[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 173 (Thursday, October 26, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            OTTO WARMBIER NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR SANCTIONS ACT

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 24, 2017

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3898, 
the Otto Warmbier North Korea Nuclear Sanctions Act of 2017. This 
legislation imposes heavy economic sanctions on North Korea.
  These sanctions will signal to North Korea and its enablers that the 
United States condemns North Korea's current nuclear and long-range 
missile programs. Specifically, the bill would impose conditions and 
oversight of foreign banks that seek to open American accounts for any 
North Korean or any agent of North Korea.
  As United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley stated, ``[c]ountless 
innocent men and women have died at the hands of North Korea, but the 
singular case of Otto Warmbier touches the American heart like no 
other.'' In remembrance of Otto Warmbier, this bill demonstrates to 
North Korea that its human rights violations and military actions are 
unacceptable. North Korea's nuclear and long-range missile programs 
have been a noted threat to our security for many years and its 
frequent missile testing in the past year demonstrates the even greater 
risk they now pose. By supporting H.R. 3898, we are showing North Korea 
that there are consequences to its pursuit of nuclear warfare and we 
intend to increase economic pressure on it each time they show 
willingness to use force against us or our allies.
  We have a responsibility to do all that we can to protect American 
citizens. H.R. 3898 will discourage North Korea from further developing 
their nuclear weapons program and take a much-needed step towards the 
goal of international peace, and this is why I support this 
legislation.

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