June 12, 2006 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H3729 rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3967, as persecution of the peaceful spiritual move- Mr. Speaker, I believe that every one amended. ment of Falun Gong; of us remembers the events that oc- The question was taken; and (two- Whereas the Communist Government of curred in Tiananmen Square on June 3 thirds having voted in favor thereof) continues its reprehensible policies of and June 4, 1989. We may be hazy on the rules were suspended and the bill, organ harvesting of executed prisoners; maintenance of hundreds, perhaps thousands the dates, but the images are as fresh as amended, was passed. of slave labor camps; coercive sterilization today as they were then. We all re- A motion to reconsider was laid on and forced resulting in sex-selec- member the Chinese version of the the table. tive abortions, female infanticide, and traf- Statue of Liberty being erected by f ficking in persons; and forcible repatriation thousands of peaceful, well-behaved of thousands of refugees to North Korea to demonstrators, mostly students. RECOGNIZING THE 17TH ANNIVER- face persecution, imprisonment, and death in SARY OF THE MASSACRE IN violation of its international commitments; b 1430 TIANANMEN SQUARE and We remember peaceful protests in Whereas June 4, 2006, is the 17th anniver- Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. and throughout China calling Speaker, I move to suspend the rules sary of the Tiananmen Square massacre: Now, therefore, be it for the establishment of a dialogue and agree to the resolution (H. Res. Resolved, That the House of Representa- with the government and party leaders 794) recognizing the 17th anniversary of tives— on democratic reforms, including free- the massacre in Tiananmen Square, (1) expresses sympathy to the families of dom of expression, freedom of assem- Beijing, in the People’s Republic of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a bly, and respect for workers’ rights and China, and for other purposes, as result of their participation in the democ- the elimination of corruption by gov- racy protests of June 3–4, 1989, in Tiananmen amended. ernment officials. The Clerk read as follows: Square, Beijing, in the People’s Republic of China, and to all those persons who have suf- All over the Communist world, from H. RES. 794 fered for their efforts to keep that struggle Berlin to Beijing, there was a tremen- Whereas freedom of expression, assembly, alive during the past 17 years, and to all the dous outpouring of hope that year, association, and religion are fundamental people of China who lack fundamental hope that freedom and democracy human rights that belong to all people and human rights; are recognized as such under the United Na- would soon triumph. Exhausted, obso- (2) commends all peaceful advocates for de- lete, and morally bankrupt Communist tions Declaration of Human Rights and the mocracy and human rights in China; International Covenant on Civil and Polit- (3) calls upon those nations planning to regimes were turning on the people in ical Rights; participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in the last desperate effort to retain their Whereas the demonstrations in Tiananmen Beijing to insist that China comply with the control and the enormous privileges Square were the manifestation of a peaceful Declaration on Human such control gave them and to the democratic movement throughout China Rights; and party elites. calling for the establishment of a dialogue (4) condemns the ongoing and egregious Later that year, the Berlin Wall, with government and party leaders on demo- human rights abuses by the Communist Gov- cratic reforms, including freedom of expres- symbol of the physical, mental, and ernment of China and calls on that Govern- moral prisons that held over a billion sion, freedom of assembly, and the elimi- ment to— nation of corruption; (A) release all prisoners of conscience, in- people in chains, fell. We all remember Whereas on June 3–4, 1989, Chinese authori- cluding those persons still in prison as a re- the incredible joy felt throughout the ties ordered the People’s Liberation Army sult of their participation in the peaceful world when this happened. and other security forces to use lethal force pro-democracy protests of 1989 and put an Also burned for all time in our mem- to disperse demonstrators in Beijing, espe- immediate end to the harassment, detention, ory is the image of the lone protestor cially around Tiananmen Square; and imprisonment of all Chinese citizens ex- on Tiananmen Square who held up the Whereas independent observers report that ercising their legitimate freedoms of expres- tanks sent to crush the demonstrators. hundreds, perhaps thousands, were killed and sion, association, and religion; wounded in 1989 by the People’s Liberation (B) end its censorship of legitimate free Yet we also remember that the police Army soldiers and other security forces; speech on the Internet, and its persecution of grabbed that heroic figure and swept Whereas 20,000 people throughout China Internet dissidents; him away, like so many others, to an suspected of taking part in the democracy (C) end its persecution of Falun Gong; unknown fate. Those tanks, under or- movement were arrested and sentenced with- (D) end organ harvesting and ensure that ders of the Communist government of out trial to prison or reeducation through its organ donor programs proceed only on a China, then crushed under their treads labor, and many were reportedly tortured; purely voluntary and non-commercial basis; the movement for democracy in China. Whereas credible sources estimate that the (E) end its coercive one-child policy; Communist Government of China continues (F) grant the United Nations High Com- The Communist government killed, to imprison hundreds, and perhaps thou- mission on Refugees access to all refugees, tortured and imprisoned thousands for sands, of Tiananmen Square activists, such and end forcible repatriations of refugees, daring to question its illegal monopoly as United States permanent resident particularly to North Korea; on power. Hundreds, perhaps thou- Jianli, and denies such activists their basic (G) close its ‘‘re-education through labor’’ sands, are still imprisoned and per- human rights; camps, respect the rights of workers, and end secuted for exercising the rights guar- Whereas the Communist Government of police detention without trial; anteed to them by their Constitution China undertakes active measures to deny (H) release United States permanent resi- and the rules of all civilized societies. its citizens the truth about the Tiananmen dent Dr. Yang Jianli, a participant in the Square massacre, including the blocking of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, who has While millions in Europe now enjoy uncensored Internet sites and weblogs, and been illegally detained by the Communist freedom, that right is still denied to the placement of misleading information on Government of China since April 26, 2002, and Chinese people. the events of June 3–4, 1989 on Internet sites whose wife and two children are United Right after Tiananmen Square, Mr. available in China, often with the collusion States citizens; and Speaker, FRANK WOLF and I went to and cooperation of United States Internet (I) release United States permanent resi- Beijing and visited Beijing Prison No. companies such as Yahoo, Google, Microsoft, dent Dr. Wang Bingzhang, long-time peaceful 1, a prison where some 40 Tiananmen and Cisco; democracy activist, who was abducted in Square prisoners were being held. They June 2002, and illegally imprisoned for life on Whereas the Communist Government of were like modern-day Nazi concentra- China continues to suppress dissent by im- false charges of espionage and terrorism, and prisoning pro-democracy activists, lawyers, whose sister, son, and daughter are United tion camps, and these victims with journalists, labor union leaders, religious be- States citizens. their heads shaved were asking peace- lievers, members of ethnic minority rights The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- fully that the government allow some organizations, and other individuals in China ant to the rule, the gentleman from basic liberties that we all take for and Tibet who seek to express their political New Jersey (Mr. SMITH) and the gen- granted in the U.S. and in many other or religious views in a peaceful manner; nations of the world. They were hunted Whereas the Communist Government of tleman from California (Mr. LANTOS) each will control 20 minutes. down, tortured and jailed. China kidnapped long-time democracy activ- China declared war not only on the ist Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a United States per- The Chair recognizes the gentleman manent resident, and sentenced him to life from New Jersey. protestors but on history itself. The imprisonment for espionage and terrorism; Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Communist government undertakes ac- Whereas the Communist Government of Speaker, I yield myself such time as I tive measures to deny its citizens the China continues its extraordinarily brutal may consume. truth even today about what happened

VerDate Aug 31 2005 01:57 Jun 13, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K12JN7.010 H12JNPT1 ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HOUSE H3730 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 12, 2006 in Tiananmen Square. In December of China demographer that by the year Chinese student facing down a row of 1996, Mr. Speaker, here in Washington 2020 as many as 40 million men will be Chinese tanks on Tiananmen Square. at the invitation of President Bill Clin- looking for wives in China and will not This poster and this image is the indel- ton, General , the defense be able to find them as a direct result ible record of what happened at minister of the People’s Republic of of the one-child-per-couple policy. Tiananmen Square 17 years ago. China, the general who was the oper- Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Mao Hengfeng, a That day, China’s senior leaders ational commander of the soldiers who long-time activist to end this evil pol- huddled behind the walls of their com- slaughtered pro-democracy demonstra- icy, was rearrested just a few days ago pound near the Forbidden City. They tors in and around Tiananmen Square as part of a new crackdown on pro-de- had a critically important decision to in June 1989, said, ‘‘Not a single person mocracy protests related to the make, whether to reach out to the stu- lost his life in Tiananmen Square.’’ Ac- Tiananmen Square anniversary. The dents, like the one who is depicted in cording to General Chi, the Chinese Chinese Communists know, even if my poster, to the students and to the Army did nothing more violent than many Westerners still do not under- workers gathered in Tiananmen Square the ‘‘pushing of people.’’ stand it, that democracy and the right and address their concerns about party To counter that big lie, I quickly put to life are intrinsically connected. I corruption and the lack of democracy, together and chaired a hearing of eye- held a hearing a year and a half ago on or whether they would seek to quash witnesses to Tiananmen who defini- Mrs. Mao, and I continue to admire her the movement with violent and vicious tively refuted General Chi’s brazen lies, incredible courage. Today, I pray for force if necessary. but then again, what did he care? Gen- her and her family and will work again Sadly for the cause of freedom and eral Chi got the red carpet treatment for her early release. justice, and for the lives of thousands at the Clinton White House and full Two other prisoners, Madam Speak- of young Chinese citizens, the leader- military honors. I believe he should er, especially Dr. Yang Jianli and Dr. ship of China made the wrong choice. have been charged with crimes against Wang Bingzhang, deserve special rec- Instead of entering into a meaningful humanity. ognition as well today. They are both dialogue with those gathered in the Most Chinese today, Mr. Speaker, un- American permanent residents. Their square, they launched a brutal crack- fortunately have no accurate knowl- families are U.S. citizens, and they down on the democracy movement, edge of what happened in Tiananmen have for many years peacefully worked killing thousands and imprisoning Square. China blocks even today un- for freedom and democracy in the Peo- many more. censored Internet sites and Web logs ple’s Republic of China. In a country The Chinese leadership hoped that the world would soon forget the and places misleading information on with thousands of prisoners, their cases Tiananmen Square massacre. Our job Internet sites available in China, often are particularly egregious examples of in Congress is to ensure that we never with the collusion and cooperation of China’s human rights violations. This forget those who lost their lives in U.S. Internet companies such as Yahoo bill calls for their immediate release, Tiananmen Square that day or the pro- and Google. As part and parcel of its as well as the immediate release of all democracy cause for which they Tiananmen Square cover-up, the Com- prisoners of conscience. fought. munist government sentenced jour- Madam Speaker, we cannot forget While the list of ongoing human nalist Shi Tao to 10 years in prison, these people. Had the hopes of the rights violations in China is long, using information provided by Yahoo, Tiananmen Square been realized, we today I would like to focus on the Chi- for using his Yahoo e-mail account to would not need to pass such a resolu- nese Government control of the Inter- send foreigners a copy of a Chinese tion as we do today. The more than 25 net. Government memo warning of possible hearings that I have held on this sub- Despite its enormous power and trouble during the 15th anniversary of ject would not have been needed and wealth, China’s ruling elite remains ab- the Tiananmen Square massacre. many resolutions, including two more solutely petrified that the free flow of We all know that torture does not that will follow this one to make a information will undermine its polit- stop with those who demand political record three resolutions on China’s ical legitimacy, particularly among freedoms. It is appropriate on this oc- egregious human rights abuse being China’s younger generation. The rulers casion to remember and seek freedom considered on the House floor today. in Beijing reason that if an average for all prisoners of conscience, all be- Alas, all of this is necessary until Chinese person can find out the truth lievers, democrats, and human rights China agrees to observe the funda- about the Tiananmen massacre or the activists who will one day triumph in mental human rights that belong to all repression of the Falun Gong with a China, but who now suffer grievously. people and are recognized as such few key strokes on the computer, it is There is ongoing aggressive repression under the United Nations Declaration only a matter of time before the Chi- of those who want to practice their of Human Rights. We must not collabo- nese public will demand fundamental faith as they see fit. rate with the Chinese Communists to change in China. Matter of fact, it has gotten worse in erase history. We must honor the mem- So rather than face the bitter truth, the last few years. Falun Gong practi- ory of those who protested and did so China has placed severe restrictions on tioners, for example, are routinely so valiantly. the Internet and enlisted America’s rounded up and beaten and abused, and This amendment in the nature of a high-tech companies as their Internet hundreds have been tortured to death substitute that we offer today has been police. while held in captivity. Catholics loyal updated to more tightly focus on the In America’s open and democratic to the Pope and members of the Protes- denial of fundamental human rights in system, based on our constitutional tant house church movements are har- China symbolized by the Tiananmen guarantee of freedom of expression, assed, tortured and imprisoned. The Square massacre. these high-tech firms have thrived and Communist government of China sub- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- their founders have amassed enormous jects Buddhist Tibetans and Muslim ance our time. wealth, running into the billions, great Uighurs to cultural and physical geno- Mr. LANTOS. Madam Speaker, I influence and prestige. cide. yield myself such time as I may con- But instead of using their power and China also makes brothers and sis- sume. creativity to bring greater openness ters illegal. China’s coercive one-child- Madam Speaker, I rise in strong sup- and democracy to China, they have per-couple policy not only subjects port of this resolution. May I express yielded to Beijing’s outrageous de- millions of women to forced abortions my deep respect for my friend and col- mands simply for the sake of profits. and sterilizations; it has encouraged a league from New Jersey (Mr. SMITH) for Google, Microsoft and Yahoo should be massive increase in sex-selective abor- his indefatigable fight for human developing new technologies to bypass tions and female infanticide. The re- rights in China. government sensors and barriers to the sult is up to 100 million missing girls or I hope, Madam Speaker, you will Internet; but instead, they agreed to women and one of the worst human have occasion to visit my office, be- guard the gates themselves. trafficking problems now in the world. cause in the reception room you will Let me start with Yahoo. As we meet Matter of fact, it has been said by one find a large poster of a young unarmed today, a Chinese citizen who had the

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It is bad enough Ranking Member TOM LANTOS and Congress- nounce the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader that Beijing is so petrified of dissent man CHRIS SMITH of the House International and imprison individuals for simply owning pic- that it throws dissidents behind bars Relations Committee, as well as the Inter- tures of the Dalai Lama. for years on end and blacklists their national Relations Committee staff, for their Bush Administration officials say they hope families; but it is simply beyond com- work on this bill. China will become a ‘‘responsible stakeholder’’ prehension, Madam Speaker, that an House Resolution 794 rightfully commends in world affairs. We should avoid wishful think- American company would play an ac- all persons who are peacefully advocating for ing about the intentions of the Chinese gov- tive role in the Chinese suppression ap- democracy and human rights in China. The ernment. paratus. resolution condemns the ongoing human In addition to the deplorable human rights Yahoo insists that it has no choice rights abuses by the government of the Peo- conditions, the Chinese government is pro- but to follow national laws and cites ple’s Republic of China, and calls on that gov- viding military technology to countries that its adherence to modern German laws ernment to cease the inhumane treatment of threaten international security including Iran that prohibit neo-Nazi propaganda. pro-democracy activists, prisoners of con- and North Korea, threatening Taiwan with a This argument literally sickens me. science, minorities, and religious groups. military attack, and violating its trade agree- Germany is a mature democracy, and The resolution includes language regarding ments. its freely elected leaders have deter- Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a family member of con- Certainly we need to engage China, but it mined that they wish to prohibit the stituents from the great city of La Puente, CA. should be sustainable engagement that en- most severe forms of hate-mongering. In June of 2002, Dr. Wang was abducted in ables us to sustain our values, sustain our China has a rubber-stamp par- Vietnam by Chinese authorities and held in economic growth, and sustain our national se- liament; and the Chinese Government solitary confinement in China for six months, curity. Today, we once again call on Beijing to re- places severe, far-reaching restrictions during which time the Chinese government de- lease the thousands of prisoners whose only on freedom of speech and religious lib- nied any knowledge of his whereabouts. In December of the same year, the Chinese gov- crime is to demand their basic human rights. erty. For an American firm such as We call on the Chinese government to open Yahoo to comply willingly with laws ernment reversed itself and acknowledged he had been in their custody. Dr. Wang was then up the Laogai prison system to the Inter- that send someone to jail for simply national Red Cross so the world can see what expressing his views is unconscionable. issued a life sentence after a closed, half-day trial. really is going on. b 1445 Dr. Wang has been refused a fair trial, and The spirit of Tiananmen endures and in- Google and Microsoft similarly argue the Chinese government has refused to re- spires. Tanks and troops may crush a protest, but they can never extinguish the flame of that they must comply with Chinese lease any evidence to substantiate Dr. Wang’s freedom that bums in every human heart. laws that prohibit on-line discussions alleged crimes. Dr. Wang is currently being held in Shaoguan prison in Guangdong Prov- Ms. BORDALLO. Madam Speaker, I rise and searching of certain ‘‘sensitive’’ today in support of H. Res. 794, Recognizing subjects. So they have elected to be- ince, where he is on a hunger strike. Prison authorities continue to deny Dr. Wang access the 17th anniversary of the massacre in come surrogate government censors, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, the People’s Re- removing content and blocking infor- to Western medicine which he needs for his serious health issues. public of China, and for other purposes. The mation that offends the political sen- People’s Republic of China has a long record sitivities of the ruling elite in Beijing. I thank the Members of the International Re- lations Committee who supported this bipar- of human rights violations. By supporting H. They apparently have no moral prob- Res. 794, we call upon the People’s Republic lems with censoring the Tibetans and tisan resolution. I look forward to the commit- tee’s continued work to end the deplorable, of China to adopt desperately needed demo- Falun Gong, both persecuted minori- cratic reforms. In addition, by supporting this ties in China. Do these companies have appalling and unjust treatment of dissidents by Chinese authorities. resolution, we honor individuals who have en- any standards at all? If Iran demands dured imprisonment, torture, and sometimes that Google block all information re- My staff and I will continue to work on this critical issue, and I look forward to Dr. Wang’s even death to advance the cause of democ- lated to Jews except anti-Semitic prop- racy in China. aganda, will it comply? What about a release and return to his family. Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, it has been The United States is a country founded on Sudanese request to censor informa- 17 years since the Chinese government un- the principle that each individual is entitled to tion on the ongoing genocide in leashed the People’s Liberation Army on its basic human rights. We must pressure China Darfur? own defenseless people in Tiananmen to improve its human rights record and to Madam Speaker, several pieces of Square. Today, the House of Representatives abide by internationally agreed upon stand- legislation have been introduced to pays tribute to the brave souls who stood up ards for human rights. Additionally, we must stop American complicity with China’s for freedom, only to be met with a hail of bul- pressure China to adopt democratic reforms. crackdown on the Internet. We must lets and a new era of repression. The United States has an obligation to aid move forward with these bills expedi- The forward march of freedom has often in the progressive struggle to topple oppres- tiously not only because it is good pol- been advanced by people who defied the sion and to sow the seeds of democracy icy but because it would honor the powers of their day to demand the liberties worldwide. The disturbing events of June 3–4, memory of those who died in and human rights to which all people every- 1989 in Tiananmen Square revealed the oppo- Tiananmen Square 17 years ago today, where are entitled. sition of the Communist regime to political ex- Madam Speaker, and I urge my col- We remember how Chinese students, work- pression by the people of China, a most basic leagues to support this resolution. ers, and citizens marched in peace; how they human freedom. The People’s Republic of I yield back the balance of my time. raised a in the image China’s denial of universal suffrage in Hong GENERAL LEAVE of our own Statue of Liberty; how they quoted Kong, despite the massive protests in 2003, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam our own Founding Fathers. its imprisonment of perhaps thousands of pro- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that Seventeen years later, almost every inde- democracy activists like Yang Jianli, and its all Members may have 5 legislative pendent organization monitoring human rights brutal persecution of peaceful Falun Gong days to revise and extend their re- believes the situation in China has not signifi- practitioners are further representative of the marks and include extraneous material cantly improved. regime’s oppression of its people. on the resolution now under consider- In fact, we know the Chinese government is H. Res. 794 calls upon the People’s Repub- ation. becoming even more sophisticated, using new lic of China to refrain from oppressing its peo- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Miss technology to monitor and apprehend those ple. Additionally, the United States reaffirms its MCMORRIS). Is there objection to the who criticize the regime or worship freely. commitment to the promotion and advance- request of the gentleman from New Web service providers are required to censor ment of democratic principles in China by rec- Jersey? information. Sadly, they are complying instead ognizing the 17th anniversary of the massacre There was no objection. of using their leverage to push for change. in Tiananmen Square. Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Madam Speaker, I rise Religious believers continue to be a target I strongly support this resolution. I urge my today in support of H. Res. 794, recognizing of the Chinese government, subjected to har- colleagues’ support.

VerDate Aug 31 2005 03:42 Jun 13, 2006 Jkt 049060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K12JN7.012 H12JNPT1 ccoleman on PROD1PC71 with HOUSE H3732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE June 12, 2006 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam International Religious Freedom reported tleman from New Jersey has provided Speaker, I urge support of the resolu- that the Chinese Government continues to long in the House as a defender of reli- tion, and I yield back the balance of systematically violate the right to freedom gious freedom, and the topic before us my time. of thought, conscience, and religion or belief, with this resolution is one that I know contravening both the Chinese Constitution The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and international human rights norms; is very dear to his heart, and so I am question is on the motion offered by Whereas on May 3, 2006, the United States grateful for his leadership on this the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Commission on International Religious Free- topic. SMITH) that the House suspend the dom announced its 2006 recommendations to Madam Speaker, this resolution is rules and agree to the resolution, H. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and con- simple and self-explanatory. Any truly Res. 794, as amended. tinued to identify China as one of ten ‘‘Coun- free society must, by definition, accord The question was taken. tries of Particular Concern’’; its citizens freedom to seek a relation- The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the Whereas Chinese law and policy restrict re- ship with God according to the dictates ligious activities to those activities associ- of their conscience and choose spiritual opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of ated with the five officially-sanctioned ‘‘pa- those present have voted in the affirm- triotic’’ religious organizations; leaders whom the worshipers believe ative. Whereas all other collective religious ac- are best suited to guide in establishing Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam tivities in China are illegal, and individuals that relationship. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas from ‘‘unregistered’’ religious groups are Recently, the People’s Republic of and nays. subject to harassment, detention, and arrest; China violated the religious freedom of The yeas and nays were ordered. Whereas freedom of religious expression is its Roman Catholic citizens by impos- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- a fundamental right enshrined in the United ing Beijing’s choices for bishops rather States Constitution and recognized by all than allowing the Vatican to make ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the civilized nations; and Chair’s prior announcement, further Whereas China, like all members of the these appointments. This resolution proceedings on this question will be United Nations, is bound by Article 18 of the condemns that action and calls upon postponed. Uniform Declaration of Human Rights which the Chinese government to refrain f states: ‘‘Everyone has the right to freedom from any further unauthorized ordina- of thought, conscience and religion; this tions. CONDEMNING THE UNAUTHORIZED, right includes freedom to change his religion There are few actions, Madam Speak- INAPPROPRIATE, AND COERCED or belief, and freedom, either alone or in er, more central to religious practice ORDINATION OF CATHOLIC community with others and in public or pri- than choosing the spiritual leaders of a BISHOPS BY THE PEOPLE’S RE- vate, to manifest his religion or belief in congregation. Each Sunday, Catholics PUBLIC OF CHINA teaching, practice, worship and observance’’: Now, therefore, be it throughout the world celebrate Mass Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Resolved, That the House of Representa- and communally recite the Apostles’ Speaker, I move to suspend the rules tives— Creed, which includes a statement of and agree to the resolution (H. Res. (1) condemns, in the strongest possible belief in the holy Catholic church. As 804) condemning the unauthorized, in- terms, the actions of the Government of the an intimate part of that belief, Catho- appropriate, and coerced ordination of People’s Republic of China to coerce Catho- lics acknowledge the supreme leader- Catholic bishops by the People’s Re- lic bishops in China, both those in the Catho- ship of the Pope of Rome in all spir- lic Patriotic Association of China and those itual matters and as the chief adminis- public of China, as amended. who remain loyal to the Pope, to violate The Clerk read as follows: their consciences and consecrate bishops in trator of the church. H. RES. 804 defiance of Rome; I am sure none of us would tolerate government coercion of any type in Whereas the Catholic Patriotic Associa- (2) extends its deepest sympathy and con- tion of China is a government-sanctioned or- dolences to the Catholic population of China choosing the leaders of our churches, ganization that does not represent the ma- and the Catholic Church for this insult to synagogues, temples, and religious or- jority of Chinese Catholics, and has been their beliefs and religious practices; ganizations. Nevertheless, the Chinese used by the Government of the People’s Re- (3) reaffirms the right of all religious orga- government does not allow Catholics to public of China to oppress Catholics who nizations to choose their leaders in a manner run schools or recognize openly the au- choose to remain loyal to the Pope as their that is free of intimidation, terror, or coer- thority of the papacy in many funda- spiritual leader; cion in accordance with Article 18 of the Uni- form Declaration of Human Rights; mental matters of faith and morals. Whereas on April 30, 2006, the Chinese Gov- The Chinese government also continues ernment-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Asso- (4) urges the Government of China to end ciation of China conducted an unauthorized its repression of religious organizations, rec- to insist as a precondition for estab- episcopal ordination of the priest Joseph Ma ognize the ecclesiastical authority of reli- lishing diplomatic relations that the Yinglin, elevating him to the office of bishop gious leaders to provide spiritual leadership Vatican cede its role in the selection of without the approval and against the wishes to their followers, and end the practice of bishops to the government-controlled of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI; only allowing religious worship through Catholic Patriotic Association. A gov- Whereas on May 3, 2006, the Chinese Gov- state-sanctioned patriotic religious associa- ernment that purports not to believe in ernment-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Asso- tions; and (5) encourages the Government of China to God at all has no business choosing re- ciation of China conducted an unauthorized ligious leaders. episcopal ordination of the priest Joseph Liu refrain from additional ordination of Catho- Xinhong, elevating him to the office of lic bishops while the Vatican and the Catho- Madam Speaker, the leaders of China bishop without the approval and against the lic Patriotic Association of China resolve consistently seek to position their wishes of the Holy Father Pope Benedict their differences and adopt a mutually ac- country as one of the leading nations XVI; ceptable process for approving the elevation of the world. The Chinese people make Whereas on May 14, 2006, the Chinese Gov- of bishops. no secret of their goal to establish ernment-sanctioned Catholic Patriotic Asso- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- their nation as an equal to the United ciation of China installed Bishop Vincent ant to the rule, the gentleman from States. Well, leadership brings respon- Zhan Silu as Bishop of Mindong Diocese New Jersey (Mr. SMITH) and the gen- sibility. Religious repression is wrong without the approval and against the wishes tleman from California (Mr. LANTOS) of the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI; wherever it occurs, and civilized na- Whereas, according to information re- each will control 20 minutes. tions rightfully deplore the lack of tol- ported by the Vatican, bishops and priests in The Chair recognizes the gentleman erance found in many backward and re- the People’s Republic of China have been from New Jersey. gressive societies. China, however, subjected to strong pressures and threats to Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam claims to aspire to a higher standard, take part in the episcopal ordinations which, Speaker, I yield such time as he may which is why their recent actions are being without pontifical mandate, are illicit consume to the chief sponsor of this so disturbing. and, besides, contrary to their conscience; resolution, Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsyl- China is an ancient nation with a Whereas the entire world follows with at- vania. proud history. They are the fountain- tention the progress of religious freedom in China and had hoped that such deplorable Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. head of Eastern philosophy, the birth- episodes by now would belong to the past; Madam Speaker, I need to start my re- place of Confucius, possibly the great- Whereas, following a trip to China in Au- marks with an acknowledgment of the est secular thinker the world has ever gust 2005, the United States Commission on extraordinary leadership that the gen- known. Analects 15:23 of the teaching

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