Tom Lantos: “as probably one of the most bipartisan Members of this body, I call on the Republican leadership to allow this House to…”

“as probably one of the most bipartisan Members of this body, I call on the Republican leadership to allow this House to vote on whether the Olympics should be held in the Communist dictatorship of China. Three months ago, with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House Committee on International Relations expressed itself against China holding the Olympics by approving H. Con. Res. 73. I am asking the Speaker and the majority leader no longer to bottle up our legislation and to allow the representatives of the American people to speak their minds on this issue. Religion is persecuted, political freedom does not exist, media freedom does not exist, our airplane is forced down, our servicemen and women are held in captivity for 11 days; yet this body is not allowed to vote on whether the Olympics should be held in Beijing. Mr. Speaker, allow us a vote.”