[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   STATE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED TO BRING ABDUCTED CHILDREN HOME

  (Mr. LAMPSON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LAMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I feel like a broken record. I am here to 
talk about Ludwig Koons, who is being held in a pornographic compound 
in Italy. We need the help of our governments, the United States and 
Italy, to return this child, along with thousands of others who have 
been removed by noncustodial parents outside of our country.
  I have mentioned the State Department before in these 1-minute 
addresses. I asked recently Secretary Powell to help American parents 
and children, but I find that the message is not getting through.
  On Monday, a member of my staff met with a man whose children had 
been abducted by an ex-wife and taken to Mexico. The State of 
California had awarded custody of the children to the father. They have 
now been in Mexico for 2 years.
  When he met with the State Department, he did not get the help that 
he needed. Instead, he was told he probably would not see his children 
again.
  What an outrageous attitude. The State Department should be an 
unfailing advocate for Americans and their children, who are, I remind 
Members, American citizens themselves.
  The situation is unacceptable to me. I cannot imagine that it is not 
unacceptable to other Members. Please join me. We must bring our 
children home.

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