[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  CHALLENGES FACING IMMIGRANT COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES

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                          HON. BRUCE F. VENTO

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 1998

  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep sadness over a 
tragedy that occurred in my district of Saint Paul, Minnesota. A young 
mother, Khoua Her, aged 24, is suspected of strangling her three sons 
and three daughters, ages 5 to 11. When Saint Paul police responded to 
the 911 call on September 3, they found the six children dead and Khoua 
Her semiconscious after trying to take her own life. Khoua Her has been 
charged with six counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of her 
children: Koua Eai Hang, 11; Samson Hang, 9; Nali Hang, 8; Tang Lung 
Hang, 7; A-ee Hang, 6; and Tang Kee Hang, 5. She is currently under 
psychiatric evaluation to gauge her mental competence at the time of 
the slaying and ability to stand trial.
  This is an occasion not only to mourn, but to reflect. I certainly do 
not excuse these horrific actions and am confident that law enforcement 
officials in Saint Paul are taking the steps necessary to investigate 
this case. This chilling incident does shed some light on special 
problems and significant challenges facing our Minnesota community.
  Recent press accounts highlight a 1995 study conducted by the 
University of South Carolina profiling mothers who have taken the lives 
of their own children. The study cites that 8 in 10 were mentally ill 
or had a low intelligence quotient. They also share what mental health 
professionals call ``life stressors,'' such as poverty, many children, 
limited education and low-paying jobs. This incident is just one of 
many recent examples demonstrating the need to make social services 
more accessible, particularly in the area of mental health. The federal 
government has a responsibility to provide leadership in making mental 
health services more accessible to the public. Congress must continue 
to demonstrate its commitment to mental health by supporting 
legislation and programs that treat mental health problems as seriously 
as physical ailments and also provide a seamless safety net which 
catches parents with such problems, placing their children at grave 
risk.
  Cultural isolation is another factor social service experts cite as a 
factor leading to crimes of desperation. This incident brings to light 
the problems new Americans face as they try to integrate into our 
communities. Too often due to cultural conflicts, social service 
agencies have a difficult challenge effectively reaching out to new 
immigrants. This is particularly true with the new Southeast Asian 
community in such places as Minnesota. Many came to the United States 
after fleeing their ravaged villages and living in refugee camps as a 
result of the Vietnam War. Now in the United States, many Southeast 
Asians are fractured families dealing not only with the mental scars 
associated with war, they are also trying to break the cycle of 
dependency and cope with the breakdown of the traditional extended 
family structures.
  The City of Saint Paul has in recent years become the home to the 
third largest population of new Southeast Asian refugees in the nation. 
Our community has been both blessed and challenged by this sudden 
demographic change. Today, Southeast Asians compose 30% of the students 
in Saint Paul's public schools. Although many of these students are 
succeeding academically and holding leadership positions in their 
classes, the integration of the Southeast Asian community has been 
uneven. A popular radio station in my area recently broadcast some 
remarks about the Hmong community that were both culturally demeaning 
and racist in nature. Such messages of intolerance not only serve to 
alienate new members of our community, they are bad for the psyche of 
our nation and tear at the fabric of our society. This tragic loss of 
life is certainly not solely the result of ethnic intolerance, but 
certainly needs to be a recognition that harsh ridicule and insults 
leave such a minority feeling isolated and desperate. As a nation of 
immigrants it would be my hope that we will greet new Americans with 
the openness and hospitable responses extended to many of our 
grandparents and families.
  The City of Saint Paul and surrounding communities are greatly shaken 
and concerned by this tragedy. Our state and communities have been pro-
active reaching out to these new Americans, but it is evident that more 
must be done and that Minnesotans are painfully aware of the challenge. 
Hundreds of mourners have gathered to pay their respects to these six 
innocent children. My deep sorrow is mixed with new hope that tragedies 
of this magnitude can be prevented as we all work together to reach out 
and address the problems in our communities.

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