[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 19, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H6474]
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 draw attention to the issue 
of international child adduction, and to continue to make my colleagues 
aware that this issue has ripped 10,000 American children away from 
their parents.
  I have been coming here almost every day since February 16 telling a 
story about an abducted child, and today I am going to be talking about 
Brianna Nicole Ballout. Brianna was abducted by her noncustodial 
father, Samar Ali Ballout, during his weekend visitation on July 7, 
1996. The abductor and Brianna's mother shared joint custody, but Mrs. 
Rogers had physical custody.
  An unlawful flight to avoid prosecution was issued as well as a 
warrant for his kidnapping. The FBI and the State Department located 
Brianna in Southern Lebanon, and over 2 years, her mother has had 
sporadic contact with her, ranging from phone calls to receiving 
pictures when she was 4 in 1999. Mrs. Rogers has lost contact with 
Brianna and her abducting father.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge this House and my colleagues to join me and to do 
whatever it takes to bring our children home.

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