[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 80 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 80

     Honoring the life of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest 
         condolences of the Senate to her family on their loss.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 10, 2005

   Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Sarbanes, and Mrs. 
 Clinton) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
                               agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Honoring the life of Fern Holland and expressing the deepest 
         condolences of the Senate to her family on their loss.

Whereas the Senate remembers with great sadness the murder of Fern Holland near 
        the Iraqi city of Karbala at the age of 33 on March 9, 2004;
Whereas Fern Holland, born in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, on August 5, 1970, lived her 
        life committed to creating the most equal and just global society 
        possible;
Whereas Fern Holland graduated with honors in psychology at Oklahoma University 
        and actively sought to help the world through caring for children dying 
        of nuclear-related diseases in Russia and teaching kids in a squatter 
        camp in South Africa;
Whereas in the spring of 2000, Fern Holland worked for the Peace Corps as a 
        human rights legal advisor in West Africa;
Whereas in 2003, Fern Holland went to investigate alleged human rights 
        violations for the American Refugee Committee at a refugee camp in 
        Guinea where she established a legal clinic to seek justice for victims 
        of human rights violations, and which, at the time of her death in 2004, 
        had handled 118 cases on behalf of victims of human rights violations;
Whereas in May 2003, Fern Holland went to Iraq as a United States Agency for 
        International Development employee to work for women's rights;
Whereas in Iraq, Fern Holland organized human rights groups, opened 6 women's 
        centers in south Baghdad, and acted as a strong advocate for Iraqi 
        women's rights;
Whereas after Fern Holland's death, leading feminists issued statements praising 
        her work;
Whereas residents of the refugee camp in Guinea renamed the legal clinic Fern 
        Holland established the ``Fern Holland Legal Aid Clinic of Nzerekore'';
Whereas the high school Fern Holland attended in Miami, Florida observed a 
        moment of silence and then discussed a memorial to honor her;
Whereas the Cherokee Nation honored Fern Holland by passing a resolution saying 
        she ``died as a warrior'';
Whereas Fern Holland was posthumously named a Heroic Oklahoman on April 7, 2004, 
        by Governor Brad Henry; and
Whereas Fern Holland devoted her brief life to promoting her belief in basic 
        human rights and the rule of law: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that, in Fern Holland, the World has lost 
        one of its most devoted and hard working human rights 
        activists;
            (2) honors Fern Holland in her extreme dedication to making 
        the world a better place; and
            (3) expresses its deep and heartfelt condolences to the 
        family of Fern Holland on their loss.
                                 <all>