[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 60 (Tuesday, May 16, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2615-H2616]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONDEMNING IN THE STRONGEST TERMS THE TERRORIST ATTACKS IN DAHAB AND 
            NORTHERN SINAI, EGYPT, ON APRIL 24 AND 26, 2006

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 795) condemning in the strongest terms the 
terrorist attacks in Dahab and Northern Sinai, Egypt, on April 24 and 
26, 2006.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 795

       Whereas, on April 24 and 26, 2006, a series of explosions 
     at Dahab and in Northern Sinai, Egypt, planned and carried 
     out by terrorists, resulted in the deaths of scores of 
     civilians and the injury of many others;
       Whereas the people of Egypt have been subjected to several 
     other deadly terrorist attacks over the past years; and
       Whereas President George W. Bush called President Hosni 
     Mubarak of Egypt to extend condolences on behalf of the 
     American people for the loss of life: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist attacks 
     on Dahab and Northern Sinai, Egypt and other terrorist 
     attacks directed against Egypt;
       (2) expresses its condolences to the families and friends 
     of those individuals who were killed in the attacks and 
     expresses its sympathies to those individuals who have been 
     injured;
       (3) joins with President George W. Bush in expressing the 
     solidarity of the people and Government of the United States 
     with the people and Government of Egypt as they recover from 
     these cowardly and inhuman attacks; and
       (4) expresses its readiness to support the Egyptian 
     authorities in their efforts to bring to justice those 
     individuals responsible for the recent attacks in Egypt and 
     to pursue, disrupt, undermine, and dismantle the networks 
     which plan and carry out such attacks.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. McCotter) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Wexler) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 795. With this 
resolution, the House reflects on the recent bombings in the Sinai 
which cut short dozens of lives. We take this opportunity to share with 
our friends, the people of Egypt, our sorrow, our sympathy, and our 
determination to help Egypt defend itself against such attacks.
  The Egyptian people have been subject to terrorist attacks for many 
years; they have responded strongly and generally effectively. While 
there were several successful attacks during 2005, there were also 
antiterrorism successes. According to the State Department's ``Country 
Report on Terrorism,'' two attempts to target tourists in Cairo were 
thwarted by Egyptian authorities. Nevertheless, because the Egyptian 
economy relies so strongly on tourism, each incident has an effect that 
is magnified for the country and has an impact that goes beyond the 
personal tragedies of those who are killed and injured. Anyone who has 
had the opportunity to visit Egypt will have experienced the gracious 
hospitality for which Egyptians are famous. It is a terrible shame that 
the Egyptians in the tourism sector, many of whom are economically 
deprived, must bear the burden of the vicious terrorist strikes.
  Mr. Speaker, Egypt and the United States have a good level of 
antiterrorism cooperation. I hope that the combined antiterrorism 
efforts of Egypt and the United States will continue to bear fruit. We 
must continue to work together.
  Mr. Speaker, let me conclude by quoting the statement of the 
Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice, on April 4, 2006: ``The 
United States condemns the vicious terrorist bombings in Dahab, Egypt 
today. We extend our deepest sympathies to those injured by this attack 
and to the families and loved ones of those killed. There could be no 
justification for this barbaric act of terrorism. Our thoughts and 
prayers are with the people of Egypt at this time of grief. We have 
been in contact with the Egyptian Government to extend our condolences 
and to offer whatever assistance they may need. We will support our 
Egyptian friends in their commitment to fight terror and to bring 
justice to those who are responsible for this crime.''
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 795 and 
yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues Congressman Davis and 
Congressman Issa for joining me in introducing this important 
resolution being considered on the floor today.
  On April 24 and April 26, a series of attacks were carried out in the 
Sinai region of Egypt, claiming the lives of 23 innocent civilians and 
injuring more than 60 men, women, and children. These horrific acts 
further demonstrate that no nation is free from the scourge of terror 
that has targeted the United States and our allies in Europe, Asia, and 
the Middle East. From Taba to Dahab to Sharm al-Shaykh, the terrorist 
attacks perpetrated by Islamic extremists in Egypt are deplorable and 
should be condemned by every nation that shares a commitment to 
security and peace. It is in this regard that I call on leaders of the 
international community and especially the Arab world to join the 
United States in decrying these horrific acts, these action by 
terrorists, and exhaust ever measure to work with Egypt in combating 
extremism and terror.
  Today, Congress expresses its solidarity with the people of Egypt who 
have suffered greatly at the hands of terror. As allies in the war on 
terror, the United States and Egypt share a common commitment to 
security in the Middle East. As such, the people of America stand 
shoulder to shoulder with the people of Egypt and renew our commitment 
to eradicating terror throughout the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge our colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield so much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Tom Davis), the sponsor of the 
resolution.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 795, a resolution I introduced condemning the 
terrorist attacks in Dahab and northern Sinai in Egypt.
  On April 24 and 26, 2006, a series of explosions at Dahab and in 
northern Sinai, Egypt, planned and carried out by terrorists, resulted 
in the deaths of scores of civilians and the injuries of many others.
  Over the years, the relationship between the United States and Egypt 
has proven to be of critical importance to both countries. These 
relations have always been founded on mutual and deep understanding of 
each country's interests and role, both at the regional and 
international levels, in creating a world that is more safe and secure.
  Like the United States, Egypt is a prime target of terrorism. 
President Sadat lost his life in 1981 as a price for signing the peace 
accords with Israel. Between 1990 and 1997, Egypt suffered from a 
series of terrorist attacks, mainly targeting the tourism sector that 
had long been the anchor of economic growth in the country.
  Since September 11, Egypt has been a crucial ally to the United 
States in the global war on terror. Egypt, along with other Middle East 
allies such as Israel and Jordan, have paid a price for that too. 
Terrorist attacks rocked the Sinai Peninsula three times over 18 
months. Moreover, last year, Egypt lost its Ambassador to Iraq.
  The bloody attacks that took innocent lives in Dahab earlier this 
month indicate that terrorism does not discriminate by race, ethnicity, 
or region. Instead, terrorists target those seeking to live a peaceful 
and free life. We must hunt the terrorists down and bring them to 
justice. There is no other way

[[Page H2616]]

to respond to those so committed to the destruction of life. We must 
also stand with the Egyptian people in solidarity.
  This resolution does just that, making it clear that Congress and the 
American people are behind them during this difficult period.
  Mr. Speaker, let the House of Representatives speak in unison and 
with clarity on this issue: Terrorism has no place in this world and it 
will not be tolerated.
  I want to thank my colleagues, Darrell Issa, Mr. Wexler and Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen for their work on this resolution. It is only through their 
efforts that we were able to bring it to the floor so quickly. I also 
want to thank my colleague, Mr. McCotter, for managing this so well. In 
addition, I thank the leadership on both sides for allowing this bill 
on the floor today, and I urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 795. The 
cruel and deadly terrorist attacks last month in Egypt's Sinai 
Peninsula took place on the weekend of the Coptic Orthodox Easter and 
an Egyptian national holiday commemorating the Israeli withdrawal from 
the Sinai. Its casualties included Egyptian Muslims and Egyptian 
Christians, as well as foreigners. In all, 18 people were murdered--12 
of them Egyptian--and 85 wounded.
  These attacks have proven once again that the extreme ideology of 
violent Islamic fundamentalism poses a danger not only to the Western 
World but to all peace-loving people on the globe. The terrorists do 
not distinguish between Christians, Jews, or Muslims--or between Arabs 
and non-Arabs--in their search to destroy the core values of 
civilization.
  Mr. Speaker, at this difficult time we extend our deepest sympathies 
to the Egyptian people--and to the loved ones of all those of many 
nations who perished in the April 24 bombings. We also offer sincere 
expressions of concern to all those wounded in the bombings on April 24 
and 26--in the latter of which only the would-be murderers themselves 
lost their lives.
  The rise of terrorism in the once placid Sinai is a source of great 
concern to Egypt, its neighbors, and to all its friends. This was the 
third major bombing at Sinai resorts in the past 18 months, following 
attacks on Taba and its environs on October 7, 2004, which left 34 
dead, and on Sharm el-Sheikh on July 23, 2005, which murdered 64. The 
April 26 attack to which I alluded a moment ago was directed at both 
Egyptian police and a contingent of the U.S.-led Multinational Force 
and Observers (MFO) in the Sinai, people who have no purpose other than 
preserving the peace between Israel and Egypt.
  We want the Egyptian people to know they have our full support as 
they seek to hunt down those who planned and implemented all these 
heinous attacks and as they seek to eradicate the scourge of 
fundamentalist violence that has afflicted Egypt in ebbs and flows over 
the years--the same scourge that took the life of Anwar Sadat, one of 
the towering figures of the twentieth century, as well as the life of 
Farag Hoda, a brilliant author and highly principled secularist.
  I believe the ultimate answer to this problem lies in education, 
economic development, and political reform. But now is not the time to 
debate such issues.
  For now, Mr. Speaker, let us stand as one with the Egyptian people 
and government in opposing and rejecting the violent ideology of hate, 
of which Egypt has been but the latest victim.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly support this resolution, and I urge all my 
colleagues to join me in doing likewise.
  Mrs. CUBIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House 
Resolution 795, condemning the terrorist bombings in Egypt on April 24 
and 26, 2006. The deplorable and cowardly acts of violence perpetrated 
against civilians on those two days of terror are worthy of our 
condemnation, and illustrate the depths to which terrorists will sink 
to spread their hatred and violence. I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution on its own merits, but also out of respect for four 
good people from my hometown of Casper, Wyoming, all of whom were 
severely injured in the April 24 blast in Dahab.
  On the evening of April 24, 2006, Betsy Lamberson, Tom South, Bruce 
Lamberson and Cindy Parrish were attempting to enjoy a nice dinner 
together at this resort town on the Gulf of Aqaba. Their plans were 
suddenly and brutally cut short when a terrorist group affiliated with 
Al-Qaeda detonated three separate blasts, killing 24 people and 
injuring more than 80. These four Wyoming folks were among those 
seriously injured. We can thank God that all of them lived through the 
ordeal. However, with broken limbs and serious shrapnel injuries, each 
of them has a long road to recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, there can be no greater reminder to us of what is at 
stake in our war against terrorism then four innocent people from my 
hometown nearly cut down by the senseless hatred of radical Islamists. 
Will cannot and will not live in the shadow of this violence, unable to 
visit family in far away places out of fear for our very lives. Our 
resolve is only hardened by these attacks on our countrymen, and our 
commitment to defeating terrorism across the globe is renewed today.
  On behalf of Wyoming and her citizens, I pray that Betsy, Tom, Bruce, 
and Cindy will fully recover from their injuries and be able to enjoy 
all that life has yet to offer them. I urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution, which sends a clear message to terrorists wherever 
they may be hiding: we will not stand idly by while you so callously 
attempt to harm innocent people, and destroy the freedoms they deserve.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remaining time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of our time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 795.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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