IV
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 concur-
rent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Government Re-
form, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Inter-
national Relations, and Banking and Financial Services, for a period to
be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the Congress that the Federal Gov-
ernment, 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;
•HCON 308 IH
Whereas these laogai facilities make numerous products rang-
ing from sophisticated electronics and chemicals to simple
toys and clothing, and many of these products are ex-
ported 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 prohib-
iting 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 con-
gressional 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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the Federal Government, including govern-
ment officials outside of the United States, should
not purchase any goods made by forced labor;
•HCON 308 IH
(2) the President should instruct the Secretary
of the Treasury to enforce strictly section 307 of the
Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1307); and
(3) the President should urge each international
body to which the United States belongs, including
the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Orga-
nization, and the International Monetary Fund, to
adopt a policy prohibiting the purchase by that body
of goods made by forced labor.
Æ