U.S. Representative Henry J. Hyde (R-Il) Holds Hearing On China Human Rights

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U.S. Representative Henry J. Hyde (R-Il) Holds Hearing On China Human Rights

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HOLDS A HEARING ON CHINA'S ONE-CHILD POLICY

DECEMBER 14, 2004

SPEAKERS: U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HENRY J. HYDE (R-IL) CHAIRMAN U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JAMES A. LEACH (R-IA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DOUG BEREUTER (R-NE) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH (R-NJ) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DAN BURTON (R-IN) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ELTON GALLEGLY (R-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN (R-FL) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CASS BALLENGER (R-NC) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DANA ROHRABACHER (R-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE EDWARD R. ROYCE (R-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE PETER T. KING (R-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE STEVE CHABOT (R-OH) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE AMO HOUGHTON (R-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOHN M. MCHUGH (R-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THOMAS G. TANCREDO, (R-CO) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE RON PAUL (R-TX) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE NICK SMITH (R-MI) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH R. PITTS (R-PA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JEFF FLAKE (R-AZ) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JO ANN DAVIS (R-VA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARK GREEN (R-WI) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JERRY WELLER (R-IL) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MIKE PENCE (R-IN) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE THADDEUS G. MCCOTTER (R-MI) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KATHERINE HARRIS (R-FL)

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE TOM LANTOS (D-CA) RANKING MEMBER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HOWARD L. BERMAN (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GARY L. ACKERMAN (D-NY) U.S. DELEGATE ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA (D-AS) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DONALD M. PAYNE (D-NJ) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT MENENDEZ (D-NJ) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE SHERROD BROWN (D-OH) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BRAD SHERMAN (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT WEXLER (D-FL) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ELIOT L. ENGEL (D-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT (D-MA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GREGORY W. MEEKS (D-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH CROWLEY (D-NY) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL (D-PA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE EARL BLUMENHAUER (D-OR) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE SHELLEY BERKLEY (D-NV) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE GRACE F. NAPOLITANO (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ADAM B. SCHIFF (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE DIANE E. WATSON (D-CA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ADAM SMITH (D-WA) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE BETTY MCCOLLUM (D-MN) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BELL (D-TX)

WITNESSES: ARTHUR E. DEWEY, ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEES AND MIGRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

MICHAEL G. KOZAK, ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY, BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

JOSEPH R. DONOVAN, DIRECTOR FOR THE OFFICE OF CHINESE AND MONGOLIAN AFFAIRS, BUREAU OF EAST ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE

T. KUMAR, ADVOCACY DIRECTOR FOR ASIA & PACIFIC, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA

HARRY WU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAOGAI RESEARCH FOUNDATION

JOHN S. AIRD, FORMER SENIOR RESEARCH SPECIALIST ON CHINA, U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

MA DONGFANG, VICTIM OF CHINA'S ONE-CHILD POLICY

[*] C. SMITH: Committee will come to order. And good morning to all of you.

Today the Committee on International Relations is meeting to examine the appalling issue of the continued and systematic use of coercion by the People's Republic of China in the implementation of its one-child-per-couple policy.

In particular, we will hear testimony about the deplorable case of Mao Hengfeng, a victim of forced abortion whose ongoing attempts to receive justice have resulted in her sentencing to 18 months of hard labor, during which she has been tortured, denied vitally needed medicine, and whose life is in danger today.

Some of you may be wondering why this hearing is being held at this time, when the 108th Congress has adjourned and the 109th Congress has yet to be sworn in.

Fighting for human rights is almost always difficult and is certainly always inconvenient, and nowhere is it more inconvenient than when dealing with the People's Republic of China.

Rocking the boat could be bad for the bottom line and may upset international relationships, thus business and international interests may apply pressure to pretend there are no or few human rights vi...

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