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Government Policy, Bills, and Resolutions on the Korean American Divided Families
- September, 2001: US government policy on the divided families was adopted. The policy is that when the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea normalize the relationship, the divided family issue will be treated as a top priority.(Mark Kirk’s)
- November 2001: House Concurrent Resolution 77 was passed. (Congressman Xavier Becerra and Congressman Ed Royce)
- February 2002: Senate Concurrent Resolution 90 supporting the US government policy and the House Resolution was passed in the Senate. (Senate Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer and Senator Charles Hagel)
- September, 2007: The Congressional Commission on the Divided Families was founded.(2007-2010) (See list of Congressional Commissioners in the Photo History of Bills and Resolutions)
- October, 2007: HR4986, Section 1265 was passed in the Senate.
- December, 2007: HR4986, Section 1265 was passed in the House (See Congressman Mark Kirk’s pledge)
- January 28, 2008: HR4986, Section 1265 was signed by President George W. Bush. (Mark Kirk’s bill)
- July 18, 2008: HR 4986, Section 1265 expired (See Bush report)
- July, 2009: HR3288 was passed in the House
- December, 2009: HR3288 was passed in the Senate
- December 16, 2009: HR3288 was signed by President Barack Obama. Shortly after that, the president appointed North Korea Human Rights Ambassador Robert King as the Divided Family Ambassador. (Mark Kirk’s bill)
- April 2014: Resolution HR1771 was passed by Chairman Ed Royce and Congressman Gerry Connolly
- November 2016: H.Res.Con.40 was passed by Congressman Charles Rangel.
- July 19, 2021: HR826 introduced by Congresswoman Grace Meng and Congressman Van Taylor and cosponsored by Congresswoman Young Kim was passed in the House. Divided Families Reunification Act (See Divided Families Reunification Act) This bill directs the Department of State to periodically report to Congress on its consultations with South Korea on potential opportunities to reunite Korean Americans with family in North Korea. The State Department appoints Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues shall periodically report to Congress on its consultations with representatives of Korean Americans with family in North Korea on reunification efforts.
- July 22, 2021: Resolution H.Res.410 on reunions of Divided Korean American families introduced by Congresswoman Karen Bass was passed in the House
- August 20, 2021: Korean War Divided Families Reunification Act S.2688 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mazie Hirono and Senator Dan Sullivan.
- December 23, 2022: NDAA, Sec. 5599B. Consultations on reuniting Korean Americans with family members in North Korea.
Summary: Mandates report to be submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate within 120 days after the enactment, and annually for three years. Suggests regular consultations with government officials in South Korea and the Secretary of State (or designee of Secretary) for the potential to reunite Korean American families with family members in North Korea, such as through video reunions. Also suggests consultations with Korean American families and the Special Envoy on North Korean Human Rights Issues of the Department of State.
December 23: The senate amended bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, (NDAA) was Passed by Congresswoman Grace Meng and Congresswoman Young Kim. President Joe Biden signed the bill on January 9, 2023 and appointed Julie Turner as the Special Envoy for North Korean Human Rights Issues