[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.J. Res. 86 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. J. RES. 86


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 18, 2010

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                            JOINT RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and 
             reaffirming the United States-Korea alliance.

Whereas, on June 25, 1950, communist North Korea invaded the Republic of Korea 
        with approximately 135,000 troops, thereby initiating the Korean War;
Whereas, on June 27, 1950, President Harry Truman ordered the United States 
        Armed Forces to help the Republic of Korea defend itself against the 
        North Korean invasion;
Whereas United States and Allied forces recaptured the capital city of Seoul on 
        September 28, 1950, after a successful amphibious landing by the Marine 
        Corps at Inchon on September 15, 1950;
Whereas the hostilities ended in a cease-fire marked by the signing of the 
        armistice at Panmunjom on July 27, 1953, and the peninsula still 
        technically remains in a state of war;
Whereas, during the Korean War, approximately 1,789,000 members of the United 
        States Armed Forces served in-theater along with the forces of the 
        Republic of Korea and 20 other members of the United Nations to defend 
        freedom and democracy;
Whereas casualties of the United States during the Korean War included 54,246 
        dead (of whom 33,739 were battle deaths), more than 92,100 wounded, and 
        approximately 8,176 listed as missing in action or prisoners of war;
Whereas approximately 6,800,000 American men and women served worldwide in the 
        Armed Forces during the entire Korean War era of June 27, 1950, to 
        January 31, 1955;
Whereas the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act (Public Law 111-41) was enacted 
        on July 27, 2009, so that the honorable service and noble sacrifice by 
        members of the United States Armed Forces in the Korean War will never 
        be forgotten;
Whereas President Barack Obama issued a proclamation to designate July 27, 2009, 
        as the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day and called upon 
        Americans to display flags at half-staff in memory of the Korean War 
        veterans;
Whereas since 1975, the Republic of Korea has invited thousands of American 
        Korean War veterans, including members of the Korean War Veterans 
        Association, to revisit Korea in appreciation for their sacrifices;
Whereas in the 60 years since the outbreak of the Korean War, the Republic of 
        Korea has emerged from a war-torn economy into one of the major 
        economies in the world and one of the largest trading partners of the 
        United States;
Whereas the Republic of Korea is among the closest allies of the United States, 
        having contributed troops in support of United States operations during 
        the Vietnam war, Gulf war, and operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, while 
        also supporting numerous United Nations peacekeeping missions throughout 
        the world;
Whereas since the end of the Korean War era, more than 28,500 members of the 
        United States Armed Forces have served annually in the United States 
        Forces Korea to defend the Republic of Korea against external 
        aggression, and to promote regional peace;
Whereas North Korea's sinking of the South Korean naval ship, Cheonan, on March 
        26, 2010, which resulted in the killing of 46 sailors, necessitates a 
        reaffirmation of the United States-Korea alliance in safeguarding the 
        stability of the Korean Peninsula;
Whereas from the ashes of war and the sharing of spilled blood on the 
        battlefield, the United States and the Republic of Korea have 
        continuously stood shoulder-to-shoulder to promote and defend 
        international peace and security, economic prosperity, human rights, and 
        the rule of law both on the Korean Peninsula and beyond; and
Whereas beginning in June 2010, various ceremonies are being planned in the 
        United States and the Republic of Korea to commemorate the 60th 
        anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War and to honor all Korean 
        War veterans: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress--
            (1) recognizes the historical importance of the 60th 
        anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, which began on 
        June 25, 1950;
            (2) honors the noble service and sacrifice of the United 
        States Armed Forces and the armed forces of allied countries 
        that served in Korea since 1950 to the present;
            (3) encourages all Americans to participate in 
        commemorative activities to pay solemn tribute to, and to never 
        forget, the veterans of the Korean War; and
            (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to its 
        alliance with the Republic of Korea for the betterment of peace 
        and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula.

            Passed the House of Representatives June 17, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.