[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 106 (Wednesday, June 21, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3676-S3677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Remembering Otto Warmbier

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to talk about a promising 
young man from Wyoming, OH--just outside of Cincinnati, my hometown--a 
young man whose life was drastically cut short at just 22 years of age. 
I rise to talk about Otto Warmbier.
  Otto had all the smarts and talent you could ever ask for. He was a 
homecoming king and the salutatorian of the Wyoming High School class 
he graduated from a few years ago. He spent a summer at the London 
School of Economics. He was a smart kid. He won a prestigious 
scholarship to study at the University of Virginia. As everyone 
expected he would, he excelled at UVA. He got great grades. He had a 
thirst for learning. He loved meeting new people and hearing about 
their lives and their perspectives. His future was as bright as it 
could possibly be.
  It was this smart, kindhearted young man--a college kid--who was 
taken prisoner by the North Korean regime for nearly 18 months. Otto's 
detainment and sentence were unnecessary and appalling. Neither one 
should have ever happened in the first place. At some point soon after 
being sentenced to 15 years of hard labor, from what we know, Otto 
suffered a severe brain injury--from what, we don't know, and we may 
never know.
  Whom did the North Korean Government tell about this? No one. For the 
next 15 months or so, they kept this a secret. They denied him access 
to the best medical care he deserved, and they refused repeated 
requests for consular access that would normally be provided to those 
who have been detained--requests from our government, from the Obama 
administration, from the Trump administration, requests from the Red 
Cross, requests from the Swedish Government, which provides consular 
service for Americans in North Korea, requests from many of us here in 
the Capitol.
  The regime unjustly imprisoned him and then lied about his severe 
medical condition. By the way, they continued to tell stories that make 
no sense. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati--some of the best 
doctors in the world and just the type of medical professionals Otto 
should have been able to see from the start--say that North Korea's 
claims as to what happened simply don't stand up to the evidence.
  They called him a prisoner of war, but they also violated the Geneva 
Convention. For North Korea to imprison Otto Warmbier with no consular 
access for more than a year with his medical condition and severe brain 
injury--it goes well beyond that. It demonstrates a complete failure to 
recognize fundamental human rights. Because of these actions by the 
North Koreans, Otto is dead. His promise has been cut short.
  If there is ever any doubt about the nature of the North Korean 
regime--that pariah country--then Otto's case should erase all doubt. 
We know this regime has no regard for the rule of law or the freedoms 
we enjoy here, but they also have no regard for basic human rights and 
dignity. They have subjected hundreds of thousands of their own people 
to mistreatment, torture, and death for decades. They are now extending 
that treatment to innocent Americans. North Korea should be universally 
condemned for its abhorrent behavior and be held accountable for its 
actions.
  Otto's family--God bless them--tried everything they could to bring 
Otto home. For 18 months--and for almost 16 months not knowing of his 
dire condition--they were steadfast and resilient, trying everything 
they could.
  I was there with Fred and Cindy Warmbier when Otto finally returned 
from North Korea. He came home. It was incredibly emotional to watch 
Otto be reunited with his loving family. I believe he knew he was back 
home. I believe he knew he was among those who loved him.
  I want to thank State Department Special Representative Joe Yun, 
Deputy Secretary Sullivan, and Secretary Tillerson for their work to 
help secure Otto's release last week and to bring him home.

[[Page S3677]]

  There are still three Americans who are being detained by the North 
Koreans. They should be released immediately, and we should do 
everything we can do as a country to secure their release.
  Otto's case is a reminder that we must, on the one hand, increase 
pressure on North Korea to force them to change. There will soon be 
more to discuss on that. At the same time, we have to maintain an open 
line of communication to deal with the deadly serious issues we face. 
Those are some of the lessons I have taken from the last 18 months.
  Fred, Cindy, and the entire Warmbier family have been incredibly 
strong through this ordeal. No one should have to go through what that 
family has experienced. My wife Jane and I will continue to be at their 
side, including at the funeral service tomorrow in Wyoming, OH.
  I urge my colleagues and everybody listening at home to continue to 
hold up this family in prayer, but also let's ensure that this tragedy 
is a wake-up call about the true nature of this brutal regime.
  Mr. President, I yield back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.