[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 53 (Wednesday, May 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        INTERNATIONAL ABDUCTION

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to tell the story of Joseph 
Howard, whose child was abducted across international borders. His 
child is just one of 10,000 American children who have been abducted to 
foreign countries.
  In 1994, Joseph Howard's wife took his child when he was at work and 
fled to Germany. Joseph notified the police and the FBI. Two months 
after the abduction, the German lower court issued an ex parte order 
granting temporary custody to the mother and informed Joseph 1 month 
later. The German lower court later confirmed custody to the mother and 
stated that ``the father lives in the United States of America and is 
therefore no longer in a position to exercise his custody rights.''
  Joseph was not given access rights, but received a demand for child 
support. He appealed to German higher court, but the appeal was 
rejected. In April of 1998, Joseph was granted access rights to be 
exercised only in the office of the German Youth Authority and only 
after he surrendered his passport. Joseph has not seen his child since 
1994.
  Mr. Speaker, this kind of treatment of American parents and their 
children must stop. Signatories to the Hague Convention should uphold 
their agreement, and this House should urge them to do so.

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