Reuniting Korean-American Families

Floor Speech

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Mr. SUBRAMANYAM. Mr. Speaker, family separation is devastating and traumatic for any community, but that is especially true for the 70,000 Korean Americans in Virginia and the millions across the country.

The Korean war led to the displacement and separation of countless families, and many remained separated for decades.

These second- and third-generation Korean Americans were raised on the heartbreaking stories of family members cruelly divided. Now, in the twilight of their lives, they seek to reconnect.

That is why I have introduced the bipartisan Korean American Divided Families National Registry Act with my colleague Congresswoman Young Kim. This bill creates a registry to help accelerate the progress for Korean Americans who wish to reunite with lost loved ones.

Since 1985, there have been 21 family reunions for citizens of South and North Korea organized by their governments, bringing together 4,000 families.

The Korean families here in the U.S. deserve to have that opportunity. Congress must work across the aisle to bring families together, not tear them apart. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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