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106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 308

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government, including

government officials outside of the United States, should not purchase

any goods made by forced labor, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 13, 2000

Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself and Mr. LANTOS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, International Relations, and Banking and Financial Services, for a period to

be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee

concerned

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Government, including government officials outside of the

United States, should not purchase any goods made by

forced labor, and for other purposes.

Whereas there exists in the People’s Republic of China a

labor system known as the ‘‘laogai’’ (meaning ‘‘reform

through labor’’) in which over 8,000,000 Chinese in a

network of prisons, camps, and mental institutions must

work in approximately 1,100 factories, farms, and other

facilities;
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Whereas these laogai facilities make numerous products ranging from sophisticated electronics and chemicals to simple

toys and clothing, and many of these products are exported to the United States;

Whereas the United States annually imports about

$70,000,000,000 of goods from the People’s Republic of

China (including laogai goods), exports about

$15,000,000,000 of goods to the People’s Republic of

China, and has a trade deficit with the People’s Republic

of China of about $55,000,000,000;

Whereas the United States has failed to enforce laws prohibiting the import of goods made by forced labor overseas,

and has refused to demand inspection of dozens of laogai

factories in the People’s Republic of China;

Whereas noted Chinese freedom advocate Harry Wu, who

spent 17 years in the laogai system, arrived in the United

States in 1985, became a citizen of the United States,

and has since exposed the labor practices of the People’s

Republic of China in numerous appearances before congressional committees; and

Whereas the Congress is on record as opposing forced labor,

having enacted a prohibition (in section 307 of the Tariff

Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307)) on the importation of

goods made by forced labor: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the Federal Government, including govern4 ment officials outside of the United States, should

5 not purchase any goods made by forced labor;
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1 (2) the President should instruct the Secretary

2 of the Treasury to enforce strictly section 307 of the

3 Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307); and

4 (3) the President should urge each international

5 body to which the United States belongs, including

6 the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Orga7 nization, and the International Monetary Fund, to

8 adopt a policy prohibiting the purchase by that body

9 of goods made by forced labor.

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