[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 178 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S14050]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EFFORTS OF THE PEOPLE OF THE 
  UNITED STATES OF KOREAN ANCESTRY TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN 
                              NORTH KOREA

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 280, S. Con. 
Res. 90.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will state the title of the 
concurrent resolution.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 90) expressing the 
     sense of Congress regarding the efforts of people of the 
     United States of Korean ancestry to reunite with their family 
     members in North Korea.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
concurrent resolution.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the concurrent 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the 
concurrent resolution be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 90) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                            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.

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