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, during the August recess I joined over 2,000 of my constituent to rally in support of human rights and democracy in Vietnam. We marched in protest of the recently reported human rights abuses and religious oppression by the Government of Vietnam.

In response to high taxes and official corruption, uprisings have begun in the provinces of Vietnam. And what was the response of the Vietnamese Government to these protests? Well, reports indicate that the Vietnamese Government has dispatched security forces and arrested hundreds of these protesters, and the farmers have also been forcibly removed from their land by the special police.

Last month I joined my constituents in sending a strong message to Hanoi, a message that these injustices will not be tolerated, a message that the Government must obey, respect and honor human and religious rights in Vietnam.

I urge the administration to ensure that the protection of religious practice and freedom of expression remains key in any policy towards Vietnam.