[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H3727-H3730]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING CONCERN REGARDING STATE-SANCTIONED ORGAN HARVESTING IN THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree
to the resolution (H. Res. 343) expressing concern regarding persistent
and credible reports of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting
from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic of
China, including from large numbers of Falun Gong practitioners and
members of other religious and ethnic minority groups, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
[[Page H3728]]
H. Res. 343
Whereas when performed in accordance with ethical
standards, the medical discipline of organ transplantation is
one of the great achievements of modern medicine;
Whereas voluntary and informed consent is the precondition
for ethical organ donation and international medical
organizations state that prisoners, deprived of their
freedom, are not in the position to give free consent and
that the practice of sourcing organs from prisoners is a
violation of ethical guidelines in medicine;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China
and Communist Party of China continue to deny reports that
many organs are taken without the consent of prisoners yet at
the same time prevents independent verification of its
transplant system;
Whereas the organ transplantation system in China does not
comply with the World Health Organization's requirement of
transparency and traceability in organ procurement pathways;
Whereas the United States Department of State Country
Report on Human Rights for China for 2014 stated, ``Advocacy
groups continued to report instances of organ harvesting from
prisoners'';
Whereas Huang Jiefu, director of the China Organ Donation
Committee, announced in December 2014 that China would end
the practice of organ harvesting from executed prisoners by
January 1, 2015, did not directly address organ harvesting
from prisoners of conscience;
Whereas Falun Gong, a spiritual practice involving
meditative ``qigong'' exercises and centered on the values of
truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance, became immensely
popular in the 1990s;
Whereas in July 1999, the Chinese Communist Party launched
an intensive, nationwide persecution designed to eradicate
the spiritual practice of Falun Gong, reflecting the party's
long-standing intolerance of large independent civil society
groups;
Whereas since 1999, hundreds of thousands of Falun Gong
practitioners have been detained extra-legally in
reeducation-through-labor camps, detention centers, and
prisons, where torture and abuse are routine;
Whereas in many detention facilities and labor camps, Falun
Gong prisoners of conscience comprise the majority of the
population, and have been said to receive the longest
sentences and the worst treatment;
Whereas Freedom House reported in 2015 that Falun Gong
practitioners comprise the largest portion of prisoners of
conscience in China, and face an elevated risk of dying or
being killed in custody;
Whereas in 2006, Canadian researchers David Matas, human
rights attorney, and David Kilgour, former Canadian Secretary
of State for Asia-Pacific, conducted an independent
investigation into allegations of organ harvesting from Falun
Gong prisoners in China, and concluded that Falun Gong
practitioners being killed for their organs was highly
probable;
Whereas Matas and Kilgour have implicated state and party
entities in illicit organ harvesting, including domestic
security services and military hospitals;
Whereas researcher and journalist Ethan Gutmann published
findings that Chinese security agencies began harvesting
organs from members of the predominantly Muslim Uyghur ethnic
minority group in the 1990s, including from Uyghur political
prisoners;
Whereas the United Nations Committee Against Torture and
the Special Rapporteur on Torture have expressed concern over
the allegations of organ harvesting from Falun Gong
prisoners, and have called on the Government of the People's
Republic of China to increase accountability and transparency
in the organ transplant system and punish those responsible
for abuses; and
Whereas the killing of religious or political prisoners for
the purpose of selling their organs for transplant is an
egregious and intolerable violation of the fundamental right
to life: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns the practice of state-sanctioned forced organ
harvesting in the People's Republic of China;
(2) calls on the Government of the People's Republic of
China and Communist Party of China to immediately end the
practice of organ harvesting from all prisoners of
conscience;
(3) demands an immediate end to the 17-year persecution of
the Falun Gong spiritual practice by the Government of the
People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China,
and the immediate release of all Falun Gong practitioners and
other prisoners of conscience;
(4) encourages the United States medical community to help
raise awareness of unethical organ transplant practices in
China;
(5) calls on the People's Republic of China to allow a
credible, transparent, and independent investigation into
organ transplant abuses; and
(6) calls on the United States Department of State to
conduct a more detailed analysis on state-sanctioned organ
harvesting from non-consenting prisoners of conscience in the
annual Human Rights Report, and report annually to Congress
on the implementation of section 232 of the Department of
State Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (8 U.S.C. 1182f),
barring provision of visas to Chinese and other nationals
engaged in coerced organ or bodily tissue transplantation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.
{time} 1815
General Leave
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks
and to include extraneous material on this resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I want to thank Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel for their
leadership, for their support for human rights in China and, indeed,
around the globe.
I also want to thank my good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Connolly), for joining me in introducing this bipartisan resolution
that has garnered over 180 cosponsors. Many may not know this, Mr.
Speaker, but Mr. Connolly has been working on these issues ever since
he was a staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
I am proud to have introduced H. Res. 343 alongside my friend from
Virginia, a resolution that condemns China's ongoing, gruesome practice
of harvesting organs from nonconsenting prisoners of conscience and
religious and ethnic minorities.
Falun Gong practitioners have long faced an intensive persecution by
the Chinese Communist Party and, according to Freedom House, in 2015,
comprise the largest portion of prisoners of conscience in China.
I was extremely disappointed to read that the State Department's
latest human rights report for China quoted a Chinese official's
unsubstantiated claim that any harvesting of organs from prisoners
would now be voluntary.
China has been well-known to produce the majority of organs it uses
for transplants from executed prisoners, people who are deprived of
their freedom, unable to give their voluntary and informed consent to
donate their organs. These are the basic preconditions for ethical
organ donation, which China rarely, if ever, meets.
The regime of the People's Republic of China does not comply with the
requirements of the World Health Organization for transparency and
traceability in organ procurement pathways, and the number of voluntary
organ donations in China continues to be much lower than the reported
number of transplants, let alone the number of unreported ones.
All of this points to unethical practices at the very least, and
something much, much more inhumane and gruesome at the very worst, and
leads us to conclude that China's claim to have ceased with illegal
harvesting is a dubious one.
The Chinese regime's brutal repression and human rights violations
are well known, but it is the horrific treatment of the Falun Gong
practitioners, Mr. Speaker, that is particularly egregious yet does not
receive the attention that it deserves.
Followers of the Falun Gong are among China's most vulnerable to
state-sanctioned abuse, which leaves them as likely victims to this
ghoulish practice; and if the latest reports of China seeking to
conduct full-body transplants are true, then it could put these
peaceful individuals in even graver danger.
Last week, The New York Times reported that Chinese doctors are
seeking to conduct full-body transplants. But again, with little
transparency and the lack of ethical standards, one has to wonder, Mr.
Speaker, how will these doctors, how will these scientists, conduct
their research and experiments? They will likely look to their prisons
and target prisoners of conscience--and Falun Gong practitioners,
specifically.
The New York Times reported that China remains an international
pariah that has long been dogged by ethical issues, yet its doctors
remain undeterred by the horrid practices and plan on moving forward
when they are ready.
[[Page H3729]]
What will this mean for Falun Gong practitioners and other prisoners
of conscience in China, Mr. Speaker? I shudder to think of their fate
as a result of these inhumane experiments and macabre practices.
But by passing this resolution, sir, we can send a message to the
Chinese regime that we condemn this continued practice of persecution
of Falun Gong practitioners, and its sickening and unethical practice
must stop, especially harvesting organs from nonconsenting individuals.
We cannot allow these crimes to continue. I urge all of my colleagues
to support this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
House of Representatives,
Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC, June 2, 2016.
Hon. Ed Royce,
Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Royce: I am writing with respect to H. Res.
343, which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary. As a
result of your having consulted with us on provisions in H.
Res. 343 that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the
Committee on the Judiciary, I agree to discharge our
committee from further consideration of this resolution so
that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for
consideration.
The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual
understanding that by foregoing consideration of H. Res. 343
at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject
matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our
committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as
this resolution or similar legislation moves forward so that
we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction.
I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming
this understanding with respect to H. Res. 343 and would ask
that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be
included in the Congressional Record during Floor
consideration of this resolution.
Sincerely,
Bob Goodlatte,
Chairman.
____
House of Representatives,
Committee on Foreign Affairs,
Washington, DC, June 8, 2016.
Hon. Bob Goodlatte,
Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for consulting with the
Committee on Foreign Affairs on House Resolution 343,
Expressing concern regarding persistent and credible reports
of systematic, state-sanctioned organ harvesting from non-
consenting prisoners of conscience in the People's Republic
of China, and for agreeing to be discharged from further
consideration of that measure.
I agree that your forgoing further action on this measure
does not in any way diminish or alter the jurisdiction of the
Committee on the Judiciary, or prejudice its jurisdictional
prerogatives on this measure or similar legislation in the
future.
I will seek to place our letters on H. Res. 343 into the
Congressional Record during floor consideration. I appreciate
your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward
to continuing to work with your Committee as this measure
moves through the legislative process.
Sincerely,
Edward R. Royce,
Chairman.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I
yield myself such time as I may consume.
Again, I thank Chairman Royce and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen, who
introduced this very important piece of legislation.
We just finished debate on a bill that would help us get a better
handle on just how severe a problem organ trafficking is and to help us
figure out what is needed to confront this challenge. This resolution
underscores troubling reports about the practice of organ trafficking,
specifically in the People's Republic of China.
I have heard directly from some of my constituents about this, and
what is particularly unsettling is that this practice allegedly targets
prisoners of conscience, including practitioners of Falun Gong and
other religious and ethnic minorities.
Nonconsensual organ harvesting under any circumstance represents a
gross violation of human rights, but these allegations are particularly
egregious: authorities at Chinese prisons targeting prisoners because
of their religious beliefs and then making a profit by trafficking
these victims' organs. I cannot think of hardly anything that is more
disgusting than that. The accounts of these activities are gruesome and
shocking, and, again, we need to get to the bottom of this issue to see
exactly what is going on.
This measure calls on the Chinese Government to cease the practice of
forced organ harvesting and to end the persecution of Falun Gong
practitioners and other prisoners of conscience. It also calls on the
Chinese Government to allow an investigation into this issue, and it
urges the State Department to include an assessment of state-
sanctioned, nonconsensual organ harvesting in its annual human rights
reports.
So I again thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for her focus on this issue. I am
pleased to support this measure.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 4 minutes to the
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), chairman of the Foreign Affairs
Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and
International Organizations.
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and
colleague Ileana Ros-Lehtinen for yielding. I want to thank the
chairman emeritus of the full Foreign Affairs Committee for the defense
of vulnerable persons in China, especially the Falun Gong, men and
women who cannot speak for themselves, who have suffered unspeakable
torture--some have survived--and to the families who have lost loved
ones in Chinese prison camps, the Laogai, and detention centers that
are sprinkled throughout all of China.
This legislation is an important step in bringing accountability and
transparency to what may be one of the great crimes of the 21st
century: the 17-year effort to eliminate Falun Gong practice from
China. I strongly believe that the campaign to eradicate Falun Gong
will be seen as one of the great horrors.
The Chinese Government continues to insist that the accounts of
religious persecution, forced abortion, arbitrary detention, and organ
harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners are mere rumors. They refuse
to even discuss these issues in regular diplomatic dialogue and
regularly jail and disbar lawyers who try to defend Falun Gong
practitioners who expose the abuses that are committed by government
employees. Nevertheless, evidence is quickly mounting of the horrific
crimes committed against Falun Gong practitioners, including this
terrible practice of organ harvesting.
Over the years, Congress has received credible information about this
unethical and corrupt organ transplant system that operates in China.
The Chinese Government is at least grossly negligent but, more likely,
grossly complicit in these crimes because huge amounts of money are
made.
We have received credible evidence that the actual number of organ
transplants by China's hospitals remain underreported and that, despite
the Chinese Government's promises to the contrary, the number of
prisoners who are killed and have their organs taken continues to rise.
Shockingly, researchers David Kilgour, David Matas, and Ethan Gutmann
conducted detailed investigations and estimated that between 45,000 and
65,000 Falun Gong practitioners were killed for their organs, which
then were sold for profit--45,000 to 65,000 victims who had their
organs stolen and their lives snuffed out by the Chinese Government
officials.
There might be new estimates that are higher. These researchers will
unveil their new findings next week at a hearing of the House Foreign
Affairs Committee.
Let me remind Members that the United States Congress isn't the only
one that is bringing this terrible human rights abuse up. The U.N.
Committee Against Torture and the Special Rapporteur on torture have
expressed concern over these allegations, and they have called for
accountability and transparency.
The Ileana Ros-Lehtinen resolution condemns this practice; calls on
the government to end it; demands an immediate end to the 17-year
persecution of the Falun Gong; encourages the United States medical
community to help raise awareness of unethical organ transplant
practices in China; calls on the People's Republic of China to allow a
credible, transparent, and independent investigation into organ
transplant abuses; and then calls on the U.S. Department of State to
conduct a more detailed analysis on state-sanctioned organ harvesting
from nonconsenting prisoners of conscience in its annual
[[Page H3730]]
human rights report. And it also calls on the government, our
government, to bar provision of visas, pursuant to current law, to
Chinese and other nationals engaged in coerced organ or bodily tissue
transplantation.
Again, I want to thank Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mr. Connolly for their
leadership on this.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close once Mr. Engel
yields back his time.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, a commitment to human rights for people around the world
is a fundamental American value and a pillar of our foreign policy. So
when we hear reports of horrific abuses, such as state-sanctioned organ
harvesting, we have a responsibility to determine the scope of the
problem and respond.
I want to thank Ms. Ros-Lehtinen for her tenacity in bringing this
forward. I want to thank Mr. Smith, who is always there for human
rights. I want to thank Chairman Royce, again, for allowing this
resolution to come forward and, again, for making this a bipartisan
concern.
I have heard from colleagues and constituents again and again about
grievous violations of human rights that Falun Gong and other prisoners
of conscience have endured at the hands of Chinese authorities. We need
to send a clear message that this sort of abuse is unacceptable.
So again, I want to thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for bringing our
attention to this issue and bringing forward this measure. This is a
resolution that everyone should vote for, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, in recent years, sadly, the United States has receded
from our role as a promoter and defender of human rights
internationally. Once a central part of U.S. foreign policy, we have
witnessed the protection of human rights fall far down on our priority
list as administrations have become too eager to make deals with
despots and tyrants in places like Iran, Cuba, and North Korea.
Those who once looked to the United States to be the leader, to stand
up and protect those suffering and those who are being denied their
most basic and fundamental rights, no longer view us as the voice for
the voiceless, willing to stand up for those suffering around the
world.
Shame on us, Mr. Speaker, because this failure to promote our ideals
and our principles, well, that leads ruthless thugs to believe that
they can get away with whatever they want, and, ultimately, it
increases the suffering of the people that they exploit.
The United States must once again make our core values and beliefs a
central tenet of our foreign policy agenda in order to restore our
credibility and to restore the faith that so many have in our ability
to help bring about change for those who cannot protect themselves.
{time} 1830
Passing this resolution today, Mr. Speaker, sends a clear signal to
China that the United States opposes its gross violations of human
rights, particularly against the Falun Gong practitioners. They are so
peaceful, and they are so full of composure. They pose no threat to
China, yet this ruthless dictatorship forces them to commit unspeakable
acts. This resolution sends a signal to countless others suffering
around the world that the United States will, once again, make the
protection of human rights a priority.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join us to support this
resolution, support our ideals and values, support human rights, and
help the practitioners of Falun Gong.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 343, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________