[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H8322-H8323]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES
AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM AS PART
OF A UNITED EFFORT TO BE KNOWN AS OPERATION ENDURING SUPPORT
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee
on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the
resolution (H. Res. 284) encouraging the people of the United States to
support the Armed Forces and civilian personnel who are engaged in the
war on terrorism as part of a united effort to be known as Operation
Enduring Support, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Virginia?
Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, under my
reservation, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support my distinguished
colleague in encouraging all Americans to support the men and women who
serve our Armed Forces in both uniform and civilian garb.
On September 11, our Nation suffered a great tragedy. Now, more than
ever, we need to support our service personnel, the true power behind
America's military might. We must give our soldiers, sailors, airmen
and Marines modern weaponry with which to keep American interests
secure. We must support shipbuilding, aircraft procurement and research
and development. We must support the Armed Forces, not just in
Operation Enduring Freedom, but in everything they do.
Equally important, we must give them our moral support. They are
risking their lives and sacrificing their spirits to protect our
freedom. We should all wear the proverbial yellow ribbons signifying
our support of these brave heroes every day with pride.
With our support, America's Armed Forces will be able to respond to
aggression any time and all the time. I urge my fellow Members to
support this resolution.
Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation, I rise to support
House Resolution 284.
This resolution encourages Americans to support the Armed Forces and
civilian personnel who are engaged in the war on terrorism as a part of
a united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Freedom.
There are over 2.6 million active duty, Reserve, and National Guard
personnel. Since September 14, nearly 42,000 Reservists and National
Guard have been called to active duty to support Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. In addition, thousands of civilians,
including those from the Department of Defense, Department of Justice,
Department of State, the FBI and CIA, just to name a few, have
dedicated themselves to protecting our national security interests. Air
Force pilots are patrolling our skies. Coast Guard ships are patrolling
our shores, and members of the National Guard are securing our
airports.
State Department employees across the world are working with our
allies, and the FBI and CIA are working to track down and prosecute
those associated with the terrorist attacks against our United States.
FDA employees are working with health providers to increase education
and awareness of biological and chemical threats to our citizens, and
the list goes on and on.
Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the
American people have been asking, what can they do? How can they help?
The bill
[[Page H8323]]
before us encourages the American people to support the Armed Forces
and the civilians participating in the war on terrorism by contributing
assistance to voluntary and to charitable organizations. It also
provides support and comfort to the family members of our men and women
in uniform who are now, or will be, overseas during this time.
The attacks of September 11 did not rip apart the multicolored fabric
of the United States. Instead, they have made us closer, stronger, and
united in our determination to stand against aggression and protect the
democratic principles and the freedoms that we enjoy in the United
States.
Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation, I yield to the gentleman from
Idaho (Mr. Otter) for his remarks.
{time} 1500
Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for
yielding to me, and my good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr.
Forbes), for providing me this time to bring to the attention of the
House of Representatives and also to the American people Operation
Enduring Support.
First, it establishes the sense of Congress that September 11 from
this day forward will be known as the American Unity Day, establishing
once and for all that that was the day that these evildoers of the
world decided to take an attack on the United States, and when they
did, they attacked not just the United States but, individually, all of
the people of the United States.
The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) has correctly pointed
out that this calls upon all charitable organizations, all military
organizations, like the VFW and like the American Legion, and all
others who would take the opportunity to celebrate the return of our
warriors who are now engaged in that front line battle.
But it goes further than that, Mr. Speaker. This also engages all of
the American people. It was not that many years ago, probably too many
that I would care to lay claim to, but I remember coming home with my
uniform in 1968. It was not a happy time to be a person in uniform at
that time, Mr. Speaker.
In 1968, leaving Fort Knox, Kentucky, in order to get the best price
on an airline, I had to be in full dress uniform.
As I left the gates of Fort Knox, Kentucky and ventured through the
town of Louisville, Kentucky, and got on that airplane and landed first
in Washington, D.C., and then in Baltimore, then back to Washington,
D.C., having completed my business, and then took a connecting airline
from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado, and
finally, Boise, Idaho, I did not feel very safe.
In fact, I wondered to myself aloud about the active time that I
spent wearing that uniform, because it was not a happy time for people
in uniform in 1968, during the Vietnam conflict.
This should never happen again to anyone who is returning after the
defense, after defending our country. So this calls upon all the people
of the United States, every citizen, every State, every community, to
celebrate the return of these warriors; if nothing else, to let these
evildoers know around the world that they are not just fighting those
folks on the front line; that that is not the people alone that they
have to worry about, they have to worry about every citizen in this
United States, because we are going to let them know that we are a
whole people, and we are a united people.
There is no reflection on the past into the sixties and early
seventies. In this, we are of one voice; in this, we are of one mind
and one spirit, and that is the spirit of unity and the spirit of
enduring support.
Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fossella). Is there objection to the
request of the gentleman from Virginia?
There was no objection.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 284
Whereas in response to the terrorist attacks on the United
States on September 11, 2001, the United States is engaged in
Operation Enduring Freedom, which will require the men and
women of the Armed Forces to engage and defeat terrorists,
and which will require both military and civilian personnel
to protect the Nation from further attack; and
Whereas it is imperative that the Nation support the Armed
Forces and civilian personnel in such an effort: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes and commends the efforts of State and local
governments, and community, religious, and charitable
organizations to support the Armed Forces engaged in
Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as civilian personnel who
are also engaged in the war on terrorism;
(2) encourages the people of the United States to further
support the Armed Forces and civilian personnel through a
united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Support;
(3) encourages the people of the United States, as part of
Operation Enduring Support--
(A) to support the families of Armed Forces personnel;
(B) to stage patriotic send-off and welcome-home rallies
and parades; and
(C) to volunteer and contribute financial assistance to the
Red Cross, the United Way, and other such organizations.
Amendment Offered by Mr. Forbes
Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
The Clerk read as follows:
Amendment offered by Mr. Forbes:
Page 3, strike lines 1 through 3 and insert the following:
(C) to volunteer and contribute financial assistance to
volunteer and charitable organizations.
The amendment was agreed to.
The resolution was agreed to.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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