(Clearwisdom.net)

Phil Gramm

United States Senate
WASH1NGTON, D.C. 20510-4302

February 19,2002

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Thank you for contacting me about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. I appreciate having the benefit of your views and comments on this important matter.

As you may know, S. Res. 217 was introduced by Senator Tim Hutchinson during the 106th Congress. This resolution called on the People's Republic of China to release all prisoners of conscience and to put an immediate end to the harassment, abuse, and imprisonment of Chinese citizens exercising their legitimate rights to free belief, expression, and association. S. Res. 217 also called on the leadership in Beijing to abide by internationally accepted norms of freedom and to promptly ratify and implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The Senate approved this resolution by unanimous consent on November 19, 1999.

During the current Congress, various resolutions (such as H. Con. Res. 68 and 188) have been introduced in the House of Representatives to condemn human rights abuses by the People's Republic of China and to call for an end to the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Both of these resolutions have been referred to the House International Relations Committee for further review.

I share your concern regarding the crackdown on Falun Gong practitioners in China. The United States has a long history of promoting respect for human rights abroad, and I have long supported those measures designed to promote justice, democracy and human rights around the globe. Your insights are helpful to me as I continue to advance these important goals, and you may be sure that I will keep your comments in mind as relevant legislation is debated by the full Senate.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Yours respectfully,

Phil Gramm,

United States Senator

PG:jwi