[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 117 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 117

Expressing sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers of Veronica 
                  ``Roni'' Bowers and Charity Bowers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 1, 2001

 Mr. Hoekstra (for himself, Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania, Mr. Gekas, Ms. 
Pelosi, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Upton, Ms. Kilpatrick, Ms. Rivers, Mrs. Jo Ann 
 Davis of Virginia, Mr. Hoeffel, Mr. Flake, Mr. Levin, Mr. Ballenger, 
 Mr. Schaffer, Mr. Smith of Michigan, Mr. Blumenauer, Mr. Knollenberg, 
 Mr. Watts of Oklahoma, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Camp, Mr. Ose, Mr. Souder, Mr. 
Mica, Mr. Davis of Florida, Mr. Bereuter, Mr. Tancredo, and Mr. Cantor) 
 submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

                              May 1, 2001

  The Committee on International Relations discharged; considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Expressing sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers of Veronica 
                  ``Roni'' Bowers and Charity Bowers.

Whereas James and Veronica ``Roni'' Bowers of Muskegon, Michigan, served as 
        missionaries affiliated with the Calvary Church of Fruitport, Michigan, 
        and the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism;
Whereas the Bowerses conducted their Christian mission work with their children, 
        Cory and Charity, serving the native tribes along the Amazon River in 
        Peru since 1995;
Whereas on Friday, April 20, 2001, the Bowerses were flying in an Association of 
        Baptists for World Evangelism plane piloted by Kevin Donaldson, 
        traveling from the Peru-Brazil border to the city of Iquitos, Peru, 
        after attempting to secure necessary visa documents for their adopted 
        daughter, Charity;
Whereas the plane was mistakenly attacked by a fighter jet of the Peruvian Air 
        Force in an apparent attempted anti-drug interdiction effort that may 
        have also involved personnel of the United States;
Whereas Roni and Charity Bowers were killed, and pilot Kevin Donaldson was 
        severely injured in the attack;
Whereas Kevin Donaldson, despite his injuries, was able to safely land his plane 
        on the Amazon River, saving the lives of his other passengers; and
Whereas the family, friends, and co-workers of Roni and Charity Bowers have 
        displayed a shining example of their faith and grace in the face of this 
        terrible tragedy: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) expresses and conveys its deepest and most heartfelt 
        sympathies to Jim and Cory Bowers and to their extended 
        families, friends, co-workers, and fellow missionaries at the 
        Association of Baptists for World Evangelism, for the loss of 
        Veronica ``Roni'' Bowers and Charity Bowers in an attack by a 
        fighter jet of the Peruvian Air Force on the plane in which 
        they were traveling;
            (2) commends Kevin Donaldson for his heroic actions in 
        safely landing the plane and wishes Mr. Donaldson a speedy and 
        complete recovery from his injuries; and
            (3) strongly encourages the Governments of the United 
        States and Peru to work together as expeditiously as possible 
        to determine all the circumstances that led to this unfortunate 
        and regrettable incident and to ensure that an incident of this 
        kind never occurs again.
                                 <all>