[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 9, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    COMMENDING MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES MISSION IN THE PEOPLE'S 
                           REPUBLIC OF CHINA

  Mr. ENSIGN. I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 81 and 
that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 81), commending the members of the 
     United States mission in the People's Republic of China for 
     their persistence, devotion to duty, sacrifice, and success 
     in obtaining the safe repatriation to the United States of 
     the crew of the Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft who had been 
     detained in China.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. ENSIGN. 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, finally, any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 81) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
       Whereas, on March 31, 2001, two fighter aircraft of the 
     People's Republic of China intercepted a United States Navy 
     EP-3E ARIES II maritime patrol aircraft on a routine 
     reconnaissance mission in international airspace over the 
     China Sea;
       Whereas one of the two Chinese aircraft collided with the 
     United States aircraft, jeopardizing the lives of its 24 
     crewmembers, causing serious damage, and forcing the United 
     States aircraft commander, Navy Lieutenant Shane Osborn, to 
     issue a ``MAYDAY'' distress call and perform an emergency 
     landing at a Chinese airfield on Hainan Island;
       Whereas, in violation of international norms, the 
     Government of the People's Republic of China detained the 
     United States aircrew for 11 days, initially refusing the 
     requests of United States consular and military officials for 
     access to the crew; and
       Whereas the persistence and devotion to duty of the members 
     of the United States mission in the People's Republic of 
     China resulted in the release of all members of the United 
     States aircrew on April 12, 2001: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate hereby commends the members of 
     the United States mission in the People's Republic of China, 
     and other responsible officials of the Departments of State 
     and Defense, for their outstanding performance in obtaining 
     the safe repatriation to the United States of the crew of the 
     Navy EP-3E ARIES II aircraft.

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