North Korea Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4240, the Ambassador James R. Lilley and Congressman Stephen J. Solarz North Korean Human Rights Reauthorization Act of 2012. I commend Chairman ROS-LEHTINEN and Ranking Member BERMAN and the members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for bringing this important measure to the floor.

Ambassador Lilley, as director of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea and Congressman Solarz, as chairman of the House subcommittee on East Asia and later as co-chairman of the Committee on Human Rights in North Korea, refused to stand by silently as the North Korean government oppressed, abused and murdered its own people. Their leadership and advocacy helped to raise awareness about the deplorable conditions endured by the North Korean people, including the government's practice of executing on-the-spot attempted defectors.

This resolution encourages the United States government to continue working with foreign governments and with the Peoples Republic of China in particular, to help resettle refugees who escape North Korea. Additionally, the bill recognizes the efforts undertaken in North Korea by the Broadcasting Board of Governors and encourages the board to meet its goal of broadcasting 12 hours of daily radio transmissions into that country.

The United States has the largest international refugee resettlement program in the world. Since this Act was originally passed, 128 North Koreans have been successfully resettled, including 23 in the last year. The success of this program is a fitting tribute to the memory and work of Ambassador Lilley and Congressman Solarz.

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The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4240, as amended.

The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.

A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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