(Clearwisdom.net) On May 3, 2006, US Congresswoman Betty McCollum from Minnesota wrote to Falun Gong practitioners to express her concern about the organ harvesting from Falun Gong practitioners that is taking place in China. Below is her letter:

May 3, 2006

Thank you for contacting me regarding reports of torture of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese government. It was good to hear from you.

Recently, there have been media reports that the government of the People's Republic of China is operating secret detention sites where the government might be harvesting organs, without consent, from living prisoners of conscience, particularly Falun Gong practitioners. The Chinese government has denied these charges. The U.S. State Department has urged further investigation, and the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak, has indicated concern over the reports.

I have signed on to a letter with several of my colleagues that was sent to President Bush urging him to raise the reports of forced organ harvesting with Chinese President Hu Jintao when President Jintao is in Washington, DC, at the end of April. A copy of this letter is included your information.

Throughout the world today, individuals are persecuted and tortured for unimaginable reasons. Whether it be because of their religious, ethnic or political backgrounds, this behavior is unacceptable. As a member of the Human Rights Caucus, I take very seriously America's global role as a leader in the promotion of human rights, democracy and freedom. Please know that I strongly believe that the United States must consistently support individual rights and human rights in China and around the world. I will continue to monitor the situation in China to ensure the promotion and protection of religious freedom.

Again, thank you for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to let me know if I can be of assistance to you in the future.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress