[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 339 Engrossed in House (EH)]

H. Res. 339

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                        April 22, 2009.
Whereas on April 8, 2009, a group of armed Somali pirates hijacked the Norfolk, 
        Virginia-based Maersk Alabama, a U.S. flagged cargo ship;
Whereas this attack represents the first such attack on a U.S. flagged vessel in 
        modern history;
Whereas Captain Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vermont, commander of the Maersk 
        Alabama, graduated from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and has over 
        20 years of maritime experience;
Whereas Captain Phillips and the crew of the Maersk Alabama were delivering a 
        life-sustaining USAID shipment of over 8,000 metric tons of food aid to 
        Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda when the ship came under pirate attack;
Whereas the crew of the Maersk Alabama overpowered one of the pirate attackers, 
        and Captain Phillips offered himself up in return for the safe release 
        of his crew and ship;
Whereas four pirates then fled with Captain Phillips to an 18-foot lifeboat;
Whereas the United States Fifth Fleet immediately dispatched Maritime Patrol (P-
        3) Aircraft to locate and positively identify and monitor the Maersk 
        Alabama to vector the closest U.S. Navy ship to the scene;
Whereas the United States Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge, which had been 
        patrolling the region due to increased pirate activities, arrived on the 
        scene;
Whereas the USS Bainbridge, under the command of U.S. Navy Commander Frank 
        Castellano, monitored the conditions on the lifeboat and prevented the 
        pirates from escaping;
Whereas Commander Castellano served as the on-the-scene coordinator for the 
        combined rescue efforts of the State Department, Federal Bureau of 
        Investigation hostage negotiators, and the U.S. Navy;
Whereas U.S. Navy SEALs quickly deployed to the scene;
Whereas, while being held by pirates, Captain Phillips attempted a daring 
        escape, diving into the ocean and trying to swim to safety before being 
        recaptured;
Whereas the pirates held Captain Phillips at gunpoint for 5 days;
Whereas the Navy SEALs once again demonstrated their extraordinary bravery, 
        skill, and professionalism in rescuing Captain Phillips;
Whereas the USS Halyburton assisted the USS Bainbridge with the rescue 
        operation, by skillfully ensuring that the pirates were blocked in their 
        attempt to reach the Somali coast;
Whereas the USS Boxer assisted in the rescue operation by standing by to provide 
        immediate medical support, which was thankfully not needed in this 
        operation.
    Resolved, that the United States House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the crew of the Maersk Alabama and Captain Phillips, 
        who selflessly placed himself in harm's way to protect his crew;
            (2) recognizes the United States Navy, the crews of the USS 
        Bainbridge, Boxer, Halyburton, and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 for their role 
        in the rescue;
            (3) congratulates the Navy SEALs on the scene for their decisive 
        action that resulted in the rescue of Captain Phillips; and
            (4) joins all Americans in expressing great relief that the crew has 
        returned home safely.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.