[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 23, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H3533]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     INTERNATIONAL CHILD ABDUCTION

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise again today to talk about 
international child abduction, but this time I will tell the story from 
a different perspective. I am going to tell my colleagues about Cecilie 
Finkelstein, a victim of international parental child abduction who I 
have spoken with about the effects that this crime has on the abducted 
child.
  During our discussions, Cecilie expressed to me that parental 
abduction can and often does cause tremendous harm to the children 
involved. In her case, she lived on the run for 14 years, living in 
three countries and 34 States. Her father forced her to assume many 
identities to hide and alienate her from her mother. Cecilie learned 
the truth from a family friend.
  She now has a relationship with her mother but expressed to me the 
devastating effects that abduction has on the child victims.
  At an event I held in March, Cecilie, on behalf of herself and all 
abducted children, appealed to Congress to do everything in its power 
to discourage international parental child abduction by taking action 
to motivate foreign countries to comply with the spirit and the intent 
of the Hague Treaty on the Civil Aspects of International Child 
Abduction.
  My colleagues have that chance. Support H. Con. Res. 293 and help me 
prevent this tragedy from happening again.

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