IV

103D CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 80

Expressing the sense of the Congress that an important factor in relations

between the United States and Romania, including whether to restore

most favored nation treatment to the products of Romania, should be

actions by the Government of Romania to improve conditions for children

institutionalized in Romania.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 7, 1993

Mr. GORDON (for himself, Mr. FROST, Ms. NORTON, Mr. GALLEGLY, Mr.

SYNAR, Mr. HALL of Ohio, Mr. NEAL of North Carolina, Mr. TOWNS,

and Mr. LAZIO) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Ways and

Means

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that an important

factor in relations between the United States and Romania, including whether to restore most favored nation

treatment to the products of Romania, should be actions

by the Government of Romania to improve conditions

for children institutionalized in Romania.

Whereas the Romanian people endured 43 years of suffering

under a repressive Communist dictatorship installed by

the Soviet Union that routinely sanctioned severe violations of human rights;
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Whereas this Communist regime, led by the late President

Nicolae Ceausescu, had a policy of placing orphans and

children not wanted by their parents in prison-like orphanages under unhealthy and degrading conditions;

Whereas the Romanian people have overthrown the

Ceausescu regime and created a new government under

a constitution that guarantees human rights, including

protection of children and the young without regard to

handicap or to ethnic origin;

Whereas the new Government of Romania held local and national elections in February and September 1992 that,

while not perfect, were said by international observers to

be free and fair;

Whereas considerable progress has reportedly been made by

the Government of Romania in reducing human rights

abuses;

Whereas the situation of orphans and the handicapped has

improved with international assistance in the three years

since the Romanian revolution brought to light the appalling conditions that existed for children institutionalized in Romania, too many children remain housed in institutions who, with appropriate medical care, could be

adopted or reintegrated into society;

Whereas some of these institutions continue to fail to provide

adequate and healthy conditions and do not meet European or United States norms for facilities or therapy;

Whereas the Romanian Parliament is currently considering

legislation to remove certain impediments to legal adoption; and
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Whereas Congress has considered restoring most favored nation treatment to the products of Romania: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

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

3 important factor in improving relations, including trade

4 relations, with Romania, should be actions by the Govern5 ment of Romania to—

6 (1) improve the welfare of institutionalized chil7 dren, including those with handicaps and those who

8 are members of ethnic minorities; and

9 (2) ease bureaucratic impediments to adoption

10 not required by consideration of the welfare of the

11 children concerned.

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