Speech #1040267327

Mr. Speaker. section 601(a)(1) of the conference report will restore an important human rights policy that was in force from 1986 until 1994. It would simply provide that forced abortion. forced sterilization. and other forms of persecution for resistance to a coercive population control program are "persecution on account of political opinion" within the meaning of U.S. refugee law. Restoration of asylum eligibility for these victims of persecution is supported by human rights advocates from across the spectrum. Protection for these refugees has also enjoyed wide bipartisan support in Congress. Section 601(a)(1) is identical to section 1255 of H.R. 1561. the Foreign Relations Authorization Act. which passed both the House and Senate but was vetoed by the President for reasons unrelated to this provision. Section 601(a)(1) is also identical to the DeWine amendment to the Senate immigration bill. which enjoyed broad bipartisan support in the Senate but was withdrawn after objections had been raised to its germaneness under postcloture rules. Finally. the Clinton administration. which initially opposed this provision. recently announced its support. As in every other asylum case. an applicant under this provision must prove his or her claim. Contrary to the cartoon being promulgated by opponents of this provision. we would not have to let in 1.2 billion people. In fact. during the Reagan and Bush administrations the number of people granted asylum on this ground was usually less than 100 per year. and never more than 200 per year.