July 19, 2001
I applaud the courage of the Falun Gong practitioners who are present here today and all those who are suffering under the iron grip of China's communist regime. I am especially honored to have some of you as constituents, joining the tapestry of diversity in my home State of Florida.
In the last two years, there has been a systematic escalation of horrific attacks launched by Chinese authorities against Falun Gong practitioners.
Recently, the deplorable actions by the Chinese authorities have included the brutal torture of Falun Gong women at a labor camp, resulting in the death of 15 innocent victims.
When the family of one of these victims saw her body, the area around the eyes was black and blue. There were still finger marks on her face from being slapped. There were strangulation and rope marks on her neck. The shoulder blades and back were heavily bruised, and the arms fractured.
On June 20th of this year, we received the horrifying news that local police had burned a Falun Gong practitioner to death and dragged two others through the streets at such a high speed that their bodies were virtually mutilated.
Thus, as a human being and a refugee of another Communist regime who oppresses its people and uses the same methods to implement its policy of intolerance, I was compelled to act.
As Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights, I had to find the means to challenge such heinous actions by Chinese officials -- actions which defy all moral standards.
I had to use the tools available to the Congress to help ensure an end to the two year reign of terror launched against the Falun Gong -- a group whose only crime is the desire to practice their beliefs free of coercion and intimidation.
For this purpose, I filed legislation last night with more than 30 of my House colleagues, calling on the Chinese leadership to cease its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
It further directs the agencies of the U.S. Government to use every appropriate public and private forum to press the Chinese authorities to release all Falun Gong religious prisoners, and to immediately cease the use of torture and other cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment against the Falun Gong and other prisoners of conscience.
I have scheduled a hearing for September which will address the violations by Chinese authorities of religious liberties and related freedoms guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We will have Falun Gong practitioners testifying about the brutal crackdown, joined by representatives of other oppressed religious minority groups.
It has been said that the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men and women to do nothing.
Therefore, I call on my colleagues in the House and Senate to render their support to you and other victims of Chinese oppression; to send a strong message to the Chinese authorities that the U.S. stands firm in its defense of human rights; that the U.S. Congress will not tolerate such blatant disregard for human life and freedom.
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this important event.
Category: Voices of Support Worldwide
