[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 23033-23038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING EFFORTS OF PEOPLE OF UNITED 
STATES OF KOREAN ANCESTRY TO REUNITE WITH FAMILY MEMBERS IN NORTH KOREA

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 77) expressing the sense of the 
Congress regarding the efforts of people of the

[[Page 23034]]

United States of Korean ancestry to reunite with their family members 
in North Korea.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 77

       Whereas on June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea, 
     thereby initiating the Korean War, leading to the loss of 
     countless lives, and further polarizing a world engulfed by 
     the Cold War;
       Whereas in the aftermath of the Korean War, the division of 
     the Koreas at the 38th parallel separated millions of Koreans 
     from their families, tearing at the heart of every mother, 
     father, daughter, and son;
       Whereas on June 13 and 14, 2000, in the first summit 
     conference ever held between leaders of North and South 
     Korea, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung met with North 
     Korean leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea's 
     capital;
       Whereas in a historic joint declaration, South Korean 
     President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il 
     made an important promise to promote economic cooperation and 
     hold reunions of South Korean and North Korean citizens;
       Whereas such reunions have been held in North and South 
     Korea since the signing of the joint declaration, reuniting 
     family members who had not seen or heard from each other for 
     more than 50 years;
       Whereas 500,000 people of the United States of Korean 
     ancestry bear the pain of being separated from their families 
     in North Korea;
       Whereas the United States values peace in the global 
     community and has long recognized the significance of uniting 
     families torn apart by the tragedy of war; and
       Whereas a petition drive is taking place throughout the 
     United States, urging the United States Government to assist 
     in the reunification efforts: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) the Congress and the President should support efforts 
     to reunite people of the United States of Korean ancestry 
     with their families in North Korea; and
       (2) such efforts should be made in a timely manner, as 50 
     years have passed since the separation of these families.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce).


                             General Leave

  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 77, the resolution 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Concurrent Resolution 
77. It is coauthored by the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) and 
myself.
  I serve as chairman of the U.S.-Republic of Korea Interparliamentary 
Exchange. Several of our colleagues met with South Korean legislators 
this past spring to discuss the critical relationship between the two 
countries, between South Korea and the United States; and we found that 
the issue of Korean-Americans here having a chance to participate in 
family reunifications was a key issue. Out of those discussions and in 
consultation with the Korean-American community, this resolution was 
developed.
  There are over 500,000 Korean-Americans with relatives in North Korea 
that reside now in the United States. None of these individuals have 
been privy to any of the three family reunions that have taken place 
between the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of 
Korea.
  This legislation calls for the Congress and the President to support 
efforts to reunite U.S. citizens of Korean ancestry with their families 
in North Korea as soon as possible so they might have a chance to 
travel to North Korea and see their families. Many of these individuals 
are quite elderly, and they would like the opportunity before their 
loved ones pass away to do that.
  After World War II, the 38th Parallel was used to draw a line between 
freedom on one side and tyranny on the other. What at the time seemed 
an easy resolution to a difficult diplomatic problem between communist 
Russia and the United States turned out to be the worst nightmare for 
millions of Koreans. The 38th Parallel cut through the country of 
Korea. It cut through villages, through communities, and in this case 
it cut through families. Millions of parents were separated from their 
children. Mothers were separated from fathers, grandparents from their 
grandchildren. In a culture centered around the family, this was 
absolutely devastating.
  On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded South Korea; and a war ensued 
for 3 harsh years. After the Korean War, the border became heavily 
fortified and closed. No one in North Korea was allowed out, and no one 
from South Korea was allowed in. Since 1953, South Korea, with the help 
of the United States, has made numerous overtures to North Korea to 
allow family members to reconnect. The Stalinist North said no.

                              {time}  1645

  In 1998, Kim Dae Jung assumed the South Korean presidency and 
instituted a ``sunshine policy,'' as he called it. Since last year, 
President Kim has enabled 300 South Koreans to see relatives they have 
not seen for over 50 years. I applaud these important steps.
  But a very important component is missing from these reunions. The 
United States is home, as I said, to over 500,000 Korean Americans. 
Both the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) and I represent large 
Korean-American communities in our districts. These Americans have 
suffered the pain of having relatives in North Korea they have not seen 
in over 50 years. Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable.
  The United States has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to the 
Korean peninsula. In 1950, when North Korea unleashed an all-out attack 
on South Korea, the United States acted swiftly and decisively. At 
least 37,000 Americans unfortunately died defending South Korea. These 
American soldiers paid the ultimate price to ensure South Korea's 
sovereignty. We have defended South Korea ever since.
  In 1997, the United States spearheaded the international community's 
effort to ensure that South Korea's economy remained strong. The United 
States has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian 
food aid to North Koreans. Needless to say, our country has dedicated 
great amounts of diplomatic and financial contributions to Korea, which 
is extremely important to maintaining peace and maintaining stability 
on that peninsula. For that, the Korean people are appreciative and our 
strategic interests are served. But we should also have a strong 
commitment to Korean Americans.
  Currently, a petition is being circulated by the Korean-American 
community, including church groups and students and private citizens, 
to be sent to our President, to be sent to the President of South 
Korea, to the President of North Korea, to Secretary-General Kofi Annan 
and others urging them to make it possible for Korean Americans to be 
reunited with their families, to see their families in North Korea. I 
believe this is a reasonable request that requires urgent attention. It 
has been 50 years since these estranged relations have seen each other. 
Many people have died, and for many others it is their last wish that 
they might see their brother or sister or their aunt or uncle once 
again.
  I urge passage of this bill so that this historical calamity can be 
rectified in however small terms. The United States should stand behind 
its citizens and undertake measures immediately to ensure that Korean-
American families have a chance to see one another.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. I too rise in strong support of this resolution. I would first 
like to commend the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Becerra), the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), as 
well as our Chair and ranking member for allowing it to move 
expeditiously to the House floor.
  In June of last year, history was made on the Korean peninsula, 50 
years after the outbreak of hostility as the leaders of North and South 
Korea,

[[Page 23035]]

President Kim Dae Jung and North Korean Leader Kim Jung Il, had an 
unprecedented meeting in North Korea's capital. This historic meeting 
was the start of a series of official discussions between the North and 
the South designed to deal with the pressing political, economic, and 
humanitarian issues which separate them. Obviously, these discussions 
have proven difficult; and unfortunately there are no easy answers to 
permanently reducing North-South tensions. It may take years for the 
negotiations to resolve this range of issues separating North and 
South; but we are seeing tangible progress on one critical front, 
family reunification.
  As has been referenced, millions of Koreans were separated from 
family members at the cessation of the armed conflict in the Korean War 
with millions finding themselves on opposite sides of the DMZ. That 
surreal area of the world continues. I personally will never forget the 
stark landscape on my first visit. It might as well have been on the 
other side of the Moon in terms of the sort of eerie nature, the 
clearing of the grounds, the fortifications that take place. For over 
50 years, the DMZ has served as a symbol of this barrier that has 
divided not just the governments, not just the leaders, but of the 
families.
  Now we have had three rounds of family visits. And while 600 does not 
seem like much, it truly represents a tremendous opportunity to produce 
a sea change between the two. But now my colleagues have brought 
forward a resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the 
scope of these family reunification visits should be expanded to 
include Korean Americans. In my community, Korean Americans form a 
vital element of our civic fabric; and I know the energy, the 
compassion that they have displayed in our community and to one another 
could go a long way. And if they were able to deal with reunification 
of their own families, I think it would be an important step toward 
normalizing relations and depressing the pressures that have been 
built. A half million Korean Americans have been unable to see their 
families for half a century in an area that is the one that is most 
likely for American troops actually to see massive armed conflict, 
notwithstanding what is going on in the Middle East.
  The United States has many issues on the agenda with North Korea, 
including missile development and proliferation, human rights, 
terrorism. Indeed, in North Korea the specter of mass starvation 
continues to haunt them. While these issues remain at the core of our 
agenda with North Korea, I firmly believe that passage of this 
resolution can help advance family reunification and can help tip the 
balance in ways that put a human face on this tragic situation.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Kirk).
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Royce) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) for this 
resolution. In June of 1950, when the 38th parallel became a dividing 
line between North and South Korea, it dramatically divided the country 
and symbolized the polarity in the Cold War. Millions of Koreans lost 
communication with their families and loved ones living across the 
border.
  Fifty years later, in June of last year, South Korean President Kim 
Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il made a promise to bring 
together the divided families of North and South Korea. After 50 years 
of political strife and social unrest, families are finally crossing 
the 38th parallel once again, reuniting with loved ones that were once 
lost to each other during the Cold War. While we should encourage this 
reunification between North and South Korean families, there is one set 
of families that have been left out, 500,000 Korean Americans who have 
been separated from their families.
  Last year's summit was just the beginning of efforts to bring these 
two nations together. Not only are families reuniting across the border 
but economic ties are being strengthened; and there are positive 
efforts under way, including a cross-border railway and construction of 
a North Korean industrial park for businesses from the South. We must 
now make every effort to ensure that Korean Americans are part of this 
reconciliation.
  As a congressional staff member, I traveled to North Korea twice and 
witnessed firsthand the starvation and lack of medical supplies and 
care. For over 50 years, citizens in North Korea have endured countless 
hardships at the cost of their government. As cooperation begins to 
start between North and South Korea, we must take action to ensure that 
citizens from our own country with relatives in North Korea benefit as 
well. The Illinois Ethnic Coalition estimates that 40,000 Korean 
Americans live in Chicago and another 60,000 live in Chicago suburbs. 
Too many citizens in my district are waiting to hear from loved ones in 
North Korea.
  In September, the Korean-American Coalition of the Midwest collected 
20,000 signatures in a petition calling for the U.S. Government to 
raise the issue of family reunification with officials of the North 
Korean Government. I recently joined this coalition in a meeting with 
Secretary of State Colin Powell to encourage the reunification of North 
Korean families with their Korean-American relatives. I want to 
directly thank Secretary Powell for receiving us and agreeing to put 
the issue of reunification of North Koreans with their Korean-American 
families on the dialogue between the United States and the DPRK.
  I strongly support this resolution as an important step in promoting 
the reunification of Americans of Korean ancestry with their families 
in North Korea. In the end, I hope Korean Americans like Cha Hee 
Stanfield will be able to see her relatives and say hello to her Korean 
relatives.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he 
may consume to the gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra).
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. 
Blumenauer) for his support and for his management of this time and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Royce), a good friend and someone who 
has been a champion of not just these issues but other issues of 
international affairs. I want to thank him for his efforts. We have had 
an opportunity, as he mentioned, in the past to work on issues that are 
important to Korean Americans, but important to relations between the 
Koreas as they make efforts to try to reunify the two countries. I wish 
to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for all of his 
efforts and certainly for the support and his cosponsorship of this 
particular resolution.
  If I may also thank the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) and the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Gephardt) for helping us expedite the 
hearing of this particular concurrent resolution on the floor today. I 
want to make sure I do acknowledge their efforts to bring this before 
us quickly.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 77 is a resolution that I authored in 
conjunction with the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) for the 
express purpose of expressing our country and our government's firm 
support for family reunification opportunities between Americans of 
Korean descent and their North Korean relatives. Being separated from 
family at some point in our lives is something that we can all identify 
with. It is universal and we have gotten accustomed to it with all the 
travel that we do and separation that goes on between families. That 
separation is what makes holidays like Thanksgiving, which we just 
celebrated, a very special time. These are occasions when families 
gather to give thanks for their blessings. But unfortunately for many 
Americans, especially Americans of Korean descent, this separation from 
family has not been temporary, but prolonged and painful at times.
  Nearly one-third of the more than 1 million people of Korean ancestry 
who

[[Page 23036]]

live in the United States have relatives, mothers, brothers, 
grandmothers, uncles, many of whom they have not seen in more than half 
a century. Nongovernmental travel and communication between Korean 
Americans in the U.S. and family members in North Korea is difficult if 
not impossible. The year 2000 was historic because it was the year that 
marked the first-ever summit conference between South Korean President 
Kim Dae Jung and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Il in North Korea. Both 
leaders agreed to resolve humanitarian issues, such issues as exchange 
visas for families that have been separated for decades.
  As of the third reunion, as we have heard, there have been three 
reunions to date of family members, the fate and addresses of more than 
6,000 members of separated families have been confirmed and more than 
3,400 families from South Korea have had an opportunity to reunite with 
relatives in North Korea. The three family reunions have taken place 
only between South and North Korea, unfortunately; and these reunions 
have been closed to date to Korean Americans in the United States. 
According to discussions with Korean officials, it is right now 
unfortunately the policy of trying to help the families from South 
Korea unite with North Korean family members probably more than 
anything else because there is such limited time and space available 
for families to reunite, and there are so many families who are hoping 
to have that opportunity in the future.
  But time is of the essence. We have seen more than 50 years go by 
since those separations first occurred; and for many family members who 
reside here in the United States, they now know of family members in 
North Korea who are in their seventies and in their eighties and in 
many cases they are not even aware of what the status and the fate of 
their family members in North Korea may be at this time.
  In the district I represent in Los Angeles, we have a very vibrant 
Korean-American community. I happen to be the Representative who has 
within his congressional district most of what is considered Korea Town 
in Los Angeles. I am committed to making family unification a reality 
for my constituents and for the people of Korean ancestry who are 
Americans here. The Korean-American Family Reunion Council has been 
working tirelessly to collect signatures, more than 100,000 signatures 
to date, which urge the President of the United States and the Congress 
to urge the two Koreas to allow Korean Americans to participate in 
these family unification opportunities and to visit their loved ones.

                              {time}  1700

  I have heard many personal stories from Korean Americans who have not 
seen their family in decades. In that opportunity that the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Royce), I and other of my colleagues had in an 
interparliamentary session in South Korea to meet with our South Korean 
counterparts, we had an opportunity to hear from them on this 
resolution, on this particular provision, and they indicated their 
support in having the United States advocate to have Korean Americans 
participate in those family unification efforts. But, despite those 
efforts, right now we currently see that there have been stops and 
starts in the inter-Korean talks that have been taking place, but we 
must still support these efforts.
  Especially in these times of uncertainty in the world, it is vital 
that Congress support efforts to strengthen family bonds and build 
civic ties. Certainly since September 11, the community of nations has 
worked earnestly to bring the people of the world closer together, to 
break down barriers, and to help peoples live in peace as brethren.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank those individuals, the chairman of 
the committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the gentleman 
from Iowa (Mr. Leach); the ranking members, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Lantos), the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. 
Faleomavaega); the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce); as I said 
before, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), all of those that 
made it possible to have the resolution before us.
  I would be remiss if I did not mention the individuals who made this 
resolution possible, individuals like Hyepin Im of the Korean American 
Family Reunification Council; Mr. Sue Hee Kang of the Advisory Council 
on the Peaceful and Democratic Unification of Korea; Mr. Ki Whan Ha of 
the Korean American Federation of Los Angeles; Mr. Mike Hong of the 
Advisory Council on the Peaceful and Democratic Unification of Korea; 
Dr. Young Seok Suh of the Korean American Family Reunion Council; and 
Mr. Chul Choi, the President of the Federation of North Korean 
Provinces.
  I would also like to add to that Reverend Tae Hwan Park, President of 
the Korean American Sharing Movement, who has been a great inspiration, 
and those who told me their personal stories of how they hope that 
before they expire they have a chance to see their relatives, and 
especially to my staff, Denise Lee, former staff member Susie Ahn, and 
certainly to the staff of the majority and minority on the Committee on 
International Relations, thank you very much for helping us bring this 
resolution to the floor of the House of Representatives.
  I hope to convey a message to the two Koreas and to the people of the 
two Koreas that we wish to work with them as they work to reunify, and 
we also hope that the Korean Americans of this country will have an 
opportunity to participate in those family reunification efforts.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Becerra) for his leadership on this resolution and for his work on 
building the relationship between South Korea and the United States on 
our interparliamentary exchange that we do between the U.S. Congress 
and the General Assembly in South Korea.
  So, again, I wanted to acknowledge his authorship of this measure, 
which I was proud to coauthor, and the focus and attention that he has 
brought to better relations between the United States and South Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega).
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of House Concurrent 
Resolution 77, I am honored to rise in support of this important 
measure which urges our government to support efforts to reunite Korean 
Americans with their families in North Korea.
  As a member of the Asia-Pacific Congressional Caucus, it is most 
appropriate that we deliberate and pass this legislation in honor of 
our Korean American community throughout the United States. I 
especially want to commend the authors of this legislation, both the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Royce), who were instrumental in this measure's 
introduction. The gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Becerra) are respectively the chairman 
and vice chairman of the U.S. Republic of Korea Interparliamentary 
Exchange and they have done, in my personal opinion, an excellent job 
in furthering relations between our two nations.
  I would also like to commend the chairman and ranking Democrat of the 
Committee on International Relations, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Hyde) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), for their 
leadership and support in moving this measure on the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, as many of you know, our relations with North Korea are 
crucial as the Korean Peninsula has long been one of the most dangerous 
flashpoints in the world. The United States currently has over 37,000 
military personnel stationed in South Korea, with many of them 
patrolling the demilitarized zone.
  As one who served in the military in Vietnam, Mr. Speaker, I can 
never forget the presence of thousands of South

[[Page 23037]]

Korean soldiers who fought side by side with us. I might submit that, 
in time of crisis, we know who our real friends are. I want to say to 
the leaders and the people of South Korea, for supporting us during the 
Vietnam War, I say, Kham-Samieda.
  Mr. Speaker, since the Korean War, millions of Koreans have had their 
families separated and torn asunder with the division of North Korea 
and South Korea. After almost some 50 years, the tragedy of family 
separation continues, impacting more than 500,000 Korean Americans who 
have been denied contact with their loved ones in North Korea.
  At a time when the administration has reviewed its policy to urge 
North Korea to improve implementation of the agreed framework on 
nuclear activities, verify constraints on North Korea's missile program 
and exports, and to adopt a less-threatening conventional military 
posture, we should also follow up South Korea President Kim's sunshine 
policy.
  Last year's historic summit meeting and joint declarations between 
the leaders of South Korea and North Korea, in my opinion, has already 
borne fruit, resulting in limited reunions between long-separated 
Korean family members.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to build on this progress, and we can only do so 
by adoption of this measure. Establishing ties and reuniting Americans 
of Korean ancestry with their relatives in North Korea addresses a 
humanitarian goal and, more importantly, could play a meaningful role 
in helping to open up North Korea while reducing tensions in the Korean 
peninsula.
  Again, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for H. Con. Res. 
77, a resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 
efforts of people of the United States of Korean ancestry to reunite 
with their family members in North Korea.
  Koreans and Korean Americans from all walks of life have suffered for 
more than 50 years from the pain of forced separation of their 
families. People have grown old and died without ever being in touch 
with their loved ones since the end of the war. Nobody benefits from 
such an inhumane situation.
  While a few hundred staged reunions which have taken place there 
should be no undue restrictions imposed on the hundreds of thousands of 
people who want to spend time with their families. The Korean war is 
long over and we now need to get beyond the past. The best way to do 
this is by permitting people to cross the border and to end this 
regretable piece of history.
  Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 77.
  Ms. WATSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. 
Con. Res. 77.
  I would like to commend my colleague and fellow California delegation 
member Mr. Becerra for his insight and hard work on this issue, as well 
as the chairman of the International Relations Committee, Mr. Hyde, and 
its ranking member, Mr. Lantos.
  Mr. Speaker I rise today to champion an American ideal, and an ideal 
revered throughout the world: the family. The family is the bedrock of 
America, and the foundation of our society. It is a fitting time to 
discuss H. Con. Res. 77 right now, in the midst of our holiday season, 
in the middle of time we value with our families.
  War can have a terrible impact on civilians. Not only are family 
members killed, totally removed from society, but the very fabric of 
society can be torn, as we witnessed in the Korean War. After the DMZ 
was established, and the dust settled, millions of Koreans found 
themselves separated from their husbands, wives, children, parents, and 
extended family members.
  For over 50 years, separated Korean family members have had limited 
information about their loved ones. June of 2000 was a historical 
moment for the world. The leaders of North and South Korea held a 
meeting in North Korea's capital. The leaders have started down the 
path to resolving the humanitarian, political, and economic issues that 
separate them. I commend the Korean officials who understand that 
family reunification is essential to the political reunification of 
Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, I recall the Opening Ceremonies of the Sydney, Australia 
Olympic Games in September 2000, which I attended, and the excitement 
of the 100,000 spectators who all stood and cheered as North and South 
Korean athletes emerged from the tunnel under one flag. I will never 
forget the overwhelming emotional response of the stadium fans to this 
symbolic display of unity.
  Mr. Speaker, according to the 2000 census, approximately 1/10th of 
the 1.1 million Koreans in the United States reside in, or very near 
to, my congressional district. The resolution before the House today 
expresses the sense of Congress that the scope of Korean family 
reunification visits, of which there have been three so far, should be 
expanded to include Korean-American families.
  H. Con. Res. 77 expresses the value Americans place on the family 
unit. This resolution is positive for America, for American-Korean 
relations, and as a message for the world.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 77, the Korean 
American Family Reunification Resolution, introduced by my colleague, 
Congressman Xavier Becerra.
  In the aftermath of the Korean War, the division of the Koreas at the 
38th parallel separated millions of Koreans from their families, 
tearing at the heart of every mother, father, daughter, and son. As an 
immigrant, I know what it is like to be separated from my family. In 
March of 1961, John F. Kennedy signed an Executive Order that made it 
possible for people to come to this country from Asia, as they have 
from Europe. In October of 1961, after living apart for six years, my 
family was reunited in America.
  My heart goes out to the many Americans of Korean ancestry who have 
been separated from loved ones for over fifty years. I understand the 
pain of being separated from family, which is why I support 
reunification efforts.
  Since the historic summit last year between South Korean President 
Kim Dae Jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong II, several reunions have 
taken place between divided Korean families and more anxiously await a 
chance to meet with relatives. However, the hope for reunification 
remains distant for Korean Americans here in this country that have not 
yet been involved with the selection process for family reunions.
  H. Con. Res. 77 calls on Congress and the President to support the 
efforts of Korean Americans who wish to reunite with their family 
members in North Korea. I urge my colleagues to join in support of this 
resolution to unite family members torn apart by the tragedy of war. 
Furthermore, I would like to extend my appreciation to Mr. Becerra for 
introducing this legislation.
  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support H. Con. 
Res. 77, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress 
regarding the efforts of people of the United States of Korean ancestry 
to reunite with their family members in North Korea.
  The year 2000 marked the 50th Anniversary of the Korean War. While 
the July 27, 1953 armistice officially ended the War, the division of 
the Koreas at the 38th parallel separated millions of Koreans from 
their families, tearing at the hearts of every mother, father, 
daughter, and son. Today, half a million people in the United States of 
Korean ancestry bear the pain of being separated from their families in 
North Korea.
  Another historic occasion for the two Koreas occurred in the year 
2000. On June 13th and June 14th, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung 
met with North Korean leader Kim Jong II in the first ever summit held 
between the leaders of North and South Korea. In a joint declaration, 
the two leaders made a historic promise to promote economic cooperation 
and to hold reunions of divided Korean families. I am pleased to share 
with Members that three of these reunions have taken place thus far. It 
is vital that we continue to support the familial ties that bind the 
two Koreas.
  Mr. Speaker, I am concerned that Korean Americans here in the United 
States have not had the opportunity to participate in these family 
reunifications. Because of the geographical distance, many Korean 
Americans are not involved with the selection process for the family 
reunions. This is why H. Con. Res. 77 is important to Korean Americans 
in my district, and across the United States.
  Virginia's Eleventh Congressional District is home to one of the 
largest Korean-American constituencies. Korean Americans in my district 
still have personal ties to their former homeland. Some have not seen 
nor heard from their family members in North Korea for more than fifty 
years. Almost three generations have grown up unable to communicate 
with their own family members. We must make every effort to persuade 
the two Koreas that Korean Americans should be permitted to participate 
in the selection for the family reunifications and that these efforts 
should be timely, as older Koreans are dying as they await their turns 
in this process.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this humanitarian 
resolution.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this 
resolution expressing the Sense of Congress that the President

[[Page 23038]]

should support the efforts of U.S. citizens of Korean ancestry to 
reunite with their families in North Korea.
  Mr. Speaker, in June of 2000 North and South Korean leaders signed an 
historic agreement that was to facilitate the reunion of Korean 
families through Red Cross registration offices. An estimated 1.2 
million North Korean refugees are currently living in South Korea, and 
over 500,000 Korean-Americans have been separated from their families 
in North Korea.
  The reunions that have resulted from this agreement have been short, 
and therefore bittersweet. However, these reunions between North and 
South Koreans have not included Korean Americans who also feel the pain 
of separation from their families.
  As the healing process between these two nations continues, I believe 
the United States must do more to ensure that our citizens have the 
opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones. In fact, this 
resolution should be the beginning of a conversation between the U.S. 
and North Korea on behalf of these families, with the goal being the 
fair and even representation of their interests during government level 
meetings on Korean Family reunification.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe it is the Sense of Congress that the U.S. 
values peace in the global community, and we must continue to recognize 
the sanctity of the family as the central unit of human socialization.
  Mr. Speaker, 50 years is too long to have gone without seeing your 
brother or sister. Many mothers and fathers from families torn apart by 
war along the 38th parallel have passed on without final visits from 
their children. We must therefore pursue the goal of family unification 
for Korean Americans with alacrity, for soon it will be too late for 
many families to share the words ``I love you.''
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whitfield). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. Royce) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. 
Res. 77.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. ROYCE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________