[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 59 (Monday, May 15, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H2974]
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, I rise today to tell the story of Machael 
Heidi Al-Omary, who was abducted from Jonesboro, Arkansas to Saudi 
Arabia by her noncustodial father. There is a bench warrant issued 
against the abductor as well as Federal warrants for unlawful flight to 
avoid prosecution and violations of the International Kidnapping Act of 
1993. The father had visitation rights, and the parents had reached an 
agreement in which Machael would stay 1 week at a time at each 
residence.
  Machael's mother, Margaret McClain, corresponded with her ex-husband 
via e-mail for a short period of time while negotiations were 
attempted. Margaret is very determined to find and recover her 
daughter. She has initiated contact with many agencies and is the 
Director of Legislative Affairs of an organization called P.A.R.E.N.T. 
in Arkansas. She represents a coalition of over 20 missing children 
groups around the world.
  Mr. Speaker, we should all be working as hard as Margaret McClain to 
bring our children home. Parents and children like Margaret and Machael 
should be together. It is a tragedy that countries are violating the 
Hague Convention and keeping them apart.
  I urge my colleagues to help reunite these parents and bring H. Con. 
Res. 293 to the floor.

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