[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 37 (Thursday, March 20, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S2736]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL FORMER PRISONER OF WAR RECOGNITION DAY

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 68 submitted earlier 
today by Senators Specter and Akaka.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 68) designating April 9, 1997 and 
     April 9, 1998 as ``National Former Prisoner of War 
     Recognition Day.''

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the resolution?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statements relating to 
the resolution appear at this point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 68) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, is as follows:

                               S. Res. 68

       Whereas the United States has fought in many wars;
       Whereas thousands of members of the Armed Forces of the 
     United States who served in such wars were captured by the 
     enemy and held as prisoners of war;
       Whereas many prisoners of war were subjected to brutal and 
     inhumane treatment by their captors in violation of 
     international codes and customs for the treatment of 
     prisoners of war and died, or were disabled, as a result of 
     the treatment; and
       Whereas the great sacrifices of the prisoners of war and 
     their families deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates April 9, 1997, and April 9, 1998, as 
     ``National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day'' in honor 
     of the members of the Armed Forces of the United States who 
     have been held as prisoners of war; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to commemorate 
     this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

                          ____________________