He took my question!!!
I was pleasantly shocked when my name was announced. I was hoping it was me and not someone else with the same name. I was impressed that I managed to get his staffers to take my question considering in response to 'what town are you from?' I mentioned I'm a grad student at UD, from central NJ, calling on behalf of some of his constituents. I also mentioned wanting him to cosponsor Chris Smith's legislation in my question summary to his staffers.
Congressman Holt, I appreciate your speaking at the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the topic of international parental child abduction. I am concerned that your legislation HR 3487 (
The International Parental Child Abduction Deterrence Act) does not fully address the needs of left behind parents and 2800 abducted children because this matter goes way beyond the activity of individual child abductors and their accomplices. These children do not have time on their side and we need action now from Congress and not competing legislation to divide these efforts. There is another bill in the house, which more comprehensively addresses the needs of abducted children and their left behind parents and already has 24 cosponsors. I am respectfully asking that you agree to co-sponsor Congressman Smith’s legislation H.R. 3240 (
International Child Abduction Prevention Act) and work with him in a spirit of unified effort to create positive change for these children who so desperately need our help now. His office told me today that they would be willing to add provisions from your legislation into HR 3240. Thank you.
In response, Rep Holt spent several minutes explaining the case regarding David and Sean. He stumbled a bit speaking about it, but I did not notice anything incorrect in his description. I was pleased he referred to the non blood relative abductor (in some similar fashion) as supposed to an incorrect familiar relation. He stated he expects a positive ruling within days from the Brazilian courts. His discussion of how the case was raised by him with multiple Brazilian counterparts (ambassador and someone else I believe) surprised me, and I was dissapointed about how he played up that the ruling from the 'independent' judiciary expected soon.
He then discussed his bill as 'not total solution, just one tool.' Then he mentioned what other people thought the solutions were and mentioned Chris Smith's bill and in regards to the Ambassador at large he stated 'I like the ambassador idea alot'. Then he discussed how the chairman of foreign affairs was 'developing legislation from the hearing.' He stated the left behind parents' 'testimony was heart breaking'. Then he mentioned how he hopes that legislation will be completed soon and hopefully will pass and make a difference. Finally, he stated that he thanked me for asking that question and mentioned something about it being an important issue.
I think his answer leaves NO questions as to whether he plans to combine his legislation with Rep Smith's. Sadly, despite him mentioning that he agrees with aspects of this bill he did not mention anything he disagreed with to prevent him from cosponsoring it (he only mentioned issues with HR 2702 (not by number or name, but by bill contents)). I strongly feel we need more constituents to put pressure on him to
NOT work on
MORE legislation and instead
PASS current legislation that
HELPS children and LBPs. Yes, I am sure more legislation can be passed, but he can wait until HR 3240 passes. I believe that I could not have made it any easier for him to say 'that's great Rep Smith's office is willing to work with me, why don't I do that to help all these children and parents more than just the tools in my bill.' He never broached the idea of cosponsoring the legislation, much less working the 'tools' in his legislation into HR 3240. :mad2:
The one thing I wish I'd asked now is when he personally gave the shirt all the BSH supporters signed to President Obama. That is one question that would potentially have told his position even more clearly.
I know the telephone town hall is recorded (I was warned of that when I entered the call). But I have no idea if/when a recording would be posted online.
