FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2000

Contact: 
Lawrence J. Goodrich, Communications Director, (202) 523-3240
 

WHAT: Steven T. McFarland, Executive Director of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, will testify before the House International Relations Committee during a hearing on whether to grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 10, 2000 at 10:00 a.m.

WHERE: Room 2172, Rayburn Building

BACKGROUND: Mr. McFarland will testify just days after the release of the Commission's annual report, in which the Commission recommended that "Congress should grant China Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status only after China makes substantial improvement in respect for religious freedom." Mr. McFarland will identify the standards (actions) by which the Commission believes "substantial improvement in religious freedom" should be measured. The full report can be found on the Commission's Web site at www.uscirf.gov.