• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

September 3, 1997 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE H6763 There are people of good will on both tleman from Florida [Mr. GOSS] is rec- regular and more verifiable means of sides of the Florida strait. Let us foster ognized for 5 minutes. food aid distribution to ease the imme- friendship, foster free market, foster Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased diate crisis. I pointed out, and the oth- trust in individual freedom, and I think to report to my colleagues in the House ers did, that Americans are a compas- a first step to doing so is to repeal the on a precedent-setting House CODEL sionate people willing to respond to Helms-Burton Act; and at least, if we visit to North Korea last month during human suffering in remote regions of cannot do that, to allow the free trade our recess. the world. We have already provided in medicines and food. b 1900 about 60 million dollars' worth of aid, f that adds up to about 100,000 metric I was honored to lead a bipartisan tons of food, in relief of starving people TRIBUTE TO ARTENSA RANDOLPH delegation of seven members of the in North Korea. Hopefully, it is going The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a House Permanent Select Committee on to people starving and not the mili- previous order of the House, the gen- Intelligence in traveling on oversight tary. But we were disappointed that business to Asia. Our trip happened to tleman from Illinois [Mr. DAVIS] is rec- during our visit we were not taken to ognized for 5 minutes. include 3 days and 2 nights in North see the food distribution centers, nor Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I Korea, and I will include for the did we have access to the regions of the rise today to pay tribute to a national RECORD the formal written statement nation where food shortages are most leader in the public housing movement, of our delegation released about that severe. the late Artensa Randolph. Ms. Ran- portion of our trip. However, we understand that our Mr. Speaker, the simple fact that the dolph departed this life Tuesday, Au- visit helped pave the way for a staff North Korean leadership welcomed a gust 19, at the age of 81. She chaired delegation from another committee to delegation of the size, seniority, and the Chicago Housing Authority's Resi- have greater access while in North breadth of our seven-member group is Korea. In the longer term, an increas- dent Central Advisory Committee, and very telling and somewhat remarkable, served as a member of the Chicago ing presence of outsiders going about in my view. Crises is forcing the reclu- their business on behalf of nongovern- Housing Authority's Executive Advi- sive and anachronistic North Korean sory Committee. mental relief organizations, the Korean regime to reach out to the United Peninsula Energy Development Organi- She was truly a staunch advocate for States for assistance and pull back the rights of tenants of public housing. zation, Congress, and other organiza- slightly on the veil of secrecy that has tions that have legitimate business She possessed an enormous amount of shrouded that nation for decades. there, should help force open the door courage, energy, and tenacity to advo- Even though our trip was obviously between North Korea and the outside cate on behalf of the disenfranchised carefully managed by our hosts, we saw world. and the dispossessed. She was guided the signals of collapse during our visit. Mr. Speaker, the signals are abun- by the principles of justice and fairness People really are starving; the infra- dantly clear: The North Korean regime for all people. She was indeed a re- structure is crumbling; power short- is dying. We must do our part to pre- markable person who gave her very ages are routine; proregime propaganda vent that process from undermining best at whatever she did. Her work is rampant; and the leadership, while the security of the peninsula and reached well beyond Chicago, for she refusing to concede failure, is tighten- threatening America's vital interests influenced public housing policies and ing control and grasping for leverage. in the region. Americans do have sev- decisions on a national level. After spending 48 hours in that iso- eral good reasons for being interested Ms. Randolph moved to Chicago from lated country, I felt as if I had been in in the future relations with the North Pine Bluff, AR, in 1937, and worked in a time warp, witnessing a life totally Korean regime. Not just the humani- the stockyards. During the 1960's she foreign to the American experience tarian concerns and seeking to prevent became involved in the tenants' rights today, perhaps something back in the the starvation of literally millions of movement, and was elected president cold war days behind the Iron Curtain. people, but, second, our interests are of the Washington Park Homes Local We repeatedly drove home the point very much at stake when we consider Advisory Council in 1976. Her life par- that food aid distribution must be veri- something on the order of 200,000 Amer- alleled the rise of public housing, and fiable so that we can be sure it reaches icans and Korean-Americans are living in many ways she was the catalyst for the people who are most in need. And and going about their business in bringing about positive change in the we were asked repeatedly about aid. We South Korea within close range of the way tenants are treated. She brought a expressed hope that cooperation on the world's fourth largest army, with its tremendous amount of knowledge, issue of MIA's would remain coming massed artillery on the DMZ. And, we perseverence, and dedication regarding from the North Koreans and they have have very serious concerns about North public housing issues. given us some cooperation. These are Korea's activities in proliferating While Artensa Randolph has left this very positive signs. weapons of mass destruction to rogue place, her spirit as a fighter for justice, But in response, the North Korean of- nations and, in fact, that has been hap- fairness, and equality for all tenants of ficials stated that the United States pening. public housing shall endure forever. sanctions against them must be lifted To the extent that our visit marked a She has left a legacy that will speak to and additional unconditional food as- milestone in the United States-North the unmet challenges still confronting sistance, and I stress the word ``uncon- Korea relationship, I hope that the public housing and its residents. We ditional,'' must be provided. elite band of leaders in the North will must never forget the cause which she The North Koreans did not acknowl- not allow current events to foreclose championed, that of the poor. We must edge the need for internal economic, the opportunity now at hand. I believe always stand ready to be a voice for agricultural, or political reform, focus- that the veil is lifting there, and I am the voiceless, and continue to make ing instead on external factors as the certain to believe that a negotiated public housing the best that it can pos- root of the causes of their current dif- settlement bringing North Korea into sibly be. ficulties. While they were cordial in this century certainly is better than Anyone who continues to work at the their hospitality, and they did give us any of the other alternatives using the age of 81 as chairman of a large organi- fine hospitality, these senior officials military. zation, who helps to make policy for were obviously mistrustful of the Unit- Mr. Speaker, I submit the following people all over the Nation, is indeed a ed States. They also forcefully under- for the RECORD: champion. That was the life and that is scored their position that they would JOINT STATEMENT OF THE HOUSE PERMANENT indeed the legacy of Artensa Randolph. not negotiate with South Korea as long SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCEÐCON- GRESSIONAL DELEGATION VISIT TO THE as the South's President, Kim Young f DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF Sam, remains in office. He is scheduled KOREAÐAUGUST 12, 1997 REPORT ON CODEL TO NORTH to remain in office until the end of this KOREA From August 9 through August 11, a bipar- year. tisan, seven-member Congressional Delega- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a In the short term, we should be prin- tion (CODEL) from the House Permanent Se- previous order of the House, the gen- cipally concerned with establishing a lect Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) was H6764 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Ð HOUSE September 3, 1997 in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic people most in need. The delegation stressed and not just as the fruition of our laws of Korea (North Korea) to meet with North that sanctions must be negotiated as part of under title IX, and we have got to keep Korean officials and gather first-hand infor- a larger political package involving pro- fighting to ensure that young people, mation about the current situation in that liferation and other security matters. The delegation will provide President Clin- young women, have the opportunity of volatile region. This was a precedent-setting equal access to sports and sportsman- visit to North Korea by a Congressional dele- ton, Speaker Gingrich, Minority Leader Gep- gation of this size, seniority, and breadth of hardt, and the Department of State with a ship and playing the game well. experience. full report of the substance of its discussions Saturday, August 30, was an historic The delegation was led by HPSCI Chair- and its impressions.

Load more

  2

Copy Link