This goes for dictatorships as well as democracies. In 1936, for example, Germany was selected to host the Olympics. A native of Hungary, Mr. Lantos is the first Holocaust survivor ever elected to the United States Congress. Congressman Lantos also praised the Chinese people and expressed his hope that the Olympics would be held in Beijing someday. I look forward to the day when the Olympics will be held in Beijing.
China is one of the world's great civilizations, rich in history and culture.
I have the deepest admiration and respect for the people of China. The Chinese people deserve the games. China's repressive regime, however, does not. The resolution enjoys bipartisan support in the House of Representatives, with 41 co-sponsors total, including Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt, Majority Whip Tom Delay, and Democratic Whip David Bonior. Expressing the sense of Congress that the 2008 Olympic Games should not be held in Beijing unless the Government of the People's Republic of China releases all political prisoners, ratifies the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and observes internationally recognized human rights.