Calling on the Government of Japan to address the urgent problem of abduction to and retention of United States citizen children in Japan, to work closely with the Government of the United States to return these children to their custodial parent or to the original jurisdiction for a custody determination in the United States, to provide left-behind parents immediate access to their children, and to adopt without delay the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

Bill: 111-hres-1326
Sponsor: Rep. Moran, James P. [D-VA-8]
Introduced: 2010-05-05 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia
Crimes against children
Human rights
International law and treaties
Japan
Separation, divorce, custody, support

Summary:
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: 
Condemns the abduction and retention of all minor children being held in Japan away from their U.S. parents in violation of their human rights and U.S. and international law.
 
Calls on: (1) the government of Japan to facilitate the resolution of all abduction cases and related issues; and (2) the President and the Secretary of State to seek to identify all U.S. citizen minor children who have been wrongfully removed to, and retained in, Japan. 
 
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) recognize the issue of child abduction to, and retention of, U.S. citizen minor children in Japan as a central foreign policy issue; (2) work with the government of Japan to enact consular procedures and legal agreements to prevent parental abduction; (3) review its advisory services from the Department of State, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Armed Forces to ensure that timely assistance is given to U.S. citizens and service members in preventing the wrongful retention or removal of minor children; and (4) urge the Department of State to include international child abduction and Japan's actions regarding abductions as a human rights violation under its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices.

action_date: 2010-09-29
text: 
Condemns the abduction and wrongful retention of all minor children being held in Japan away from their U.S. parents. 
 
Calls on the government of Japan to: (1) facilitate the resolution of all abduction cases and to recognize related U.S. court orders; (2) include Japan's Ministry of Justice in work with the U.S. government to identify and locate U.S. citizen children alleged to have been wrongfully removed to or retained in Japan; and (3) review and amend its consular procedures to ensure that travel documents for children are issued with due consideration to any court orders.
 
Calls on Japan to accede to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. 
 
Calls on the President of the United States and the Secretary of State to continue raising the issue of abduction and wrongful retention of U.S. citizen children in Japan. 
 
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) recognize the issue of child abduction to and retention of U.S. citizen children in Japan as an issue of paramount importance to the United States within the context of its bilateral relationship with Japan; (2) work with the government of Japan to enact consular and passport procedures and legal agreements to prevent parental abduction to and retention of children in Japan; (3) review the advisory services available to U.S. citizens from government agencies to ensure that assistance is given to U.S. citizens in preventing the wrongful retention or removal of children and in obtaining the expeditious return of their children from Japan; (4) review its advisory services for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, particularly those stationed in Japan, to ensure that preventive education and legal assistance are made available; and (5) call upon the Secretary to establish procedures with the government of Japan to resolve parental child abduction or access issues.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 1 (Roll no. 553). (text: CR 9/28/2010 H7043-7044)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 1 (Roll no. 553).(text: CR 9/28/2010 H7043-7044)
action_date: 2010-09-29
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H7258-7259)
action_date: 2010-09-28
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: 2010-09-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 1326.
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H7043-7048)
action_date: 2010-09-28
text: Mr. Berman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E751)
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2010-05-05
text: Introduced in House