Divided Families Reunification Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. MENG. Madam Speaker, I rise today to announce the introduction of my Divided Families Reunification Act, and to raise the voices of families who have been separated for decades both across the DMZ and across the Pacific Ocean. The division of the Korean Peninsula into South and North Korea separated millions of Koreans from their family members. While there have been some agreed upon reunions between South and North Koreans, for Korean Americans there is no pathway for such reunions. Many of these Americans are in their 70s-90s, and time is of the essence to be reunited with their families. I am proud to introduce the Divided Families Reunification Act, which requires the Secretary of State or a designee to consult with officials in South Korea on potential opportunities to reunite Korean American families with family members in North Korea. This bill will also require the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights to submit a report on the opportunities for video reunions between Korean Americans and family members in North Korea. Thank you to my colleagues, Chairman Brad Sherman, Rep. Karen Bass, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. James P. McGovern, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Gilbert Cisneros, Rep. Rob Woodall, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for supporting this bipartisan legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source