E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JULY 17, 2017 No. 120 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was Liu’s passing last week in Chinese In 2000, I coauthored the legislation called to order by the Speaker pro tem- custody marked a tragic end to over a that created the China commission to pore (Mr. TAYLOR). decade of persecution by the Chinese help advance and monitor human f authorities who relentlessly mistreated rights abuses in China. The commis- him as he gradually became a symbol sion continues to do important work DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO of the pro-democracy movement and continues today by shining a spot- TEMPORE around the globe. light on many issues such as abuses in The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- In 2010, the Nobel Peace Committee labor, environment, and freedom of fore the House the following commu- awarded him the Peace Prize for his speech and association. thoughtful advocacy for reform and for nication from the Speaker: While he was the most prominent his courageous support of the pro-de- WASHINGTON, DC, voice in China against its repression of mocracy document Charter 08. July 17, 2017. human rights and democratic values, I hereby appoint the Honorable SCOTT TAY- A year prior to the Nobel Peace Prize Liu was not as well known in his life as LOR to act as Speaker pro tempore on this being awarded to Liu, in 2009, Chinese day. authorities tried him for subversion of another brave voice, Andrei Sakharov. PAUL D. RYAN, state power, for which he received an His voice and action occurred during Speaker of the House of Representatives. 11-year sentence. Given his rising stat- the Cold War, where there was a full f ure in the international community, press against the Soviet Union, includ- ing its suppression of freedom. He sup- MORNING-HOUR DEBATE they imprisoned him in secret loca- tions away from family, supporters, or ported numerous efforts for freedom, The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- international media. They kept him including those of another noble war- ant to the order of the House of Janu- from receiving the Peace Prize and put rior for freedom, Natan Sharansky. ary 3, 2017, the Chair will now recog- pressure on the committee to rescind Like Sakharov, Liu was awarded the nize Members from lists submitted by the award, in addition to doing every- Nobel Peace Prize, but both were kept the majority and minority leaders for thing they could to prevent Liu’s sup- in virtual imprisonment and not al- morning-hour debate. porters from attending the ceremony lowed to go to Stockholm. The Chair will alternate recognition in Norway. Liu’s battles for freedom occurred between the parties. All time shall be They routinely censored and con- when China’s economic and political equally allocated between the parties, tinue to censor the internet for ref- power were rising. The United States and in no event shall debate continue erences to Liu and other pro-democ- and other nations were wrestling with beyond 1:50 p.m. Each Member, other racy advocates and ideas. how to adapt, and relations with China than the majority and minority leaders China was so afraid of the power of have been increasingly infused with and the minority whip, shall be limited his words and the bravery of his ac- concerns about security, including the to 5 minutes. tions that while Liu was suffering from nuclearization of North Korea. So f severe illness, Chinese authorities there has been a tendency for concerns MOURNING THE PASSING OF adopted the ultimate cruelty of not let- in other nations about human rights ting him leave China for medical help NOBEL PEACE PRIZE LAUREATE, and freedom in China to take a back that experts said might save his life. LIU XIAOBO seat. For China, the supreme goal was his si- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The lence. This is a major change from the days of Chair recognizes the gentleman from The more we care about human Tiananmen Square, and events elsewhere Michigan (Mr. LEVIN) for 5 minutes. rights and freedom, the more we must then in China. My son, Andy Levin was in Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today now mark his death and remember him Chengdu during demonstrations there for free- to mourn the passing of the Chinese not by being silent ourselves. dom and he managed amidst all the dan- human rights advocate and Nobel Prize I first came to know about Liu’s gerous turbulence to cable a vivid article about Laureate, Liu Xiaobo, who died last work a few years after the Congres- the struggle for freedom there to the Detroit Thursday in China, under guard. sional-Executive Commission on China News. The world has lost an incomparably was created as part of the debate over Chinese authorities have also relentlessly courageous advocate who was dedi- China’s ascension to the World Trade harassed his widow, Liu Xia (Lew Tsia), by cated to advancing human rights and Organization and concerns from Mem- keeping her in isolation, under house arrest for the rule of law, and paid for them with bers of Congress over China’s human weeks at a time, and monitoring her every his own freedom and life. rights record. move. For as long as she remains there, the

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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