Calling on Brazil in accordance with its obligations under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction to obtain, as a matter of extreme urgency, the return of Sean Goldman to his father David Goldman in the United States; urging the governments of all countries that are partners with the United States to the Hague Convention to fulfill their obligations to return abducted children to the United States; and recommending that all other nations, including Japan, that have unresolved international child abduction cases join the Hague Convention and establish procedures to promptly and equitably address the tragedy of international child abductions.

Bill: 111-hres-125
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4]
Introduced: 2009-02-04 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Brazil
Child safety and welfare
Crimes against children
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
International law and treaties
Latin America
Separation, divorce, custody, support

Summary:
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: 
Calls on the central authority of Brazil to discharge its duties under the Hague Convention by supporting federal judicial proceedings to obtain the return of Sean Goldman to his father David Goldman for immediate U.S. return. 
 
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) make the determination, through the United States Department of State in its 2009 Hague Convention Compliance Report that Brazil is a &quot;Country Not Compliant with the Convention&quot;; (2) review diplomatic procedures and the operations available to U.S. citizens under the Convention to ensure that effective assistance is provided to Mr. Goldman and other U.S. citizens in obtaining the return of their children from other countries; and (3) take measures to ensure that Convention partners return abducted children to the United States. 

action_date: 2009-03-11
text: 
Calls on Brazil to discharge its duties under the Hague Convention to bring about Sean Goldman's return to his father David Goldman in the United States. 
 
Urges countries determined by the Department of State to have issues of non-compliance with the Convention to fulfill their obligations.
 
Calls on all other nations to join the Convention and to establish procedures to address the tragedy of child abductions. 
 
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should: (1) review its diplomatic procedures and the operations available under the Convention to ensure that effective assistance is provided to Mr. Goldman and other U.S. citizens in obtaining the return of their children from Brazil and other countries; (2) take other appropriate measures to ensure that Convention partners return abducted children to the United States; (3) urge other nations to become parties to the Convention; and (4) continue to work for the return of children abducted from the United States and for parental visitation rights when return is not yet achieved.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 120). (text: CR H3300-3301)
action_date: 2009-03-11
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): 418 - 0 (Roll no. 120).(text: CR H3300-3301)
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3316-3317)
action_date: 2009-03-11
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: 2009-03-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H. Res. 125.
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3300-3305)
action_date: 2009-03-11
text: Mr. Berman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended.
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2009-02-04
text: Introduced in House