11) DREW M BROWN
THE US Freedom From Rai.yious Persecution Act is expected to be voted on by Congress this spring and, as a result of changes negotiated since Christmas, it may be passed with broad bipartisan support. However, the White House, which could veto it, has yet to comment on the modified bill.
Its sponsor, Republican Frank Wolf explained last Wednesday that the bill now includes provisions for the President to waive in certain instances automatic sanctions against countries that perse cute. Mr Wolf said the Bill would "help those who are being persecuted today. But it will also help those persecuted groups who don't even know about today."
Archbishop Theodore McCarrick of Newark, New Jersey, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, and the Rev Don Argue of the National Association of Evangelicals, met President Clinton on 2 February before leaving for China to investigate religious freedom.
The new bill would ban non-humanitariaxv aid to countries that persecute.