[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1414-H1415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FIGHTING FOR THE RELEASE OF HOUA LY

  (Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GREEN of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark a tragic 
anniversary. Three years ago tomorrow,

[[Page H1415]]

Houa Ly, a Hmong-American constituent of mine, disappeared on the 
border between Laos and Thailand. Eyewitnesses last saw him with Lao 
government authorities, a brutal regime infamous for human rights 
abuses.
  For 3 years his family has suffered without any real answers. It has 
been three frustrating years.
  His family is inspired, however, by the memories they still have of 
their life together as an American family and of Mr. Ly's incredible 
service to this country, saving downed U.S. pilots during the Vietnam 
War.
  Our Nation will also remember him. The Lao government and its 
apologists should know for that me and many others, this case is an 
insurmountable obstacle that should block any effort towards 
normalizing relations between our two countries.
  It has been three frustrating years, and for all of our work together 
with the Ly family, it often feels like we have gotten nowhere. But we 
will not give up. A U.S. citizen is mission. His family deserves 
answers, and we will keep fighting until we get them.

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