[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 13706-13707]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 167--A BILL COMMENDING THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SACRIFICED 
    THEIR PERSONAL FREEDOMS TO BRING ABOUT DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IN THE 
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND EXPRESSING SYMPATHY FOR THE FAMILIES OF 
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED, WOUNDED, OR IMPRISONED, ON THE OCCASION OF 
THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TIANANMEN SQUARE MASSACRE IN BEIJING, CHINA 
                      FROM JUNE 3 THROUGH 4, 1989

  Mr. INHOFE (for himself, Mr. Brown, Mr. Graham, Mr. Kyl, Mr. 
Menendez, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Coburn, and Mr. Webb) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 167

       Whereas freedom of expression, assembly, association, and 
     religion are fundamental rights that all people should be 
     able to possess and enjoy;
       Whereas, in April 1989, in a demonstration of democratic 
     progress, thousands of students took part in peaceful 
     protests against the communist government of the People's 
     Republic of China in the capital city of Beijing;
       Whereas, throughout the month of May 1989, the students, in 
     peaceful demonstrations, drew more people, young and old and 
     from all walks of life, into central Beijing to demand better 
     democracy, basic freedoms of speech and assembly, and an end 
     to corruption;
       Whereas, from June 3 through 4, 1989, the Government of 
     China ordered an estimated 300,000 members of the People's 
     Liberation Army to enter Beijing and clear Tiananmen Square 
     (located in central Beijing) by lethal force;
       Whereas, by June 7, 1989, the Red Cross of China reported 
     that the People's Liberation

[[Page 13707]]

     Army had killed more than 300 people in Beijing, although 
     foreign journalists who witnessed the events estimate that 
     thousands of people were killed and thousands more wounded;
       Whereas more than 20,000 people in China were arrested and 
     detained without trial, due to their suspected involvement in 
     the protests at Tiananmen Square;
       Whereas, according to the Department of State, the 
     Government of China has worked to censor information about 
     the massacre at Tiananmen Square by blocking Internet sites 
     and other media outlets, along with other sensitive 
     information that would be damaging to the Government of 
     China;
       Whereas the Government of China has continued to oppress 
     the people of China by denying basic human rights, such as 
     freedom of speech and religion, and suppressing minority 
     groups;
       Whereas, during the 2008 Olympic Games, the Government of 
     China promised to provide the international media covering 
     the Olympic Games with the same access given the media at all 
     the other Olympic Games, but denied access to certain 
     internet sites and media outlets in attempts to censor free 
     speech;
       Whereas the Department of State Human Rights Report for 
     2008 found that the Government of China had increased already 
     severe cultural and religious suppression of ethnic 
     minorities in Tibetan areas and the Xinjiang Uighur 
     Autonomous Region, increased the persecution of members of 
     Falun Gong, Christians from China, and other religious 
     minorities, increased the detention and harassment of 
     dissidents and journalists, and maintained tight controls on 
     freedom of speech and the Internet;
       Whereas the United States Commission on International 
     Religious Freedom in 2009 stated, ``The Chinese government 
     continues to engage in systematic and egregious violations of 
     the freedom of religion or belief, with religious activities 
     tightly controlled and some religious adherents detained, 
     imprisoned, fined, beaten, and harassed.''; and
       Whereas the China Aid Association reported that in 2007, 
     there were 693 cases in which Christians from China were 
     detained or arrested and 788 cases in which Christian house 
     church groups were persecuted by the Government of China: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the people who have sacrificed their personal 
     freedoms and, in the case of the people who demonstrated at 
     Tiananmen Square in 1989, sacrificed their lives and freedom 
     to--
       (A) bring about democratic change in the People's Republic 
     of China; and
       (B) gain freedom of expression, assembly, association, and 
     religion for the people of China;
       (2) expresses its sympathy for the families of the people 
     who were killed, wounded, or imprisoned due to their 
     involvement in the peaceful protests in Tiananmen Square in 
     Beijing, China from June 3 through 4, 1989;
       (3) condemns the ongoing human rights abuses by the 
     Government of China;
       (4) calls on the Government of China to--
       (A) release all prisoners that are--
       (i) still in captivity as a result of their involvement in 
     the events from June 3 through 4, 1989, at Tiananmen Square; 
     and
       (ii) imprisoned without cause;
       (B) allow freedom of speech and access to information, 
     especially information regarding the events at Tiananmen 
     Square in 1989; and
       (C) cease all harassment, intimidation, and imprisonment 
     of--
       (i) members of religious and minority groups; and
       (ii) people who disagree with policies of the Government of 
     China;
       (5) supports efforts by free speech activists in China and 
     elsewhere who are working to overcome censorship (including 
     censorship of the Internet) and the chilling effect of 
     censorship; and
       (6) urges the President to support peaceful advocates of 
     free speech around the world.

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a true 
American hero, Army Sergeant Schuyler Patch of Owasso, OK, who died on 
February 24, 2009 serving our Nation in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Schuyler 
was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment, 33rd Infantry 
Brigade Combat Team, in the Illinois National Guard, based out of 
Kewanee, IL.
  Schuyler enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in March 2005, and 
volunteered to deploy in 2006 to Afghanistan. In November 2007, he 
transferred to the Illinois Army National Guard and volunteered a 
second time to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring 
Freedom. He was killed alongside four of his fellow Soldiers, when 
their vehicle was hit by an IED while on a joint patrol with the Afghan 
National Security Forces. Schuyler leaves behind his father John Patch 
of Illinois and mother Colleen Stevens of Owasso, Oklahoma. He also 
leaves behind a sister, Amber Patch and two brothers, Garrett and Seth 
Patch.
  Schuyler was a selfless and courageous Soldier committed to this 
country and its freedom. His mother, Colleen, said that he died doing 
what he loved to do; making a difference in the world. She also 
expressed his love and care for the Afghan children while he was in 
Afghanistan. Schuyler's sister, Amber said, ``He loved everything about 
the Army and he believed in everything he was doing over there.'' His 
aunt, Julie Morland said, ``We are all very proud of him for even going 
over the first time and then volunteering to go over. It takes a 
special person to even join the Guard in the first place. To go there 
and fight as a volunteer, it takes a special person.''
  On Schuyler's online Guest Book, I read through some of the things 
said about his life and character.
  Schuyler's cousin wrote, ``Schuyler was not only brave, he was caring 
and never afraid to show his love for family and friends. A hello was 
never complete until he gave those he loved a hug . . . the world will 
be a sadder place without this fun loving, vibrant, kind, generous 
young man who always made me smile.''
  Another friend wrote, ``He was a great guy and no one that ever knew 
him will ever forget him. He is sadly missed and that smile of his will 
never be forgotten.'' Schuyler's mom Colleen also talked about his 
incredibly warm smile that will be forever in her mind.
  A fellow soldier wrote, ``I was proud to have served with [Patch] in 
Afghanistan in 2006-2007. He was a good guy and liked to make the best 
of the situation.''
  A friend wrote, ``We will all miss him and we all love him very much. 
He was the kind of guy who could cheer you up on your worst day and the 
most outgoing person I'll ever know. Thank you Schuyler for all the 
great memories we had and thank you so much for serving to protect all 
of us. I love you.''
  Captain Jon Prain, a National Guard chaplain who spoke at his 
funeral, summed up Schuyler's life well when he said, ``He heard 
freedom's call. He paid freedom's price, so that we all might enjoy the 
benefits of freedom . . . He was, and always shall be, an American 
soldier.''
  Schuyler lived a life of love for his family, friends, and country. 
He will be remembered by many for his contagious smile and warm, 
affectionate personality. I am honored to pay tribute to this true 
American hero who volunteered to go into the fight and gave the 
ultimate sacrifice by giving up his life for our freedom.

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