Condemning the crackdown on democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People's Republic of China on the 15th anniversary of that tragic massacre.

Bill: 108-hres-655
Sponsor: Rep. Cox, Christopher [R-CA-48]
Introduced: 2004-06-01 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Anniversaries
China
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Commemorations
Compensation (Law)
Congress
Congressional tributes
Crime and Law Enforcement
Criminal investigation
Democracy
Detention of persons
Dissenters
East Asia
Freedom of association
Freedom of speech
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Hong Kong
Human rights
Immigration
Imprisonment
Law
Legislative bodies
Olympic games
Political conventions
Political prisoners
Political violence
Public demonstrations
Referendum
Religion
Religious liberty
Repatriation
Sports and Recreation
Torture
Treaties
United Nations

Summary:
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: 
States that the House of Representatives: (1) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a result of their participation in the democracy protests of June 3-4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People's Republic of China, and to all those persons who have suffered for their efforts to keep that struggle alive, and to all the people of China who lack fundamental human rights; (2) commends all persons who are peacefully advocating for democracy and human rights in China; (3) calls upon those nations participating in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to urge China to fully comply with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights; (4) calls upon the Communist Government of China to honor its pledge of a `high degree of autonomy' made at the time of the Hong Kong reversion in 1997 by permitting immediate elections for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and by leaving all revisions of Hong Kong law to a legislature elected by universal suffrage; and (5) condemns the human rights abuses by the Communist Government of China, and calls on that Government to reevaluate the official verdict on the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen pro-democracy activities and order formal investigations into the reported killing, torture, and imprisonment of democracy activists, establish a June Fourth Investigation Committee, release all prisoners of conscience, provide just compensation to the families of persons killed in such protests, allow the return of persons exiled for their activities in 1989, release Dr. Yang Jianli, and end the harassment and detention of all Chinese citizens exercising their legitimate freedoms of expression, association, and religion. 

action_date: 2004-06-03
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
States that the House of Representatives: (1) expresses sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned as a result of their participation in the democracy protests of June 3-4, 1989, in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People's Republic of China, and to all those persons who have suffered for their efforts to keep that struggle alive, and to all the people of China who lack fundamental human rights; (2) commends all persons who are peacefully advocating for democracy and human rights in China; (3) calls upon those nations participating in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to urge China to fully comply with the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights; (4) calls upon the Communist Government of China to honor its pledge of a `high degree of autonomy' made at the time of the Hong Kong reversion in 1997 by permitting immediate elections for the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and by leaving all revisions of Hong Kong law to a legislature elected by universal suffrage; and (5) condemns the human rights abuses by the Communist Government of China, and calls on that Government to reevaluate the official verdict on the June 4, 1989, Tiananmen pro-democracy activities and order formal investigations into the reported killing, torture, and imprisonment of democracy activists, establish a June Fourth Investigation Committee, release all prisoners of conscience, provide just compensation to the families of persons killed in such protests, allow the return of persons exiled for their activities in 1989, release Dr. Yang Jianli, and end the harassment and detention of all Chinese citizens exercising their legitimate freedoms of expression, association, and religion. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-06-03
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-06-03
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 - 1 (Roll no. 228). (text: CR 6/2/2004 H3684)
action_date: 2004-06-03
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 400 - 1 (Roll no. 228).(text: CR 6/2/2004 H3684)
action_date: 2004-06-03
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3746-3747)
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 655.
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3684-3689)
action_date: 2004-06-02
text: Mr. Smith (NJ) moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution.
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-06-01
text: Introduced in House