[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   CALLING FOR RETURN OF SEAN GOLDMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2009

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Res. 125. This resolution calls on the central authority of Brazil to 
uphold the Hague Convention by facilitating the immediate release of 
Sean Goldman to his father, David Goldman.
  June 16, 2004 was the day Sean Goldman was abducted by his mother, 
Bruna Goldman, and taken to Brazil. That day marked the beginning of a 
4\1/2\ year struggle to reunite David Goldman with his son Sean. During 
those subsequent years, David Goldman tirelessly lobbied the Brazilian 
judicial system, sought international legal advice, and mourned the 
death of Sean's mother in August 2008. Recently, the situation was 
further complicated when Sean's step-father petitioned the Brazilian 
courts for custody of Sean and illegally replaced David's name with his 
own on a Brazilian birth certificate.
  H. Res. 125 was introduced by my New Jersey colleague, Representative 
Christopher Smith, and I am proud to be one of the 57 cosponsors of 
this bill. This resolution urges the Brazilian government to uphold its 
commitment to the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of 
International Child Abduction. This multilateral treaty, developed by 
the Hague Conference on Private International Law in 1980, provides an 
expeditious method for returning a child taken from one member nation 
to another. H. Res. 125 is of the utmost importance, as it not only 
calls on Brazil to display their intention to follow international law, 
but also brings a father and son one step closer to reunification.
  It is imperative for us to support David Goldman's quest to be 
reunited with his son. H. Res. 125 will help us accomplish this goal 
and I thank my colleagues for joining me in voting unanimously for its 
passage yesterday.

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