[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 255 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 255

Commemorating the 30th anniversary of United States Special Operations 
                                Command.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 6, 2017

  Ms. Castor of Florida (for herself, Mr. Jones, Mr. Peters, and Mr. 
  Walz) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the 30th anniversary of United States Special Operations 
                                Command.

Whereas April 16, 2017, is the 30th anniversary of the United States Special 
        Operations Command (USSOCOM) headquartered at MacDill Air Force Base in 
        Tampa, Florida;
Whereas, on April 16, 1987, Congress required the establishment of a Special 
        Operations Command, which was to be an elite fighting force drawn from 
        all of the branches of the Armed Forces;
Whereas as a headquarters organization, USSOCOM comprises four service-component 
        commands, consisting of the United States Army Special Operations 
        Command, United States Naval Special Warfare Command, United States 
        Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, and United States Air 
        Force Special Operations Command, and includes various sub-unified 
        commands;
Whereas each service-component command has sub-component commands consisting 
        of--

    (1) Army Special Forces (Green Berets), Rangers, Special Operations 
Aviation, Civil Affairs, Military Information Support Operations;

    (2) Navy SEALS and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen;

    (3) Air Force Commandos and Special Tactics Airmen;

    (4) Marine Raiders; and

    (5) other Joint Special Operations Forces;

Whereas USSOCOM protects and defends the United States in a variety of ways, 
        including direct action, special reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, 
        foreign internal defense, civil affairs operations, counterterrorism, 
        military information support operations, counter-proliferation of 
        weapons of mass destruction, security force assistance, 
        counterinsurgency, hostage rescue and recovery, foreign humanitarian 
        assistance, and other missions as assigned;
Whereas USSOCOM has an unequaled ability to analyze and respond to terrorist 
        threats and USSOCOM has led many successful missions globally;
Whereas many USSOCOM missions are classified, so the American people may never 
        know the details and extent of the bravery of Special Operations Forces, 
        but a sample of missions provide a glimpse into the bravery and talents 
        of these members of the Armed Forces:

    (1) on May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden was killed in a special operations 
mission in Pakistan, for which the outstanding men and women in America's 
intelligence and Armed Forces, especially those from SOCOM, remained 
focused on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice, and on May 2, 2011, justice 
was done;

    (2) on April 12, 2009, the Maersk Alabama was rescued unharmed in a 
special operations mission in the Indian Ocean, after a five-day standoff 
between the United States Navy and Somalian pirates;

    (3) on April 1, 2003, Jessica Lynch, a United States Army clerk taken 
prisoner for nine days in Iraq, was rescued by Special Operations Forces 
during a night raid in the hospital where she was being held;

    (4) on December 13, 2003, in Operation Red Dawn, Special Operations 
Forces captured deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, who was hiding in a 
spider hole;

    (5) on January 17, 1991, as Operation Desert Storm began, Special 
Operations Forces slipped hundreds of miles into Iraq to identify Iraqi 
Scud missiles as targets for American fighter jets; and

    (6) on December 20, 1989, in Operation Just Cause and Operation Nifty 
Package, Special Operations Forces ventured into Panama to bring its then 
President Manuel Noriega to justice for drug-trafficking;

Whereas approximately 70,000 Regular component, National Guard, and reserve 
        component personnel from all four services and Department of Defense 
        civilians are assigned to USSOCOM headquarters in Tampa, its four 
        service-component commands, and eight sub-unified commands;
Whereas the heroism, skill, and patriotism of USSOCOM personnel and their 
        families are without parallel;
Whereas the responsibilities of USSOCOM are growing and its mission is now and 
        will continue to be central to the defense of the United States in 
        future decades; and
Whereas the sacrifices of many, the service of all, and the talents of the 
        Special Operations Forces are cause for confidence and optimism: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the 
United States Special Operations Command, the House of Representatives 
honors the soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians who, 
together with their family members, comprise the United States Special 
Operations Forces community for their service and commitment to keeping 
the United States safe.
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