United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510-1904
August 3, 2000
Dear Mr. Fox:
Thank you for taking the time to follow up on the July 20th meeting, where we discussed the current situation in China Toward the Falun Gong Practitioners. I appreciate your bringing this important matter to my attention.
I share your concern about the treatment that people practicing Falun Gong are receiving from the Chinese government. This serves as a further reminder of China's poor human rights record, which I believe should play a major role in determining U.S. policy.
In the meeting you asked about the status of H. Con. Res. 218, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the Government of the People's Republic of China should stop its persecution of Falun Gong practitioners. Currently, H. Con. Res. 219 passed the U.S. House of Representatives on November 18, 2000, and it has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where it still remains today. Unfortunately, this resolution is not likely to come out of committee during this session of Congress.
Though, I am still hopeful that the issue of Human Rights will gain attention during the Senate consideration of H.R. 444, the U.S. - China Relations Act of 2000 (China Trade bill). I will certainly keep your thoughts and suggestions in mind as the Senate considers its action on the China Trade bill. The China Trade bill, as passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, does establish a Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China (PRC) to monitor and report to Congress on human rights in the PRC.
Also, I wanted to make you aware that I joined several of my colleagues in writing to the
President of the People's Republic of China on the topic of Falun Gong. The letter expressed concern about the official banning of Falun Gong and the arbitrary detention of some of its organizers and followers. I have included a copy of the letter sent to His Excellency Jiang Zemin dated August 6, 1999, for your records.
Again, thank you for contacting me.
Sincerely
(signature)
Susan M. Collins
United States Senator
(See Original text from http://minghui.cc/gb/0001/Sep/06/senator_lett.html)