Senate Democrats are holding up the North Korea Human Rights Act, which would provide humanitarian aid to North Koreans, give grants to private organizations that promote North Korean human rights, and give legal and other aid to North Korean defectors

National Review, Oct 11, 2004

* Senate Democrats are holding up the North Korea Human Rights Act, which would provide humanitarian aid to North Koreans, give grants to private organizations that promote North Korean human rights, and give legal and other aid to North Korean defectors. The bill passed the House unanimously in July and was endorsed by the South Korean government (possibly in order to block another, stronger North Korea bill under Senate consideration).

But Pyongyang had a fit, calling the legislation absurd and slanderous, and prompting the South to try to put a stop to it out of fear it would jeopardize current negotiations. Meanwhile, working in committee, Senate majority leader Bill Frist and Sen. Richard Lugar opted to "hot-wire" the bill, making it a law unless a single senator objects. Now the Democrats are objecting, under the leadership of Sen. Joe Biden. Though it's unclear what the outcome will be, the bill should enjoy bipartisan backing. As the Hudson Institute's Michael Horowitz puts it, "The bottom line is that it shouldn't be so hard for Senate Democrats to pass a bill that no one objected to until Kim Jong Il did." Senator Kerry wants to distinguish himself as a leader, particularly on matters of foreign policy. Making sure that this bill passes would be a good place to start.