[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 89 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 89

 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding National Pearl Harbor 
                            Remembrance Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 18, 2011

    Mr. Hall (for himself and Mr. Dingell) submitted the following 
 concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign 
  Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding National Pearl Harbor 
                            Remembrance Day.

Whereas, on December 7, 1941, minutes before 8 a.m., 353 members of the Imperial 
        Japanese Navy and Air Force attacked units of the Armed Forces of the 
        United States stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, without warning;
Whereas the bulk of the attack at Pearl Harbor lasted for approximately five 
        hours, and 2,403 members of the Armed Forces of the United States 
        perished in the attack, 1,247 more were wounded, and 57 civilians lost 
        their lives;
Whereas Japanese forces mercilessly bombarded American servicemen in two waves, 
        torpedoed American ships between San Francisco and Honolulu, and 
        destroyed 188 U.S. aircraft, leaving devastation and chaos, though 
        remarkably, American aircraft carriers survived unharmed;
Whereas President Franklin Delano Roosevelt declared the day of the attack on 
        Pearl Harbor ``a date which will live in infamy,'' and Americans rose 
        together in remembrance of their fallen countrymen with a commitment to 
        defend the Nation against all aggressors;
Whereas the following day, on December 8, 1941, Congress declared war against 
        Japan, and three days later against Germany, thus marking the beginning 
        of a global conflict that would define a generation;
Whereas more than 320,000 American men sacrificed their lives to preserve the 
        sacred freedoms of the United States, to cease forever the spread of 
        Nazism through Europe and Imperialism by Japan;
Whereas nearly four years later, on September 2, 1945, after victory on the 
        European front, World War II ended with the Japanese surrendering aboard 
        the USS Missouri;
Whereas in 1950, Admiral Arthur Radford ordered that a flagpole be erected over 
        the remains of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor;
Whereas the USS Arizona serves as the final resting place for many of the 
        battleship's 1,177 crew members who lost their lives on December 7, 
        1941;
Whereas the USS Arizona also serves as an educational site for citizens and 
        international visitors alike, raising awareness about the event itself 
        and the perils of war;
Whereas the terms of Japanese surrender fostered significant democratic reform, 
        including ensuring the individual liberty and rights of the people of 
        Japan;
Whereas the United States has moved beyond the tragedy of Pearl Harbor and in 
        the years since the conclusion of World War II has formed a strong and 
        valuable alliance with Japan, including military cooperation and 
        bilateral trade;
Whereas the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor is on December 7, 
        2011; and
Whereas, on August 23, 1994, Public Law 103-308 was enacted (reenacted later as 
        section 129 of title 36, United States Code) to designate December 7th 
        of each year as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and to request the 
        President to issue each year a proclamation calling on the people of the 
        United States to observe National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day with 
        appropriate ceremonies and activities and to urge all departments, 
        agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government, and 
        interested organizations, groups, and individuals, to fly the flag of 
        the United States at half-staff each December 7th in honor of the 
        individuals who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress, on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the December 
7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii--
            (1) pays tribute to the members of the Armed Forces of the 
        United States and civilians who died in the attack;
            (2) honors the thousands of men and women of the Armed 
        Forces of the United States who paid the ultimate sacrifice and 
        gave their lives in defense of freedom and liberty during World 
        War II;
            (3) acknowledges the continued peaceful and mutually 
        beneficial relationship between the United States and Japan;
            (4) appreciates the efforts of Japan as one of the most 
        reliable security partners of the United States in the global 
        war on terrorism; and
            (5) encourages Japan to continue to develop strategic and 
        economic policies, in partnership with the United States, that 
        promote stability throughout Asia and reduce barriers in trade 
        between the two nations.
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