Nick Lampson: “I feel like a broken record. I am here to talk about Ludwig Koons, who is being held in a pornographic compound in…”

“I feel like a broken record. I am here to talk about Ludwig Koons, who is being held in a pornographic compound in Italy. We need the help of our governments, the United States and Italy, to return this child, along with thousands of others who have been removed by noncustodial parents outside of our country. I have mentioned the State Department before in these 1-minute addresses. I asked recently Secretary Powell to help American parents and children, but I find that the message is not getting through. On Monday, a member of my staff met with a man whose children had been abducted by an ex-wife and taken to Mexico. The State of California had awarded custody of the children to the father. They have now been in Mexico for 2 years. When he met with the State Department, he did not get the help that he needed. Instead, he was told he probably would not see his children again. What an outrageous attitude. The State Department should be an unfailing advocate for Americans and their children, who are, I remind Members, American citizens themselves. The situation is unacceptable to me. I cannot imagine that it is not unacceptable to other Members. Please join me. We must bring our children home.”