H.Res. 125: 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.
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H.Res. 125: 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.
111th Congress · introduced 2009-02-04 · International Affairs · Latest: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
federal
Follow this bill, step by step
- Where it came from: introduced 2009-02-04 · official record
- Who proposed it: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · what a sponsor is
- What happened next: 1 recorded vote in our records. Latest: House roll call 120 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, HRES125 (2009-03-11), Passed. See all
- Where it stands now: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
- If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.
Official title
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.
Plain summary
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.
Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.
What a vote does
A “Yea” vote
A Yea supports adopting this resolution.
A “Nay” vote
If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.
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What does this mean? (plain words)
Official text
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.
Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes
Officials and money
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · 57 cosponsors
Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.
Cosponsors on this site
John Boozman (R-AR), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Mike Rogers (R-AL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Tom Cole (R-OK)
Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] reported raising $797,217 (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.
Recorded votes
- House roll call 120 (2009): On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree, as Amended, HRES125 (2009-03-11): Passed
Words on this page, explained (4)
- Appropriation
- Money a legislature sets aside by law for a specific purpose. Government agencies may spend public money only as it has been appropriated.
- Obligation
- A binding promise by a government agency to pay money, for example by signing a contract or awarding a grant. Spending data such as USAspending.gov counts money when it is obligated, which can be before it is actually paid out.
- Resolution
- A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
- Roll-call vote
- A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.
Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.
Sources
- Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
- Congress.gov
- Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-111hres125.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/111/hres>
Record fed-us-cong111-hres125 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong111 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong111