[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 308 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 308

   Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government, 
including government officials outside of the United States, should not 
    purchase any goods made by forced labor, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 13, 2000

   Mr. Campbell (for himself and Mr. Lantos) submitted the following 
     concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, 
  International Relations, and Banking and Financial Services, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government, 
including government officials outside of the United States, should not 
    purchase any goods made by forced labor, and for other purposes.

Whereas there exists in the People's Republic of China a labor system known as 
        the ``laogai'' (meaning ``reform through labor'') in which over 
        8,000,000 Chinese in a network of prisons, camps, and mental 
        institutions must work in approximately 1,100 factories, farms, and 
        other facilities;
Whereas these laogai facilities make numerous products ranging from 
        sophisticated electronics and chemicals to simple toys and clothing, and 
        many of these products are exported to the United States;
Whereas the United States annually imports about $70,000,000,000 of goods from 
        the People's Republic of China (including laogai goods), exports about 
        $15,000,000,000 of goods to the People's Republic of China, and has a 
        trade deficit with the People's Republic of China of about 
        $55,000,000,000;
Whereas the United States has failed to enforce laws prohibiting the import of 
        goods made by forced labor overseas, and has refused to demand 
        inspection of dozens of laogai factories in the People's Republic of 
        China;
Whereas noted Chinese freedom advocate Harry Wu, who spent 17 years in the 
        laogai system, arrived in the United States in 1985, became a citizen of 
        the United States, and has since exposed the labor practices of the 
        People's Republic of China in numerous appearances before congressional 
        committees; and
Whereas the Congress is on record as opposing forced labor, having enacted a 
        prohibition (in section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307)) 
        on the importation of goods made by forced labor: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Federal Government, including government officials 
        outside of the United States, should not purchase any goods 
        made by forced labor;
            (2) the President should instruct the Secretary of the 
        Treasury to enforce strictly section 307 of the Tariff Act of 
        1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307); and
            (3) the President should urge each international body to 
        which the United States belongs, including the United Nations, 
        the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and the International 
        Monetary Fund, to adopt a policy prohibiting the purchase by 
        that body of goods made by forced labor.
                                 <all>