Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the ``Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act'' with my colleague Senator Sullivan. This bipartisan piece of legislation would open opportunities for Korean Americans to be included in reunions with their relatives who remain in North Korea. Many first generation Korean Americans, now in their 80's and 90's, are waiting to be reunited with their parents, spouses, children, siblings, and cousins. They should not have to wait any longer.

One of the tragic legacies of the Korean War is the permanent separation of Korean families. Sixty-eight years ago, the United States, People's Republic of China, North Korea, and South Korea agreed to an armistice which drew a new border between North Korea from South Korea. Since then, there has been little contact between South Koreans and their family members who remained in North Korea, and almost no contact between Korean Americans and their loved ones in North Korea.

North and South Korea first agreed to hold reunions of divided families in 1985. There have been 21 face-to face reunions and multiple video-link reunions, which have given approximately 24,500 Koreans the opportunity to briefly reunite with loved ones. There is no official channel, however, for Korean Americans to participate in these reunions.

Many Korean Americans long for an opportunity to meet their North Korean relatives. My constituent, Carol Li from Honolulu, wants to reconnect with her family's past and learn more about where her grandparents were from. Carol's maternal grandparents fled from North Korea to the South during the Korean War, leaving behind their siblings. Unfortunately, her grandparents passed away before they were able to reconnect with their siblings who remained in North Korea. While she was teaching English in South Korea, she grew more curious about her North Korean relatives and the war that divided them. With passage of this legislation, Carol hopes she can participate in future reunions to meet her North Korean relatives. She deserves the opportunity to do so.

The legislation I am introducing would open official channels between Korean Americans and their families in North Korea by directing the U.S. Secretary of State to consult with his counterpart in South Korea to identify opportunities for Korean Americans to participate in future family reunions. It also directs the State Department's Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues to consult the Korean American community on efforts to reunite families, including opportunities for video reunions.

Time is of the essence for those who have been seeking the opportunity to reconnect with their loved ones for nearly seven decades. Thanks to the leadership of Rep. Grace Meng of New York, the House of Representatives passed this legislation on July 19, 2021 by a vote of 415 to 0. It is time for the Senate to act. I call on my Senate colleagues to swiftly pass this bill. Thank you. ______

By Mr. REED (for himself and Mrs. Capito):

S. 2691. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to ensure adequate access to vaccines under the Medicaid program and the Vaccines for Children program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source