[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 101 (Tuesday, July 23, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5096-H5097]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SUPPORTING THE PRACTITIONERS OF FALUN GONG

  (Ms. SANCHEZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of practitioners of 
Falun Gong. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a peaceful 
spiritual

[[Page H5097]]

discipline that is rooted in Chinese culture and based on beliefs in 
truthfulness, benevolence and forbearance.
  Since its introduction in 1992, it quickly spread by word of mouth 
throughout China and it is now practiced in over 50 countries in the 
world. With government estimates of as many as 100 million practicing 
Falun Gong, China's President Zemin outlawed the peaceful practice in 
July 1999. Since 1999, over 400 practitioners in mainland China have 
been killed and thousands have been forced into labor and concentration 
camps, mental institutions and reeducation centers.
  Yesterday's debate of House Concurrent Resolution 188 was a step in 
the right direction, but I urge my colleagues to show their support to 
Falun Gong practitioners visiting Washington, D.C. this week.

                              {time}  1015

  Let us show them that religious persecution will not be tolerated in 
this country, or any other country of the world.

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