Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in strong support of H.R. 7152. First, I thank Representative Wexton for her inspiring leadership on this important bill, and I thank Chairman McCaul for working in a bipartisan way to move this important legislation forward. This bill addresses a deeply human issue: the separation of Korean families caused by the Korean war. One of the most painful outcomes of the Korean war was the division of families, a wound that, 70 years after the war's end, has yet to heal. This separation has caused immense suffering, not only for those in Korea but also for Korean Americans here in the United States. Over 100,000 Korean Americans have been unable to see or hear from their loved ones in North Korea. Despite its ongoing tensions with North Korea, South Korea has managed to facilitate some family reunions through video calls, letters, and in-person meetings. Unfortunately, Korean Americans have not had similar opportunities. Currently there is no formal U.S. Government process to help them reunite with their relatives in North Korea. H.R. 7152 aims to fill this gap. It calls on the State Department to gather information from Korean Americans who wish to reunite with their families and work toward facilitating those reunions. This bill also calls on the State Department to make family reunions a priority in any discussions with North Korea. Mr.…”