[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 122 (Wednesday, September 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1497]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                NORTH KOREA REFUGEE ADOPTION ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 11, 2012

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H.R. 1464, the North 
Korea Refugee Adoption Act of 2011, I rise to thank Mr. Royce and 
Ranking Member Berman for bringing this important bipartisan bill to 
the floor on September 11, 2012.
  This bill was introduced to assist North Korean children living 
``stateless'' outside of that country who face starvation and neglect 
because they are neither North Korean citizens nor citizens of the 
country where they currently reside. There are many American families 
who would love to give a home to these orphans and refugee children if 
they could. This legislation will help make that process easier.
  The bill encourages the Homeland and State Departments to develop 
strategies to help reunite North Korean refugee children with their 
families or to facilitate the adoption of the children by citizens of 
South Korea, China or other countries. Many of these children have 
Chinese fathers and North Korean mothers but are not claimed by either 
parent, and being stateless, don't have access to the resources of 
either country. This bill will help provide for their immediate care 
and begin the process of getting them settled.
  I am proud to support this bill and ask my colleagues to join me.

                          ____________________