[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 444 Referred in Senate (RFS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 444


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 14, 2006

        Received and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
Extending the appreciation of Congress and the Nation to the Department 
 of Defense organizations, military departments, and personnel engaged 
   in the mission to achieve the fullest possible accounting for all 
Americans unaccounted for as a result of the Nation's wars, to the POW/
   MIA families and veterans who support the mission, and to foreign 
                  nations that assist in the mission.

Whereas the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), an element of the 
        Office of the Secretary of Defense, exercises policy, control and 
        oversight within the Department of Defense of the process of 
        investigation, analysis, recovery, and fullest possible accounting of 
        Americans missing as a result of the Nation's previous wars and 
        conflicts;
Whereas the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC), located on the island of 
        Oahu in Hawaii, is charged with the mission of conducting 
        investigations, analysis, recovery, and identifications to achieve the 
        fullest possible accounting of all Americans missing as a result of the 
        Nation's wars and conflicts;
Whereas the laboratory portion of that command, referred to as the Central 
        Identification Laboratory, is the largest forensic anthropology 
        laboratory in the world;
Whereas the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL), located in 
        Rockville, Maryland, is one of the leading laboratories in the world for 
        processing degraded skeletal remains and family references for 
        mitochondrial DNA;
Whereas the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory (LSEL), located in San 
        Antonio, Texas, houses the most comprehensive technical library and 
        collection of life sciences equipment used by the Armed Forces, to 
        include analysts for artifact identification;
Whereas National POW/MIA Recognition Day is one of the six days specified in 
        section 902 of title 36, United States Code, as days on which the 
        National League of Families POW/MIA flag is to be flown over specified 
        Federal facilities and national cemeteries, post offices, and military 
        installations;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, the remains of 60 Americans unaccounted for 
        from the Korean War have been recovered, and these remains have been 
        repatriated, identified, and returned to their families;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, the remains of more than 375 Americans 
        unaccounted for from World War II, the Cold War, and other conflicts 
        fought by the United States have been recovered throughout the world, 
        and these remains have been repatriated, identified, and returned to 
        their families;
Whereas the improved access of representatives of the United States to 
        information in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Lao People's 
        Democratic Republic, and the Kingdom of Cambodia has resulted in the 
        recovery and repatriation of the remains of Americans unaccounted for 
        from the Vietnam War;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, 216 Joint Field Actions have been conducted in 
        Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, which has resulted in the recovery of the 
        remains of 841 Americans unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and these 
        remains have been repatriated, identified, and returned to their 
        families;
Whereas the United States has a historic commitment to the recovery of, and the 
        fullest accounting of, Americans who are missing as a result of the 
        Nation's wars and conflicts; and
Whereas every member of the United States Armed Forces who is unaccounted for as 
        a result of service to the Nation is equally important, regardless of 
        the time or place of the war or conflict: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),  
That Congress--
            (1) recognizes that National POW/MIA Recognition Day is one 
        of the six days specified by section 902 of title 36, United 
        States Code, as days on which the National League of Families 
        POW/MIA flag is to be flown over specified Federal facilities 
        and national cemeteries, military installations, and post 
        offices;
            (2) applauds the personnel of the Defense POW/Missing 
        Personnel Office, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command of the 
        Department of Defense, the Armed Forces DNA Identification 
        Laboratory, the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory, 
        and the military departments for continuing their mission of 
        achieving the fullest possible accounting of all Americans 
        unaccounted for as a result of the Nation's previous wars and 
        conflicts;
            (3) extends its appreciation and the appreciation of the 
        people of the United States to the personnel of those offices, 
        commands, and laboratories in the United States, the Socialist 
        Republic of Vietnam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and 
        the Kingdom of Cambodia for their efforts to achieve the 
        fullest possible accounting of all Americans who remain 
        unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam War;
            (4) encourages the United States Government to use all 
        available means to continue the mission described in paragraph 
        (2) at current or greater levels until the fullest possible 
        accounting missing Americans is achieved;
            (5) recognizes that the efforts and involvement of POW/MIA 
        families and veterans contribute significantly to the fullest 
        possible accounting of missing Americans;
            (6) recognizes the assistance of host nations in supporting 
        the efforts of the United States Government to achieve the 
        fullest possible accounting of all Americans unaccounted for as 
        a result of the Nation's previous wars and conflicts;
            (7) extends its appreciation to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia 
        for continued assistance and cooperation in the humane 
        recovery, repatriation, and identification of the remains of 
        Americas still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War; and
            (8) encourages all host nations to assist and cooperate in 
        the humane recovery, repatriation, and identification of the 
        remains of Americans unaccounted for as a result of the 
        Nation's previous wars and conflicts.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 13, 2006.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.