March 9, 2020 - Issue: Vol. 166, No. 45 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 2nd Session
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ENCOURAGING REUNIONS OF DIVIDED KOREAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 45
(House of Representatives - March 09, 2020)
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[Pages H1545-H1546] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] ENCOURAGING REUNIONS OF DIVIDED KOREAN-AMERICAN FAMILIES Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 410) encouraging reunions of divided Korean- American families, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 410 Whereas the Korean Peninsula, with the Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as ``South Korea'') in the South and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as ``North Korea'') in the North, remains divided following the signing of the Korean War Armistice Agreement on July 27, 1953; Whereas the division of the Korean Peninsula separated more than 10,000,000 Korean family members, including some who are now citizens of the United States; Whereas there have been 21 rounds of family reunions between South Koreans and North Koreans along the border since 2000; Whereas Congress signaled its support for family reunions between United States citizens and their relatives in North Korea in section 1265 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181), signed into law by President George W. Bush on January 28, 2008; Whereas most of the population of divided family members in the United States, initially estimated at 100,000 in 2001, has significantly dwindled as many of the individuals have passed away; Whereas the summit between North Korea and South Korea on April 27, 2018, has prioritized family reunions; Whereas the United States and North Korea have engaged in talks during 2 historic summits in June 2018 in Singapore and February 2019 in Hanoi; and Whereas many Korean Americans are waiting for a chance to meet their relatives in North Korea for the first time in more than 60 years: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) calls on the United States and North Korea to begin the process of reuniting Korean-American divided family members with their immediate relatives through ways such as-- (A) identifying divided families in the United States and North Korea who are willing and able to participate in a pilot program for family reunions; (B) finding matches for members of such families through organizations such as the Red Cross; and (C) working with the Government of South Korea to include American citizens in inter-Korean video reunions; (2) reconfirms the institution of family as inalienable and, accordingly, urges the restoration of contact between divided families physically, literarily, or virtually; and (3) calls on the United States and North Korea to pursue reunions as a humanitarian priority of immediate concern. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Yoho) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey. General Leave Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 410. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New Jersey? There was no objection. Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Representative Bass for sponsoring this resolution, which draws attention to a pressing humanitarian issue affecting the Korean-American community. This June will mark 70 years since the beginning of the Korean war, which separated 10 million Koreans from their immediate family members. Since 1985, family reunions carried out between the North and the South briefly reunited more than 20,000 family members, but there are still thousands more who have brothers, sisters, or parents who have been separated for decades. It must be a humanitarian priority for the United States to facilitate reunions for these separated families. Considering the many years that have passed, many of these families are older, and if we don't act soon, they may never see their loved ones again. The measure before us underscores the long history of U.S. support for family reunification between Korean Americans and their relatives still in North Korea. It outlines different ways that North Korea and the United States can respectively take action, including a pilot program for family reunions, a family registry supported by the Red Cross and other organizations, and the use of technology to allow reunions for those who might not be physically able to travel for in- person reunions. This is a good, commonsense resolution reiterating our country's commitment to reuniting families split by the Korean war. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of Representative Bass' resolution, and I want to congratulate her for doing this. This resolution reaffirms the House's commitment to support our Korean-American families seeking to reunite with relatives who are trapped in North Korea. This resolution rightly observes that family reunification is a humanitarian priority. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Bass), the author of this important resolution and the chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. Ms. BASS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly support H. Res. 410. The purpose of this resolution is to encourage reunions of divided Korean-American families. Last year, I had the opportunity to meet Kyung Joo Lee, a 90-year-old Korean-American man from Virginia. Mr. Lee has not seen his three older brothers and sisters since he fled North Korea more than 70 years ago, but he prays for them daily. He has no idea if they are even still alive. Tears streamed down his face during that meeting as he held my hands and urged me to do what I can to help Korean families to be reunited. This resolution originated at a townhall meeting where a group of constituents called this issue to my attention. As I learned more about these aging Korean Americans who just want to be able to see their siblings and parents, I knew that we had to do all that we could do to raise this issue. The division of the Korean Peninsula into South Korea and North Korea separated thousands of Koreans from family members. Many Korean Americans have not seen or communicated with family members in more than 60 years. Their children have grown up here in America without knowing what their cousins, aunts, or uncles even look like. Over the years, South Korea and North Korea have arranged for selected groups to visit each other, but these reunions have been dependent on the political situation between the countries. Since 2000, there have been at least 20 rounds of family reunions, but none have included Korean Americans. Meanwhile, the situation is now growing more urgent as many who have been separated are getting older. Most are in their late eighties or nineties. That is why I introduced this resolution that calls on the United States and North Korea to begin the process of reuniting Korean- American divided family members with their immediate relatives. Today, I am proud to stand with my colleagues in getting one step closer to reunifying Mr. Lee and so many others with their families. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support this resolution that calls on the [[Page H1546]] United States and North Korea to pursue reunions as a humanitarian priority of immediate concern. I also urge them to support H.R. 1771, the Divided Families Reunification Act, introduced by my colleague Representative Grace Meng, that takes up the same issue. Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support Representative Bass' resolution to stand with Korean Americans seeking to reunite with family members stranded inside North Korea. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time. Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume for the purpose of closing. Mr. Speaker, most of us can't imagine the pain of going decades without knowing if your relatives are alive or dead. That is the daily struggle for thousands of families torn apart by the Korean war. Mr. Speaker, this measure underscores our support for reuniting these families, bringing solace and closure to this deep wound left by the war. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 410, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. =========================== NOTE =========================== March 9, 2020, on page H1546, the following appeared: The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that the ayes appeared to have it. The online version has been corrected to read: The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two- thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. ========================= END NOTE ========================= Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question will be postponed. ____________________
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