[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 20, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1007-H1008]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 REMEMBERING MARTIN AND GRACIA BURNHAM

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 298th day that Martin and 
Gracia Burnham have been held captive by Muslim terrorists in the 
Philippines.
  A couple of weeks ago our spirits were raised as we heard of a new 
video showing Martin and Gracia. Our initial enthusiasm at the 
confirmation that they are still alive and healthy quickly dissipated 
as we realized the videotape was much older than claimed. Though the 
cameraman claims the tape is from mid-January, many signs point to it 
being shot much earlier, earlier even than the tape released in 
December.
  Martin and Gracia's clothes are in much better condition than in the 
video shot in November. Martin is not wearing glasses that he received 
in November and wore on the previous video. Martin's beard is shorter, 
and the Burnhams are much healthier looking

[[Page H1008]]

than in November. So we still await recent pictures and statements from 
Martin and Gracia.
  The tape is noteworthy, however, because for the first time the Abu 
Sayyaf Group, or the ASG, indicates that it regards itself as part of 
Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, something we have long suspected. 
This admission should give the Philippine government and their military 
added incentive to quickly track down and capture the ASG. It should 
also embolden our government to do as much as they can to free our 
fellow Americans.
  As always, I ask you to join me in prayer for Martin and Gracia and 
their loved ones, so that this nightmare may soon be over.

                          ____________________