[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 92 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H4822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       SUPPORT FOR WEI JINGSHENG

  (Mr. GINGRICH asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GINGRICH. Mr. Speaker, I simply want to associate myself with all 
of those who are concerned about the news reports begun by Reuters, 
quote ``China imposes new punishments on dissident Wei.''

                              {time}  1830

  As somebody who has supported opening a dialog with the Chinese 
Government, I simply want to say that I hope that the Secretary of 
State is going to make the strongest possible representation on behalf 
of Mr. Wei, that the United States Government is going to insist on an 
accounting for what is happening to him and that we are going to make 
clear to the Chinese Government that our commitment to human rights, 
our concern for political prisoners and our insistence on some standard 
of decency are real, run across all of American society, and that they 
should not assume that one vote one way or the other on a particular 
item indicates that they have a blank check to oppress human beings.
  I appreciate the gentlewoman from California for bringing this to the 
House's attention. I hope that Secretary Albright will make the 
strongest possible representation on this issue.

                          ____________________