*EPF107 03/26/01
Text: Resolution Backs Family Re-unification for Korean Americans
(House Concurrent Resolution 77 introduced March 22) (750)
While efforts to allow Korean families split by the Korean War to re-unite have garnered world attention following the meeting of South Korea's President Kim Dae-Jung and North Korea's Kim Jong Il, two U.S. lawmakers are seeking to advance the case of Korean-Americans who have been separated from relatives living in North Korea.
Representative Xavier Becerra (Democrat of California) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 77 (H. Con. Res. 77) March 22 to the House of Representatives.
Becerra, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus who has championed various causes of Asian-Americans, was joined by Representative Edward Royce (Republican of California), a member of the House International Relations subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific and chairman of the subcommittee on Africa.
The proposed resolution calls on both the Congress and the President to support efforts "to reunite people of the United States of Korean ancestry with their families in North Korea."
H. Con. Res. 77 urges that such efforts be timely, noting that 50 years have passed since the families were separated by the Korean War.
The resolution says 500,000 people in the United States of Korean ancestry "bear the pain of being separated from their families in North Korea."
A petition drive is taking place in the United States, urging the United States to assist in these efforts of family reunification, the resolution says.
The measure was referred to the House International Relations Committee.
Following is the text of House Concurrent Resolution 77 from the Congressional Record:
(begin text)
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. (Introduced in the House)
HCON 77 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 77
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.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 22, 2001
Mr. BECERRA (for himself and Mr. ROYCE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
CONCURRENT 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.
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.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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