Expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China should not repatriate the North Korean refugees detained in China, subjecting them to torture, imprisonment, and execution, but allow their resettlement in the Republic of Korea and other countries.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Mar 20, 2012

Requests that: (1) China honor its obligations under the United Nations Convention relating to the 1951 Status of Refugees and the 1967 Protocol, and (2) the U.S. Ambassador to China should report within 30 days about whether he is allowed to visit the North Korean refugees and on their plight.

Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) forced repatriations of North Korean refugees should be stopped, (2) North Korean refugees wishing third country resettlement should be allowed to apply for asylum with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and (3) the High Commissioner should have access to all North Korean refugees in China.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · R–NJ

Committees

Foreign Affairs Committee

8 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

May 7, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
May 7, 2012
Referred to the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights.
Mar 20, 2012
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Mar 20, 2012
Introduced in House
Mar 20, 2012
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Mar 20, 2012 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 23, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.Con.Res.109 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.109, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China should not repatriate the North Korean refugees detained in China, subjecting them to torture, imprisonment, and execution, but allow their resettlement in the Republic of Korea and other countries.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/109

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-03-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres109/BILLS-112hconres109ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-23T13:32:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.Con.Res.109 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.109, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China should not repatriate the North Korean refugees detained in China, subjecting them to torture, imprisonment, and execution, but allow their resettlement in the Republic of Korea and other countries.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/109

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-03-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres109/BILLS-112hconres109ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-23T13:32:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.109, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China should not repatriate the North Korean refugees detained in China, subjecting them to torture, imprisonment, and execution, but allow their resettlement in the Republic of Korea and other countries.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/109

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-03-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres109/BILLS-112hconres109ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-23T13:32:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.Con.Res.109, 112th Congress: Expressing the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China should not repatriate the North Korean refugees detained in China, subjecting them to torture, imprisonment, and execution, but allow their resettlement in the Republic of Korea and other countries.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/112th-congress/house-concurrent-resolution/109

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2012-03-20.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/112/bills/hconres109/BILLS-112hconres109ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-23T13:32:43Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.Con.Res.109 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.