Speech #1010111178

I also thank him for his leadership in his necessary substitution for our chairman JACK BROOKS. in facilitating the conclusion of the conference on this legislation. This is critically important legislation. and I hope that it will have the overwhelming support of the House here tonight. We are dealing with the fate of at least 32.000 Chinese students here In the United States who at this very time are being harassed here in this country and whose families are being harassed in China. being told that under the immigration laws of the United States they may be sent home and if and when they go home they are in trouble because here in the United States they have spoken up in support of the democracy movement in China. This legislation is human rights legislation. It is intended to protect students who have come to the United States and who have become outspoken advocates for the transcendant value of which we are so proud In this country. the defense of democracy and human rights. This is not a technical immigration bill. This is a bill to protect some very vulnerable people. people who want to go home to China but who want to go home to a China that will respect their rights and value their aspirations for democracy. So it is critically important that we relieve them of the risk and the threat that the immigration laws of the United States will be used to send them home prematurely before the Chinese Government has come to grips with the will of the Chinese people for democracy and respect for human rights. In the consideration of this legislation another human rights issue arose. the issue of Chinese policy to force abortions or sterilizations. Thi3 is an issue that really was not directly relevant to this legislation. it was not part of this legislation when it passed the House. But it Is an important issue. and we were able to reach a compromise with language in this conference report to make sure that those with a wellfounded fear of being persecuted by the execution of this Chinese forced birth control policy would have protection under our asylum and refugee laws. In fact. the compromise is in many ways stronger than the original amendment that was added in the Senate. So I believe this is good. strong legislation that should have the unanimous support of the House.