[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 4, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ON BEHALF OF THE 24 CREW MEMBERS HELD BY THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Larsen) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. LARSEN of Washington. Mr. Speaker, today I rise on behalf of the 
24 crew members held by the Chinese government. These brave men and 
women are based at the Naval Air Station Whidbey on Whidbey Island in 
Oak Harbor in my district in Washington State.
  I first want to call on Beijing to return our honorable service men 
and women home. Four days is long enough. No, 4 days is too long. Our 
service members need to be released immediately.
  Second, I want to honor the families of these crew members, both 
around the country and in the Whidbey Island community of Oak Harbor 
where the Naval Air Station is based. Their concern over the crew 
members is matched only by their strength and their bravery.
  So not for my sake and not for the sake of anyone in this Chamber, 
Mr. Speaker, but for the sake of the mothers and the fathers, the 
sisters and the brothers, the sons and the daughters and the wives, it 
is time for the Chinese government to return the crew members to their 
families. It is time for the Chinese government to return the plane to 
the United States.

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