[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 63 (Monday, May 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3358]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H3358]]
 THANKS TO MEMBERS FOR HELP WITH FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Wolf) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, last week, the House of Representatives passed 
the Freedom From Religious Persecution Act, H.R. 2431, by an 
overwhelming vote.
  I wanted to share with my colleagues a letter from Wei Jingsheng, one 
of China's most noted political dissidents, who was watching in the 
gallery the vote and who was also watching on television in another 
Member's office, who said that the vote on H.R. 2431 was, and I quote, 
``a blow sent to oppression and a vote for freedom.'' He went on to 
say, ``I am encouraged by the friends in the United States Congress and 
it gives hope to all those struggling on behalf of Chinese.''
  Mr. Speaker, I want to personally thank the 375 Members who helped 
send this message of hope.
  But, passing H.R. 2431 in the House of Representatives would not have 
been possible without the help, though, of many, many people. I want to 
take this opportunity to thank the men and women here on Capitol Hill 
who worked long and hard to move forward this bill. I am grateful for 
their dedication.
  I would especially like to thank Steve Rademaker, Chief Counsel of 
the House Committee on International Relations; Joseph Rees, Staff 
Director and Chief Counsel on the Subcommittee on International 
Operations on Human Rights; Brian Gunderson, Deputy Chief of Staff for 
the Majority Leader; Heidi Stirrup, Policy Advisor to the Majority 
Leader; and Gardner Peckham, Foreign Policy Advisor to the Speaker.
  I also appreciate the tireless efforts of Carolyn Bartholomew with 
the office of the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), Bob 
Zachritz with the office of the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Hall), and 
Steve Golob and Rick Kessler with the office of the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Berman), Mark Lagon with the office of the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Cox), and Amos Hochestein with the office of the 
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Gejdenson).
  Finally, I want to express my appreciation to Anne Huiskes, my senior 
legislative assistant, who has worked for over a year to bring this 
bill to the floor, pouring her heart and her soul into this effort to 
help make a difference in the lives of the persecuted people of all 
faiths around the world.
  I deeply appreciate all of the efforts of the many people, some named 
and many more unnamed, who helped pass this important piece of 
legislation on behalf of those around the world who really have no 
other voice.
  As Wei Jingsheng said, passing H.R. 2431 sent a positive message to 
oppressed people everywhere. Your work here in the Congress helped send 
this message, and I am truly grateful.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. WOLF. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Wolf). He has thanked a lot of people, and I think people across 
America and around the world should know that a piece of legislation 
like this does not just come about without persistence, without 
passion, and without leadership.
  In the 6 years that I have been here, he has led the way, the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wolf), for speaking about human rights and 
preservation of human rights, freedom from religious persecution, all 
over the world. We are grateful for him and for his leadership. This 
would not have passed without him, and we are all grateful to him.
  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his comments.

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