[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 64 (Monday, May 10, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5094-S5095]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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 SENATE RESOLUTION 356--CONDEMNING THE ABUSE OF IRAQI PRISONERS AT ABU 
   GHRAIB PRISON, URGING A FULL AND COMPLETE INVESTIGATION TO ENSURE 
  JUSTICE IS SERVED, AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR ALL AMERICANS SERVING 
                             NOBLY IN IRAQ

  Mr. FRIST (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. 
Allard, Mr. Allen, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Biden, Mr. 
Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Breaux, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, 
Mr. Burns, Mr. Byrd, Mr. Campbell, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
Chafee, Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Coleman, Ms. 
Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Corzine, Mr. Craig, Mr. Crapo, Mr. 
Dayton, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Dole, Mr. Domenici, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. 
Durbin, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Fitzgerald, Mr. Graham of Florida, Mr. Graham of South 
Carolina, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mr. Hagel, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, 
Mr. Hollings, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Jeffords, Mr. 
Johnson, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. 
Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. 
Lott, Mr. Lugar, Mr. McCain, Mr. McConnell, Ms. Mikulski, Mr. Miller, 
Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Nelson of 
Nebraska, Mr. Nickles, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Reid, Mr. Roberts, Mr. 
Rockefeller, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mr. 
Shelby, Mr. Smith, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Stevens, 
Mr. Sununu, Mr. Talent, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, and Mr. 
Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and 
agreed to:

                              S. Res. 356

       Whereas the United States was founded on the principles of 
     representative government, the rule of law, and the 
     unalienable rights of individuals;
       Whereas those principles are the birthright of all 
     individuals and the fulfillment of those principals in Iraq 
     would benefit the people of Iraq, the people of the Middle 
     East, and the people of the United States;
       Whereas the vast majority of Americans in Iraq are serving 
     courageously and with great honor to promote a free and 
     stable Iraq and through such service are promoting the values 
     and principles that the people of the United States hold 
     dear;
       Whereas Americans serving abroad throughout the history of 
     the United States, both military and civilian, have 
     established a reputation for setting the highest standards of 
     personal, professional, and moral conduct;
       Whereas in January 2004, a member of the United States 
     Armed Forces reported alleged abuses perpetrated in Abu 
     Ghraib prison during November and December 2003;
       Whereas an inquiry into those alleged abuses was ordered in 
     January 2004, and that inquiry is reported to have found 
     numerous incidents of criminal abuses by a small number of 
     Americans based in Iraq;
       Whereas the reaction to the alleged abuses is having a 
     negative impact on the United States efforts to stabilize and 
     reconstruct Iraq and to promote democratic values in the 
     Middle East and could affect the security of the United 
     States Armed Forces serving abroad;
       Whereas Congress was not informed about the extent of the 
     alleged abuses until reports about the abuses became public 
     through the media;
       Whereas success in the national security policy of the 
     United States demands regular communication between the 
     President, the agencies and departments of the executive 
     branch, Congress, and the people of the United States;
       Whereas, in an interview on May 5, 2004, the President 
     stated ``First, people in Iraq must understand that I view 
     those practices as abhorrent. They must also understand that 
     what took place in that prison does not represent America 
     that I know. The America I know is a compassionate country 
     that believes in freedom. The America I know cares about 
     every individual. The America I know has sent troops into 
     Iraq to promote freedom--good, honorable citizens that are 
     helping the Iraqis every day.'';
       Whereas in that interview the President further stated 
     ``It's also important for the

[[Page S5095]]

     people of Iraq to know that in a democracy, everything is not 
     perfect, that mistakes are made. But in a democracy, as well, 
     those mistakes will be investigated and people will be 
     brought to justice. We're an open society. We're a society 
     that is willing to investigate, fully investigate in this 
     case, what took place in that prison. That stands in stark 
     contrast to life under Saddam Hussein. His trained torturers 
     were never brought to justice under his regime. There were no 
     investigations about mistreatment of people. There will be 
     investigations. People will be brought to justice.''; and
       Whereas the pursuit of truth and justice are core 
     principles of the United States, and if the Government of the 
     United States conducts a full investigation of the alleged 
     abuses and holds accountable the individuals who are 
     responsible for such abuses, the people of Iraq and of the 
     Middle East will witness how a democracy upholds the rule of 
     law and protects the rights of individuals by administering 
     justice in a swift, transparent, and fair manner: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends all Americans serving nobly abroad who are 
     advancing the ideals of freedom and democracy, and working, 
     through the individual and collective actions of such 
     individuals, to improve the lives of all the people of Iraq;
       (2) condemns in the strongest possible terms the despicable 
     acts at Abu Ghraib prison and joins with the President in 
     expressing apology for the humiliation suffered by the 
     prisoners in Iraq and their families;
       (3) urges the Government of the United States to take 
     appropriate measures to ensure that such acts do not occur in 
     the future;
       (4) believes that it is in the interests of the United 
     States and of the people of the United States that the 
     appropriate committees of the Senate, exercising the 
     oversight responsibilities of such committees, and the 
     President, through the appropriate departments or agencies of 
     the executive branch, conduct a full investigation of the 
     abuses alleged to have occurred at Abu Ghraib; and
       (5) urges that all individuals responsible for such 
     despicable acts be held accountable.
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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 105--DESIGNATING THE SECOND WEEK OF MARCH 
                 2005 AS ``EXTENSION LIVING WELL WEEK''

  Mr. GRASSLEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 105

       Whereas the health and well-being of the family is crucial 
     to the functioning of the Nation and to providing adults and 
     youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them 
     achieve the best quality of life possible;
       Whereas psychologically, socially, and emotionally strong 
     families provide strength for future generations;
       Whereas Extension is a nationwide educational network 
     through the land-grant universities, funded cooperatively 
     through the Department of Agriculture, State governments, and 
     local county, city, and parish governments;
       Whereas Extension provides non-biased, research-based 
     information through informal education to help adults, youth, 
     families, farms, businesses, and communities;
       Whereas Extension education programs are developed at the 
     grassroots level to meet local needs, and are available in 
     nearly every county and parish in the United States and its 
     territories, from the biggest to the smallest;
       Whereas information offered by Extension is provided by 
     scientists and researchers at land-grant universities, and is 
     made practical and relevant by Extension educators working at 
     the local level;
       Whereas Extension Family and Consumer Sciences educators 
     are advocates for education for families so that the families 
     might gain skills for a full and productive life; and
       Whereas the designation of the second week of March 2005 as 
     ``Extension Living Well Week'' is a fitting tribute to the 
     National Extension Association for Family and Consumer 
     Sciences professionals who provide education that is critical 
     to the quality of life of adults, youth, individuals, and 
     families, including food preparation, food safety, nutrition, 
     financial management, healthy lifestyles, home and work 
     environment and safety, relationship and parenting skills, 
     and much more: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) designates the second week of March 2005 as ``Extension 
     Living Well Week'';
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to take 
     advantage of the educational opportunities that Extension 
     Family and Consumer Sciences educators provide, education 
     that can help them in raising kids, eating right, spending 
     smart, and living well; and
       (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to conduct 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to 
     demonstrate support for Extension Family and Consumer 
     Sciences educators as they teach adults and youth and promote 
     optimum health and wellness of families in the United States 
     through the ``Living Well'' campaign.

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