[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 170 (Monday, December 10, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S12778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  STATEMENTS ON SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 90--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
REGARDING THE EFFORTS OF PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES OF KOREAN ANCESTRY 
          TO REUNITE WITH THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN NORTH KOREA

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Hagel, and Mrs. Boxer) submitted the 
following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 90

       Whereas on June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, 
     thereby initiating the Korean War, leading to the loss of 
     countless lives, and further polarizing a world engulfed by 
     the Cold War;
       Whereas in the aftermath of the Korean War, the division of 
     the Koreas at the 38th parallel separated millions of Koreans 
     from their families, tearing at the heart of every mother, 
     father, daughter, and son;
       Whereas on June 13 and 14, 2000, in the first summit 
     conference ever held between leaders of North and South 
     Korea, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung met with North 
     Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea's 
     capital;
       Whereas in a historic joint declaration, South Korean 
     President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il 
     made an important promise to promote economic cooperation and 
     hold reunions of South Korean and North Korean citizens;
       Whereas such reunions have been held in North and South 
     Korea since the signing of the joint declaration, reuniting 
     family members who had not seen or heard from each other for 
     more than 50 years;
       Whereas 500,000 people of the United States of Korean 
     ancestry bear the pain of being separated from their families 
     in North Korea;
       Whereas the United States values peace in the global 
     community and has long recognized the significance of uniting 
     families torn apart by the tragedy of war; and
       Whereas a petition drive is taking place throughout the 
     United States, urging the United States Government to assist 
     in the reunification efforts: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) Congress and the President should support efforts to 
     reunite people of the United States of Korean ancestry with 
     their families in North Korea; and
       (2) such efforts should be made in a timely manner, as 50 
     years have passed since the separation of these families.

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today along with my 
colleagues Senator Hagel and Senator Boxer to submit a concurrent 
resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the Congress and 
the President should support efforts to reunite Americans of Korean 
ancestry with their families in North Korea.
  Following a historic summit in June, 2000 in Pyongyang, North Korea, 
South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jon II 
agreed to hold reunions of South Korean and North Korean families 
separated at the 38th parallel since the start of the Korean war. Since 
then, three reunions have taken place and more than 3,400 citizens of 
North and South Korea have been reunited after more than 50 years.
  I applaud these reunions and I believe they are an important step 
towards improving relations between North and South Korea and promoting 
peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Unfortunately, more than 
500,000 Americans of Korean ancestry, many of whom reside in my home 
state of California, who likewise have been separated from loved ones 
in North Korea for half a century have not been able to participate.
  Time is of the essence. Family members in North Korea and the United 
States are entering the twilight of their lives. Many have died. Many 
simply do not know what has happened to their loved ones. We now have 
an opportunity to lend our support to efforts to reunite families who 
have spent far too long suffering from separation and uncertainty.
  The resolution is simple. It states that it is the sense of Congress 
that the Congress and the President should support efforts to reunite 
people of the United States of Korean ancestry with their families in 
North Korea and that those efforts should be made in a timely manner.
  The holiday season is a time for family members to come together, 
share their love and happiness, and look forward to the New Year. 
During this time, let us make a commitment to help Americans of Korean 
descent so that they too will soon be able to share in that holiday 
spirit with their brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, and 
grandmothers and grandfathers in North Korea.
  I urge my colleagues to support the Resolution.

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