[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 145 (Friday, October 24, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S11176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LEGAL CUSTODY OF MEI MEI

  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I rise this morning to draw the attention 
of my colleagues to a very sad, unnecessary controversy involving the 
Government of the United States and the Government of China, a 
controversy which also involves a little 3-year-old girl.
  Mr. President, this is the sad story. A Chinese woman living in 
Cleveland was diagnosed with schizophrenia. For many reasons, including 
this diagnosis, it was clear that this woman was not capable of taking 
care of her daughter. In fact, they had both been evicted from a 
Salvation Army shelter because of concerns that the mother was 
mistreating the daughter. Evidence showed that the child had been 
seriously neglected. So the court stepped in and sent this child into 
foster care. By the time this little girl was 16 months old, 
tragically, she has been in four foster homes.
  The natural mother was allowed visiting rights. During one of these 
visits she abducted the child and took her to the People's Republic of 
China. In June 1997, Mr. President, the Ohio court permanently 
terminated the birth mother's rights and awarded legal custody of Mei 
Mei--this little girl's name--to Mei Mei's foster mother. Since last 
October, the foster mother, the legal guardian of this child, has been 
trying, naturally, to get Mei Mei back. She wants to adopt Mei Mei, but 
her efforts thus far have not been successful.
  Mr. President, I urge President Clinton to raise the issue of this 
little child with the Chinese President when they meet. There is an 
adoptive family waiting in Ohio for Mei Mei. They love her and they 
will be able to take good care of her. I hope this problem can be 
resolved in a positive and expeditious way. Therefore, I urge the 
President to raise this at the highest level between our countries.
  A few minutes ago on the floor I circulated a letter--and a number of 
my colleagues have already signed it--to send to President Clinton 
urging him to bring the matter up.
  Mr. President, sometimes it is easy, as we debate issues, to lose the 
personal sense about these horrible cases. Sometimes we hear about 
statistics and sometimes we hear about stories of bad things occurring, 
such as I have just related.
  To try to bring it home, though, and put a more personal face on it, 
let me read just one paragraph that was written by the foster mother 
who wants to adopt Mei Mei. This is what she writes:

       We have been applauded for our dedication and uninterrupted 
     love for Mei Mei. I can honestly tell you, however, that it 
     was not difficult. When a child enters your life and needs to 
     be held, you hold them. You teach them to laugh, you teach 
     them that you are there, you teach them to be gentle, you 
     teach them that everything in life is beautiful. And then 
     when they start to see that life is not something to be just 
     tolerated but rather to be enjoyed, they develop a sparkle in 
     their eye, which fuels your love further for them. That's 
     what happened with us and with Mei Mei.

  So I urge, again, Mr. President, that our President, President 
Clinton, bring this matter up with the Chinese. It is a small matter, I 
suppose. But it is a little girl; it is her life. She has an 
opportunity for a loving family to raise her. She was snatched away 
from that opportunity by a woman who has clearly demonstrated that she 
is unfit to take care of this little girl. So I urge the President, as 
he discusses issues with the Chinese, to raise the issue of Mei Mei.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and at this point I suggest the 
absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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