[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 113 (Wednesday, September 13, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H6509-H6511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXTENDING THANKS TO DEFENSE POW/MISSING PERSONNEL OFFICE FOR EFFORTS TO
ACHIEVE ACCOUNTING OF ALL AMERICANS UNACCOUNTED FOR AS A RESULT OF THE
VIETNAM WAR
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 444) extending the thanks of
Congress and the Nation to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel office,
the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command of the Department of Defense, the
Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory, the Air Force Life Sciences
Equipment Laboratory, and the military departments and to the Socialist
Republic of Vietnam for their efforts to achieve the fullest possible
accounting of all Americans unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam
War, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows
H. Con. Res. 444
Whereas the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO), an
element of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, exercises
policy, control and oversight within the Department of
Defense of the process of investigation, analysis, recovery,
and fullest possible accounting of Americans missing as a
result of the Nation's previous wars and conflicts;
Whereas the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC),
located on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, is charged with the
mission of conducting investigations, analysis, recovery, and
identifications to achieve the fullest possible accounting of
all Americans missing as a result of the Nation's wars and
conflicts;
Whereas the laboratory portion of that command, referred to
as the Central Identification Laboratory, is the largest
forensic anthropology laboratory in the world;
Whereas the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory
(AFDIL), located in Rockville, Maryland, is one of the
leading laboratories in the world for processing degraded
skeletal remains and family references for mitochondrial DNA;
Whereas the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory
(LSEL), located in San Antonio, Texas, houses the most
comprehensive technical library and collection of life
sciences equipment used by the Armed Forces, to include
analysts for artifact identification;
Whereas National POW/MIA Recognition Day is one of the six
days specified in section 902 of title 36, United States
Code, as days on which the National League of Families POW/
MIA flag is to be flown over specified Federal facilities and
national cemeteries, post offices, and military
installations;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, the remains of 60
Americans unaccounted for from the Korean War have been
recovered, and these remains have been repatriated,
identified, and returned to their families;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, the remains of more than
375 Americans unaccounted for from World War II, the Cold
War, and other conflicts fought by the United States have
been recovered throughout the world, and these remains have
been repatriated, identified, and returned to their families;
Whereas the improved access of representatives of the
United States to information in the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, and the
Kingdom of Cambodia has resulted in the recovery and
repatriation of the remains of Americans unaccounted for from
the Vietnam War;
Whereas as of September 15, 2006, 216 Joint Field Actions
have been conducted in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, which has
resulted in the recovery of the remains of 841 Americans
unaccounted for from the Vietnam War, and these remains have
been repatriated, identified, and returned to their families;
Whereas the United States has a historic commitment to the
recovery of, and the fullest accounting of, Americans who are
missing as a result of the Nation's wars and conflicts; and
Whereas every member of the United States Armed Forces who
is unaccounted for as a result of service to the Nation is
equally important, regardless of the time or place of the war
or conflict: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress--
(1) recognizes that National POW/MIA Recognition Day is one
of the six days specified by section 902 of title 36, United
States Code, as days on which the National League of Families
POW/MIA flag is to be flown over specified Federal facilities
and national cemeteries, military installations, and post
offices;
(2) applauds the personnel of the Defense POW/Missing
Personnel Office, the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command of the
Department of Defense, the Armed Forces DNA Identification
Laboratory, the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment Laboratory,
and the military departments for continuing their mission of
achieving the fullest possible accounting of all Americans
unaccounted for as a result of the Nation's previous wars and
conflicts;
(3) extends its appreciation and the appreciation of the
people of the United States to the personnel of those
offices, commands, and laboratories in the United States, the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, and the Kingdom of Cambodia for their efforts to
achieve the fullest possible accounting of all Americans who
remain unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam War;
(4) encourages the United States Government to use all
available means to continue the mission described in
paragraph (2) at current or greater levels until the fullest
possible accounting missing Americans is achieved;
(5) recognizes that the efforts and involvement of POW/MIA
families and veterans contribute significantly to the fullest
possible accounting of missing Americans;
[[Page H6510]]
(6) recognizes the assistance of host nations in supporting
the efforts of the United States Government to achieve the
fullest possible accounting of all Americans unaccounted for
as a result of the Nation's previous wars and conflicts;
(7) extends its appreciation to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
for continued assistance and cooperation in the humane
recovery, repatriation, and identification of the remains of
Americas still unaccounted for from the Vietnam War; and
(8) encourages all host nations to assist and cooperate in
the humane recovery, repatriation, and identification of the
remains of Americans unaccounted for as a result of the
Nation's previous wars and conflicts.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Butterfield) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Connecticut.
General Leave
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Connecticut?
There was no objection.
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I am honored to rise in support of H. Con. Res. 444, recognizing the
difficult, demanding and essential work of the Defense/POW Missing
Personnel Office, or DPMO, and all the others devoted to bringing home
fallen U.S. servicemembers. DPMO makes sure that none of our men and
women in uniform are forgotten or left behind on the field of battle.
This Friday, we will observe National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and I
am pleased that passage of this resolution will send a message of
sincere thanks to all who remain dedicated, vigilant and loyal to
unaccounted for Americans.
Although he cannot be here with us tonight, I would like to recognize
my colleague and fellow Vietnam veteran Congressman Lane Evans, who was
a cosponsor of this resolution and a fellow member of the House Armed
Services Committee. My good friend from Illinois also shares with me
co-chair responsibilities on the United States-Vietnam Congressional
Caucus which we established several years ago. Congressman Evans is
retiring at the end of this Congress, and I thank him for his
friendship and for his service. He is a former marine, and he has been
a great friend to members of all the branches of service. I say to him
tonight, Lane, Semper Fi.
This resolution tonight is especially meaningful to Connecticut's
Second District. In June 1972, CPT Arnold Holm of Waterford,
Connecticut, was shot down over the central highlands of Vietnam.
Captain Holm and the two members of his flight crew, PFC Wayne Bibbs
and SP4 Robin Yeakley, were officially listed as missing in action.
Numerous searches for the crash site of their helicopter were
unsuccessful, but the dedicated individuals of the DPMO did not give
up. Just a few weeks ago, nearly 35 years after the helicopter was shot
down, the field team in Vietnam appears to have located Captain Holm's
crash site. I cannot tell you what this means to his wife Margarete
Holm and to the family. It brings a sense of closure that is
indescribable to anyone who has not experienced the profound emotions
of personal loss that goes with having a family member as missing in
action.
This resolution gives thanks to all of those who have worked to bring
home America's POWs and MIAs. It reaffirms our commitment to our fellow
Americans who have earned the right to be called heroes.
Americans are unique in this regard because we never leave our own
behind. It is part of our national character that we do not write off
those lost in defense of our Nation, no matter where they are, no
matter how long they have been lost.
The U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory located in Hawaii has
an important mission. Their task is to search for, recover and identify
the remains of servicemembers, certain civilian personnel and allied
personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam
War and all other conflicts. DPMO has brought home and identified
hundreds of previously unaccounted for servicemembers, which is a
costly and dangerous assignment. Americans, Vietnamese and others have
lost their lives in search of their lost brothers, but we continue to
support their mission because their work is a critical element of who
we are.
DPMO's mission is critical to the military families who live with
ambiguity and await closure. By continuing the search, we honor their
service and their sacrifice.
I have already shared the story of Captain Holm. I have another.
Robert Dumas lives in Canterbury, Connecticut. For more than 50 years,
he has been searching for his brother Roger, who was a POW in Korea. He
has been to Washington, D.C., more than 100 times and has met with
Members of Congress and anyone else who might be able to help him
uncover the fate of his brother. Bob Dumas promised his mother on her
deathbed that he would never abandon the effort to find his brother,
and he has kept his word. That is what this resolution is all about,
keeping our word to those who have served and to their families.
Men like Roger Dumas, Arnie Holm and millions of others throughout
our Nation's history have put their lives on the line for us. Some of
them never returned and the fate of the others remains uncertain, but
we owe it to them and to their families to try to bring them home.
The governments of Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia and other Nations
throughout Southeast Asia also deserve our thanks. They have been
instrumental in the search for missing U.S. servicemembers. In many
cases, Vietnamese soldiers and officials have risked and lost their
lives in the pursuit of American POWs and MIA remains.
When I put my dog tags on over 40 years ago, I noticed that they did
not give any indication of my political affiliation, and when you visit
the graves of our heroes at nearby Arlington Cemetery you will notice
the same thing. None of the markers identify the soldiers' political
affiliations. We do not wear the uniform of our country as members of a
political party but as Americans. We do not continue to search for our
missing servicemen and women as members of a political party but as
Americans.
We will continue to support the efforts of the DPMO all around the
world because these efforts are important. We will never give up the
work, the hope or the commitment, and I ask all of my colleagues to
join in support of this important resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 444 and thank my friend Mr. Simmons
from Connecticut for bringing this resolution forward this evening.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution is an expression of appreciation of the
Congress and the Nation to the personnel of the Department of Defense
organizations and military departments who are engaged in the mission
to achieve the fullest possible accounting for all unaccounted
servicemembers in past and current conflicts.
It also recognizes the POW/MIA families and the veterans for their
support and foreign Nations that have assisted in these endeavors, and
so I am pleased to join my friend from Connecticut in support of this
measure, and I thank him for bringing it forward.
Mr. Speaker, on the third Friday of each September our Nation pays
tribute to our prisoners of war and those still missing in action
during National POW/MIA Recognition Day. On September 15, we will honor
America's POWs and all those who have worked and continue the effort to
leave no servicemember behind.
{time} 2045
There are thousands of people that support these efforts, from teams
on the ground who conduct investigations, analysis and recovery, to
those within the Department of Defense Mission Personnel Office, who
are responsible for developing the policies and the controls and
oversight. Each and every day these dedicated individuals are working
to bring home our missing sons and daughters who have served their
Nation in uniform.
[[Page H6511]]
The joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Hawaii oversees these
missions. The Central Identification Laboratory is the largest forensic
anthropology laboratory in the world. The Armed Forces DNA
Identification Laboratory in Maryland is one of the leading
laboratories in the world that handles degraded skeletal remains to
determine DNA results, and the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment
Laboratory in Texas is home to the most comprehensive technical library
and collection of life sciences equipment used by the Armed Forces.
But all of our efforts would be for naught, Mr. Speaker, if we did
not have the support and cooperation of other nations, such as the Laos
People's Democratic Republic, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and
the Kingdom of Cambodia, in helping us achieve the fullest possible
accounting of all Americans who remain unaccounted from past and
current conflicts.
However, even with the state-of-the-art laboratories and highly
trained personnel and the support of foreign nations, we could not be
successful as we have been without the support of the families. Yes,
the families and the loved ones of those missing in action and those
who were captured and returned home. The support of these families and
that of our POWs has been immeasurable. We would not be here today in
support of National POW/MIA Recognition Day without their encouragement
and without their advocacy.
On Friday, National POW/MIA Recognition Day will be one of the six
days specified by law that the National League of Families POW/MIA flag
is required to be flown over certain Federal buildings, over certain
national cemeteries, military installations, and post offices. The flag
will fly as a reminder for all Americans to remember those who remain
missing in action and those who were captured and have returned home.
And so, Mr. Speaker, let us also take this special moment to
recognize those of the current conflict, the current conflict who
remain missing: SGT Keith ``Matt'' Maupin, United States Army Reserves,
and MAJ Jill Metzger, United States Air Force. Our thoughts and our
prayers are with them and with their families and the families of those
whose loved ones remain missing from previous conflicts.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I would simply like to close by thanking my
colleague, the gentleman from North Carolina, who serves with great
distinction on the House Armed Services Committee, serves our country
in a bipartisan fashion, for his contribution and his cooperation on
this resolution here tonight
Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, on June 29, 2006, my colleague, Mr. Simmons,
and I introduced H. Con. Res. 444, extending the thanks of Congress and
the Nation to the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office, the Joint POW/
MIA Accounting Command of the Department of Defense, the Armed Forces
DNA Identification Laboratory, the Air Force Life Sciences Equipment
Laboratory, and the military departments and to the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam for their efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting
of all Americans unaccounted for as a result of the Nation's previous
wars and conflicts. I am honored to stand before you today in support
of this resolution.
On Friday we will celebrate National POW/MIA Recognition Day. As a
Vietnam-era veteran I am deeply touched by the opportunity to discuss
this resolution on the floor so close to this important day of
recognition. It is difficult for me to understand that over 30 years
after the end of hostilities in Vietnam, 1,802 Americans are still
unaccounted for in Southeast Asia. It is only through the hard work and
cooperation of the people, officials and governments of Vietnam and the
United States that the remains of 604 Americans have been identified
and returned to the United States. They are the heroes who are helping
to bring closure and peace to so many American families.
I urge all my colleagues to vote in support of this long overdue
recognition and send a heartfelt message to all the individuals
involved in the identification and recovery efforts that a thankful
Nation values and appreciates the work they do.
Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Likewise, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of
my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Simmons) that the House suspend the
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 444, as
amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as
amended, was agreed to.
The title of the concurrent resolution was amended so as to read:
``Concurrent resolution extending the appreciation of Congress and the
Nation to the Department of Defense organizations, military
departments, and personnel engaged in the mission to achieve the
fullest possible accounting for all Americans unaccounted for as a
result of the Nation's wars, to the POW/MIA families and veterans who
support the mission, and to foreign nations that assist in the
mission.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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