Speech #1100202573

The United States must intensify our diplomacy with foreign nations on these issues. Mr. Speaker. and work more cooperatively with our ally South Korea. which admirably continues to bear the overwhelming bulk of the refugee resettlement numbers. To help address these deficiencies. H.R. 5834 clarifies and strengthens the role of the special envoy. It makes the special envoy for North Korean human rights an ambassadorialrank position to ensure that the envoy has ample stature to pursue his or her duties with foreign governments. as well as to promote the priorities of the act within the Department of State. This bill makes clear that the envoy position is to be "a fulltime position . . . as intended by the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004." When combined with the requirement of the original act that the envoy "be a person of recognized distinction in the field of human rights." the bill before us eliminates any misconception that the position may be a parttime undertaking. or a second hat worn by a Foreign Service officer with other. more important. supposedly. duties. This bill also makes clear that the envoys mandated concerns include the protection of North Korean refugees. Finally. Mr. Speaker. the bill inserts a new paragraph at the very top of the special envoys statutory duties that confirms the envoys role in the formulation and implementation of the full range of activities under the North Korean Human Rights Act. which includes. in the words of the act: "Promoting the Human Rights of North Koreans". "Assisting North Koreans in Need". and "Protecting North Korean Refugees." The people of North Korea face some of the most severe repression on the planet. I am proud of the work that our Congress began 4 years ago to help their plight. and I thank my friend Chairman BERMAN. our bipartisan cosponsors. and the numerous nongovernmental organizations who have worked with us to extend and improve the North Korean Human Rights Act. I urge unanimous support for this measure.