The House of Representatives today passed a bill written by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4^th) that calls upon the government of Brazil to live up to its obligations under international treaty and immediately return a New Jersey boy who has been held illegally for more than four years back to his lawful home.

    Sean Goldman was kidnapped and taken out of the country to Brazil at age 4 by his mother, who later died. His father, David Goldman was blocked for more than four years from even seeing his son. Smith intervened in February traveling to Brazil with David Goldman at which time he finally got to see his son. 

    Before leaving for Brazil, Smith introduced H. Res. 125, legislation highlighting the case and Brazil’s obligation under the Hague Convention to return the boy to his place of habitual residence, New Jersey.

    H.Res. 125 passed today by a vote of 418-0 (click on  http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll120.xml ). During the debate, Smith passionately spoke, extolling the tireless fight of David Goldman who has refused to give up seeking lawful custody of his son. Smith was joined by other House Members in taking up Sean’s cause and other cases of parental kidnapping.

    “The resolution before us today,  expresses the House of Representatives' profound concern and calls on Brazil to, in accordance with its international obligations and “with extreme urgency,” bring about the return of Sean Goldman to his father, David Goldman, in the United States.  Justice delayed is justice denied and Sean’s place is with his dad,” Smith said.

    “The kidnapping of Sean Goldman and his continued 4½ year unlawful retention in Rio de Janiero must be resolved immediately and irrevocably,” said Smith. “A father—who deeply loves his son, wants desperately to care for him and spend precious time with him—has had his nationally and internationally recognized parental rights, and his son has had his rights, violated with shocking impunity.  David Goldman should not be blocked from raising his own child.  A child, who recently lost his mother, belongs with his dad.”

    “The government of Brazil has failed to live up to its legal obligations under international law to return Sean to his biological father.  The government of Brazil has an obligation that they must fulfill without any further delay. “

    Smith referred to the meeting he witnessed between father and son for the first time in 41/2 years. 

    “When in Brazil last month, I had the extraordinary privilege of joining David and Sean in their first meeting in four and a half years,” Smith said. “Now almost nine, Sean Goldman was delighted to see his dad.  The love between them was strong and obvious.  In the first minutes of their meeting, I saw the pain as Sean asked his father why he hadn’t visited him in the last 4½  years.  David, told him that he had traveled to Rio de Janiero many times to try to be with him.”

    Pointing to a picture Smith took of father and son in Brazil he said, “Within an hour, after playing basketball, Sean was completely at ease and eager to get reacquainted with his dad.  The joy on both of their faces is compelling.”

    With Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" Da Silva due in the United States this week, Smith took the opportunity to call his attention to the case.

    “This weekend Brazilian President Lula will visit the United States and visit one-on-one with President Obama,” Smith noted.  “The White House meeting should include a serious discussion about Brazil’s pattern of non-compliance with the Hague Convention and Brazil’s obligation to immediately fulfill this obligation in the case of Sean Goldman and more than 50 other cases like it.

    Smith also praised journalists from the Asbury Park Press and Dateline NBC for highlighting Sean’s plight.

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