[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 62 (Wednesday, April 18, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H3494-H3499]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 53,000 SOLDIERS, SAILORS, AIRMEN, MARINES, AND CIVILIANS 
     THAT COMPRISE THE NATION'S SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES COMMUNITY

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 305) honoring the 53,000 soldiers, 
sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians that comprise the Nation's 
special operations forces community.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 305

       Whereas the failure to organize, train, equip, and plan 
     special operations forces (SOF) missions in a joint 
     environment ultimately led to the aborted military operation 
     Eagle Claw, more commonly referred to as Desert One, where 
     eight servicemembers lost their lives attempting to rescue 
     American hostages held in Tehran;
       Whereas this failure led to Congressional passage of the 
     Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 
     1986, which established the United States Special Operations 
     Command and the principle legal authority for the United 
     States military to organize, train, equip, and operate 
     jointly;
       Whereas April 16, 2007, marks the 20th year anniversary of 
     the establishment of United States Special Operations Command 
     at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida;

[[Page H3495]]

       Whereas United States Special Operations Command is 
     comprised of--
       (1) United States Army Special Operations Command at Ft. 
     Bragg, North Carolina;
       (2) Naval Special Warfare Command at Naval Amphibious Base, 
     Coronado, California;
       (3) Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, 
     Florida;
       (4) Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command at Camp 
     Lejeune, North Carolina; and
       (5) Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg, North 
     Carolina;
       Whereas the most visible SOF mission is direct action, but 
     SOF missions also extend across the vast operational spectrum 
     to include unconventional warfare, counterterrorism, 
     counterproliferation, counterinsurgency, strategic 
     reconnaissance, civil-military operations, foreign internal 
     defense, psychological and information operations, 
     humanitarian assistance, and theater search and rescue;
       Whereas the President, in the 2004 Unified Command Plan, 
     expanded the role of United States Special Operations Command 
     to serve as the ``lead combatant commander for planning, 
     synchronizing, and as directed, executing global operations 
     against terrorist networks in coordination with other 
     combatant commanders'';
       Whereas special operations forces are ideally suited to 
     meet the asymmetric threat posed by violent Islamists who 
     promote intolerance, stifle freedom, and destroy peace;
       Whereas the United States has called on the special 
     operations community to promote freedom and democracy around 
     the world in places such as--
       (1) the Island of Basilan in the Philippines, where Army 
     Special Forces teams and Navy SEALs continue to successfully 
     develop partner nation capacity that has significantly 
     improved Philippine security and has furthered America's 
     national security interests in the Pacific region;
       (2) South America, where SOF personnel continue to train 
     and cooperate with local forces to thwart illicit drug 
     trafficking and terrorist activity;
       (3) the Horn of Africa, where Marine special operations and 
     other SOF personnel work closely with coalition partners to 
     promote regional stability;
       (4) Afghanistan, where Air Force combat controllers and 
     other SOF personnel significantly contributed to the 
     liberation of a nation from an oppressive regime and continue 
     efforts to maintain the peace and promote democracy in that 
     country; and
       (5) Iraq, where SOF personnel have admirably served in 
     support of coalition forces;
       Whereas the SOF community consists of numerous individuals 
     recognized for acts of distinction and valor, including 48 
     Congressional Medal of Honor recipients;
       Whereas the 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review recognized the 
     importance of SOF and the critical role that it plays in the 
     War on Terror and called for an increase of 15 percent in SOF 
     beginning in fiscal year 2007; and
       Whereas the core principles of the special operations 
     community, known as the SOF Truths, hold that--
       (1) humans are more important than hardware;
       (2) SOF cannot be mass produced;
       (3) quality is better than quantity; and
       (4) competent SOF cannot be created after emergencies 
     occur: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the sacrifices and commitment of the 53,000 
     soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians that 
     comprise the Nation's special operations forces community and 
     recognizes that it owes each and every one of them a debt of 
     gratitude;
       (2) honors the families of the Nation's special operations 
     forces warriors who are there day-in and day-out while their 
     loved ones are deployed around the world; and
       (3) recognizes that the United States military should seek 
     to replicate the success that the special operations forces 
     community has achieved throughout the War on Terror.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Smith) and the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that 
all Members may have 5 legislative days in 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 Washington?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as 
I may consume.
  This resolution is to honor our special forces on their 20th 
anniversary. I will have much more to say about this, but at this point 
I want to reserve the balance of my time and thank Congresswoman Drake 
for her leadership on this issue as the prime sponsor of the bill and 
allow her to speak first.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I might 
consume.
  I would like to thank Mr. Smith, the chairman of the Terrorism and 
Unconventional Threats Subcommittee, and Mr. Thornberry, the ranking 
member, for their support and for working in a collaborative way to 
quickly bring this resolution to the floor.
  I rise today to honor the brave men and women of the United States 
Special Operations Command. The Second Congressional District of 
Virginia is home to Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek and Dam Neck and 
is home to Naval Special Warfare Group TWO and Naval Special Warfare 
Group FOUR, as well as Naval Special Warfare Development Group. The 
fine sailors, airmen, soldiers, marines and civilians of the command 
hold a special place in my heart, as they do for many of my colleagues 
on the Terrorism and Unconventional Threats and Capabilities 
Subcommittee and on the Armed Services Committee.
  This resolution is both proper and timely, as the 20th year 
anniversary of the establishment of the United States Special 
Operations Command in Tampa was this past Monday, April 15. Since that 
time, SOCOM has been involved across the globe as the ``tip of the 
spear,'' providing for our Nation's security across the continuum of 
conflict.
  On September 20, 2001, in preparing this country for the war on 
terror, President Bush said, ``Our response involves far more than 
instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect 
one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have seen. It 
may include dramatic strikes, visible on television, and covert 
operations, secret even in success.''
  Since the attacks of September 11, 2001, SOCOM has been leading the 
way in the war on terrorism and in promoting peace and security around 
the globe by conducting the full range of special operations missions. 
We are here today to honor those men and women who operate with little 
recognition, the ones whose successes remain unnoticed by the world at 
large.

                              {time}  1150

  We face an enemy vastly different from the one 20 years ago. Our 
enemy hides in the shadows, within society, and it is no longer bound 
by convention.
  As my colleagues know, I have on many occasions come to this floor to 
talk about the mainstream media and their seemingly unwillingness to 
address the positives regarding our military and their achievements 
throughout the war on terror. As little as the American people hear 
about the successes of our conventional forces, they hear less about 
the successes of our special operations forces.
  That is why this resolution is timely and important. The men and 
women of SOCOM are there, every day, with little or no logistical 
support, building relationships and providing security in some of the 
most remote places across the globe.
  Mr. Speaker, we honor all those who wear the uniform. But today, I 
believe it is important that we honor those patriotic men and women 
that comprise our special operations community.
  U.S. SOCOM's vision sums this up: To be the premier team of special 
warrior, thoroughly prepared, properly equipped and highly motivated at 
the right place, at the right time, facing the right adversary, leading 
the global war on terrorism, accomplishing the strategic objectives of 
the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  As Mrs. Drake pointed out, we are honoring the 20th anniversary of 
the forming of the command on special forces, and I think it is 
important to remember why Special Operations Command was set up. It was 
in reaction to the failure of the Desert One rescue attempt of the 
Iranian hostages, and there were a lot of lessons learned from that and 
a lot of studies that went into it.
  Two of the biggest ones were, one, we needed a better joint 
structure. The military was too divided in its various service 
components, and they did not work together. We had large numbers of 
assets that could function a lot better if they could be brought 
together in a coordinated fashion, and this is something that was 
embodied in the Goldwater-Nichols changes throughout the services and 
especially on the Special Ops Command to try to bring those forces 
together.
  Secondly, we didn't really have groups that were trained for that 
type of mission, for the ability to go in and rescue hostages, to do 
the direct action missions that required very specialized training. So 
the command was formed to help address those two issues and has been a 
fabulous success.

[[Page H3496]]

  As Mrs. Drake pointed out, we now have over 53,000 people who are 
part of Special Operations Command performing some of the most 
important tasks in our military and performing them very, very well. 
Our capabilities have been enormously enhanced because of the Special 
Operations Command. There are many of them stationed throughout the 
U.S. and throughout the world. I am very proud at Fort Lewis and in 
McCord to have the first special forces group at Fort Lewis and the 
22nd Special Tactics Aviation Command at McCord. And I have also had 
the opportunity to visit many of these units in various places 
throughout the country and throughout the world, and they are serving 
us very, very well.
  As we move forward, I think the important thing we are trying to 
develop on the Terrorism Subcommittee on Armed Services is to bring 
into play another important piece of what the special operations forces 
do. There is a tendency to think of them as the direct action guys. 
They find bad guys and take them out. If we have hostages that need to 
be rescued, they go get them. But there is another very important task 
that they perform, and this is in the unconventional warfare, indirect 
action piece.
  We are now active in well over a dozen countries throughout the world 
where our special forces folks go into the community, work very closely 
with local communities to help stop insurgencies before they take root. 
We are doing this in the Philippines, and we are doing this in Central 
Africa. And it is having enormous benefits.
  It is far, far better to get in early, help train the locals in terms 
of how to protect themselves and then to help them with their local 
population on the issues that are most important.
  We had testimony yesterday from a former special operations person 
who said when they first went into Northern Africa, the best thing they 
did was they brought a dentist with them. The locals so desperately 
needed that help; when we gave it to them, they then helped us deal 
with the insurgency problem.
  Whether it is bad schools or bad water supply, our special forces 
people are getting engaged with the local community, understanding the 
culture and learning the language and becoming helpful. That, I 
believe, is the future of our battle against al Qaeda and many, many 
other insurgent movements, is to get the population on our side, hearts 
and minds before we have to engage in the type of military action that 
is by definition messy and not always as focused as we would like it to 
be. Let's get the insurgency stopped before it starts, and that is what 
our special forces can do and are very well trained to do.
  To move forward with this, to continue moving forward on the mission, 
I think we need to do two things: One, we need to grow the force, never 
sacrificing quality for the sake of quantity, but to grow the force and 
to set up the training system necessary and the recruitment system 
necessary. We are going to need more special operations forces in the 
wars we are now fighting.
  The second thing is to get that emphasis on indirect action. We will, 
I believe, need to make some restructuring within the Special 
Operations Command to get that emphasis on indirect action because for 
so long the emphasis has primarily been on direct action.
  So those are issues that we want to work on. I am very pleased to 
join with Congresswoman Drake in honoring our Special Operations 
Command on the 20th anniversary of their existence.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, before I recognize our next speaker, I would 
like to take a moment and extend my deepest sympathies and support to 
the grieving Virginia Tech family.
  This week we witnessed a tragedy of overwhelming proportions that has 
destroyed the lives of many innocent victims. While the consequences 
are devastating, I was inspired by the ability of students, alumni, 
faculty, family and neighbors to come together, driven by a sense of 
community and compassion, to support others in their time of need.
  Mr. Speaker, I will submit a further statement for the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Hayes).
  Mr. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Virginia for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise today to salute our Nation's special operations forces as a 
cosponsor honoring the 20th anniversary of United States Special 
Operations Command.
  As we continue to fight the global war on terror, special operations 
forces are making incredible contributions and playing a most essential 
role in winning this war. They truly are the tip of the spear.
  As co-chair of the Special Operations Caucus, I am very proud my 
district is home to Fort Bragg, which is home to Army Special 
Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command and the John F. 
Kennedy Special Warfare School.
  But Fort Bragg is only part of the amazing force that comprises 
Special Operations. Members of the Navy, Air Force and the new Marine 
Corps Special Operations Commands also play critical roles in 
addressing the threats we face as a Nation.
  These quiet professionals are promoting freedom through their service 
around the world. During my visits with special operators here, at home 
and overseas, I have consistently been struck by their unwavering 
dedication, commitment and capability.
  The role of these special operations forces is only going to grow, 
and as they grow, it is vitally important that we keep the soft truths 
closely in mind: Humans are more important than hardware; quality is 
better than quantity; SOF forces cannot be mass produced; SOF cannot be 
easily created after emergencies occur.
  The service and sacrifice of the 53,000 members of the special 
operations community and that of their families are a major part of 
what creates and maintains the freedom we all enjoy.
  I am honored to be able to work on behalf of our special operators. I 
salute these quiet professionals in the United States Special 
Operations Command on its 20-year contribution to our national 
security. I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Thornberry.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Castor).
  Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank the distinguished chair of the 
terrorism subcommittee, Mr. Smith.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the commitment, dedication and sacrifice 
of the men, women and extended family of Special Operations Command. 
Special Operations Command is located in Tampa, Florida, at MacDill Air 
Force Base in my district, and I am very proud to use this week, the 
20th anniversary of the command's founding, to salute their service.
  There is little doubt that a need still exists for the well-
coordinated special forces.

                              {time}  1200

  There are just some things that conventional forces are not set up to 
do. Special forces have been around for centuries. But SOCOM can 
directly trace its roots to the Office of Strategic Services, the OSS, 
the intelligence agency that was formed during World War II.
  Tampa resident Art Frizzell, who is 87, served as an OSS agent. He 
parachuted behind German lines in France and worked with French 
partisans to blow up bridges and help organize the resistance during 
World War II.
  In many ways, Frizzell said, special operations were as much about 
brains and unconventional warfare in the 1940s as they are today. We 
recognized, Frizzell said, that we had to be flexible. We did the job 
that nobody else could do.
  So at this 20th anniversary, we salute the brave men and women who 
have served our country in the special operations, much of which you 
will never understand or know. But the American people trust in their 
service.
  So on this day, on behalf of the Florida's 11th District, proud home 
of Special Operations Command, we salute your service and thank you.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Kline).
  Mr. KLINE of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlelady for her 
thoughtfulness and leadership in bringing this resolution to the floor.

[[Page H3497]]

  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 305. Mr. Speaker, next week will 
mark the 27th anniversary of Operation Eagle Claw, better known to most 
Americans as ``Desert One,'' which the distinguished chairman mentioned 
moments ago.
  On April 24, 1980, a task force consisting of Army special forces, 
Army Rangers, Air Force special operations wing personnel and the Navy, 
Marines and Air Force succeeded in moving thousands of miles, 
undetected, until reaching a remote location in the Iranian desert 200 
miles from Tehran in an effort to rescue the American hostages being 
held at the American Embassy.
  A combination of helicopters and C-130 aircraft rendezvoused with the 
intention of rescuing these hostages in Tehran the following evening. 
Due to mechanical failures and weather problems, only six out of eight 
helicopters successfully arrived at the Desert One rendezvous. Once the 
six helicopters arrived, the rescue attempt was dealt a final blow when 
it was learned that one of the helicopters had lost its primary 
hydraulic system.
  As the various aircraft began moving into position to return to their 
respective launching points, one of the helicopters, flown by one of my 
very best friends, collided with a C-130 aircraft on the ground. Flames 
engulfed the helicopter and the C-130, which resulted in the death of 
five airmen and three marines.
  During my 25 years in the Marine Corps, I had the good fortune to 
know many of the heroes of that day, and I did, in fact, count many of 
them as my best friends. These brave men were asked, and all proudly 
volunteered, to undertake the challenge of rescuing their fellow 
Americans in a mission of the utmost secrecy and gravest danger.
  Members from all branches of our armed services came together, 
bringing with them the best of skills and experience, but it was not 
enough to do the job. In the end, inadequate equipment, tremendous dust 
storms, extraordinary logistical challenges contributed to the 
mission's failure. But these circumstances in no way diminished the 
skill and bravery of the men who took on this hazardous mission against 
all odds.
  Out of the ashes of Operation Eagle Claw arose the organization that 
we honor today. In 1986, Congress established a new unified command for 
special operations forces, designated as the U.S. Special Operations 
Command. And today we gratefully honor the 20th anniversary of SOCOM's 
founding and the men and women who fill its ranks.
  Like their predecessors, the men and women that comprise today's 
special operations forces have accepted the challenge of tackling some 
of the most difficult and dangerous missions assigned to our military. 
As we have witnessed in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, the 
Philippines and in many other locations across the globe, they have 
handled these missions with honor and skillful professionalism.
  To those who perished in Operation Eagle Claw and the many SOCOM 
missions since then, we offer our sincere appreciation. And to those 
who carry on their noble mission, we pledge our Nation's support.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have the highest regard for every man and 
woman who serves in the United States military. Whether they be a 
member of the Air Force or the Army or the Marine Corps or the Navy or 
the Coast Guard, everyone who volunteers to serve our country deserves 
the gratitude of every American citizen. And to the extent that they 
have provided the great service to our country, we all thank them, each 
and every one.
  Just as people volunteer to be in the military, some people, various 
people, in the military volunteer to do different things. And those who 
volunteer to be members of the Special Operations Command are often 
referred to as the ``tip of the spear.'' This is the insignia on this 
plate of the Special Operations Command. It is the tip of the spear. 
And we refer to them as members of an organization that is the tip of 
the spear because they volunteer to put them themselves in great danger 
very often. They do it for our country. They do it for our government. 
They do it for their families and their friends and neighbors; and it 
makes them, in my view, a very special cadre of people in the United 
States military.
  Today, there are 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines in the 
joint organization made up of members of all four services known as the 
Special Operations Command. The acronym, of course, that we use is 
SOCOM. These are highly trained individuals who devote themselves and 
commit their lives to the very defense of our country.
  There are people in the Special Operations Command who take part in 
something called direct action. The Navy SEALs would be such an 
organization, Naval Special Warfare Command actually is the formal 
name, or Navy SEALs as they more generally are known as people who are 
often direct actors.
  And then there are special operations folks who are indirect actors, 
who try to manipulate, if you will, the shape of the battlefield or 
attitudes on the battlefield among our enemies that would be beneficial 
to us. These are civil affairs people and psychological operations 
people and others who take part in an indirect way rather than in a so-
called direct way.
  Since SOCOM's inception, the special operators have conducted high-
profile missions, including operations to establish a democratic 
government in Panama, hunting Scuds during the first Gulf War, 
providing relief to Kurds during Operation Provide Comfort, and the 
mission to capture Mohammed Hadid in Somalia, and many other operations 
around the world.
  Not only did they put themselves in great danger, and not only do 
they perform a great duty to our country, but they do it at great 
sacrifice for themselves and their family. They train constantly. They 
have deployed very often and they are, indeed, a credit to themselves, 
a credit to their families, who pay a sacrifice as well, and a great 
credit to our Armed Forces.
  So I rise today to commend the gentlelady from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) 
for offering this resolution. It is certainly one that is well deserved 
on this 20th anniversary of the establishment of the United States 
Special Operations Command.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2\1/2\ 
minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall).
  Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to address the House on the 
occasion of the 20th anniversary of the creation of SOCOM. And today we 
not only pat ourselves on the back for having created SOCOM, but at the 
same time, we honor and recognize all of those military personnel for 
SOCOM who have done so much for this country over the years.
  Twenty years seems like a long time, but in the course of history it 
is not a very long time. And if you think about all of the engagements 
that we have had in recent years and the challenges that we likely face 
as a country over the next few decades, SOCOM is going to be around 
with us for quite some time. And it brings to the table capacities that 
we vitally need.

                              {time}  1210

  Our experience in Iraq shows us that we simply cannot compel 
indigenous societies to do what we wish them to do. We have got to 
persuade them to work with us to bring peace and security, not only for 
their countries but throughout the world. And in order to do that, our 
special forces, part of SOCOM, are extraordinarily effective.
  We have direct action operators, and then we have indirect action. 
Direct action is us, in a very sophisticated way, doing what we need to 
do to affirmatively address with military force, kinetic force, 
problems that we perceive, and SOCOM is very, very effective at 
delivering direct action.
  But there is also the indirect action. The ability of special forces 
to work with indigenous populations to get them on our side, if that is 
the right term, and to persuade them to develop their capacity to 
provide security for themselves, which in turn provides security for 
us. We all recognize that, in this new era where there is a growing 
lethality of hatred, where one or two or a small group of individuals 
located somewhere in the world can obtain things that are very, very 
deadly, dangerous to the United States and the Western world, and 
deliver them to us, in an era in which individuals can do this 
worldwide, we have got to be able to network. We have got to be able to

[[Page H3498]]

create effective Security Forces among indigenous populations, and 
special forces brings that kind of capability to the table.
  So I expect we will grow SOCOM. I expect SOCOM will be in the future 
a very important part of our Nation's defense. I thank all of the men 
and women in SOCOM for the great service they have provided and 
congratulate SOCOM on its 20th anniversary.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Thornberry).
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution and especially in 
support of the commitment and dedication that lies behind it, both the 
troops that make up the Special Operations Command and the Members here 
in the House who support them.
  The gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Drake) conceived of this 
resolution as a way of recognizing the unique contribution that these 
forces make to our national security, and she has been a leader in 
advocating on their behalf. The gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Hayes) has been one of the strongest advocates for Special Operations 
Command, not only their value to the country but also what they need to 
carry out their job, and he, along with Mr. McIntyre of North Carolina, 
are co-chairs of the Special Operations Forces Caucus here in the 
House. The gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) has also been a leading 
advocate for special operations forces, as has been, of course, the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Marshall), the gentleman from Minnesota 
(Mr. Kline), who have unique military backgrounds to contribute. And I 
have got to say that the chairman of this subcommittee, Mr. Smith, as 
well as the previous chairman, Mr. Saxton, work not only for 
recognition but also to see that these forces have the resources, the 
support, the organization they need to carry out their job. This is not 
just a one-time recognition. This is something that a number of 
dedicated Members work on throughout the year to provide the backup 
support that these folks need.
  Mr. Speaker, warfare is always changing. The kinds of skills and 
missions that our special operations forces bring are absolutely 
critical to today's fight but even more critical to the national 
security challenges ahead, both the direct action and the indirect 
action. Bringing precise targeted effects without a large number of 
troops, without a big logistical tail, that is very important. It is 
also very important to help train other militaries so that they can 
work with us and we are not dependent upon our troops to do all the 
things that need to be done.
  So this is an important resolution, but the commitment and dedication 
of the gentlewoman from Virginia and my chairman from Washington are 
the crucial elements that help these folks do their job day in and day 
out. It deserves our support.
  Mrs. DRAKE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume just to say one quick thing.
  The bipartisan agreement on our support for the Special Operations 
Command and the support for the mission I think is something that would 
surprise a great many people and something we need to focus on.
  And I want to thank Mr. Thornberry, Mr. Saxton, Mrs. Drake, Mr. 
Kline, the subcommittee that is focused on this issue. We are very much 
in the same place on what we need to do to be ready to combat the 
threat we face from al Qaeda and other insurgent groups, and I think it 
speaks very well of the committee, both the subcommittee and the 
broader committee, that there is such bipartisan agreement on how to 
approach this fight. I think a lot of times the national focus is on 
where we disagree as parties when, in fact, there is an enormous amount 
of agreement on critical pieces of how we need to proceed with this. So 
I appreciate Mrs. Drake's bringing this resolution to the floor so we 
can talk about that, and I look forward to working with her and all the 
members of the committee in a bipartisan fashion to move forward on 
these issues.
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the commitment, 
dedication and sacrifice of the men, women and the extended family of 
the Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
  This week marks the 20-year anniversary of the Command's 
establishment, and I am pleased to support H. Res. 305, which honors 
the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians that 
comprise the Nation's special operations forces community.
  As one of the founders and Co-Chairman of the House Special 
Operations Forces (SOF) Caucus, I know firsthand how important these 
warriors are to our military efforts. During my tenure in Congress, I 
have represented all or parts of Fort Bragg, which is home to the U.S. 
Army Special Operations Command and the Joint Special Operations 
Command--vital components of the U.S. Special Operations Command. I 
have also represented Camp Lejeune, which is now home to the Marine 
Special Operations Command.
  As you know, the Special Operations Command, which was established on 
April 16, 1987, is unique--it ensures joint training, equipping, 
planning and operations of our SOF forces. Before 1987, U.S. Special 
Operations Forces operated on an impromptu basis and were often used to 
the point of exhaustion and then disbanded once a specific crisis had 
passed. Since then, however, they have participated in a wide range of 
global military operations, including peacetime engagement and a major 
theater war, Operation Desert Storm.
  Today, our SOF forces are embedded in the most important operation 
since their inception--the Global War on Terrorism. Their core tasks 
include counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation of Weapons of Mass 
Destruction, special reconnaissance, psychological and information 
operations, civil-military operations and unconventional warfare.
  SOF forces are truly at the forefront of our current military 
operations, and, it is important that we draw our attention to them 
today and recognize their tremendous efforts and sacrifices, including 
leaving their families and friends for deployments to several countries 
throughout the world at months at a time. As a member of the U.S. House 
Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional 
Threats, which has jurisdiction over our SOF forces, I am committed to 
ensuring that we do our part to meet the needs of our special operators 
and the officials who are charged with leading them into the 
battlefield. It is essential that we recognize and support their 
efforts, and I am confident that this resolution does just that!
  Thank you Mr. Speaker, may God bless you and our fine men and women 
who serve in our Special Operations Forces.
  Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the premiere 
component of today's forces, our Nation's Special Forces including 
soldiers, sailors and marines. These are the forces we turn to when we 
must do the impossible, do it quietly, and do it smartly. I am proud to 
commend them on their 20th year of service to this Nation.
  Our Special Forces were born of necessity in the aftermath of the 
aborted military operation attempting to rescue American hostages held 
in Iran. Since that time, they have been the very tip of our spear; 
they are the first forces to go into the dangerous places, and it is 
upon their resilience and brilliance that rest our success or failure 
in the early going of any operation to which we have committed our 
military forces.
  The past 25 years have seen a marked shift in the operational 
spectrum of threats, and Special Ops is our answer to unconventional 
warfare, counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, strategic reconnaissance, 
civil-military operations, psychological operations, humanitarian 
assistance and search and rescue.
  Special Forces are so important to the current conflicts in which we 
are engaged, they are the lead combatant command, covering both wars.
  Special Forces is populated with many individuals recognized for 
distinction and valor, including 48 Congressional Medals of Honor. 
While bombs and bullets are our blunt force, the Special Forces is our 
scalpel. They are forged in four common truths: Humans are more 
important than hardware; Special Forces cannot be mass-produced; 
quality is better than quantity; and capable Special Forces cannot be 
created after an emergency.
  Today we honor that mindset, and thank these Special Forces for their 
leadership and bravery. We also honor their families, who offer them 
tremendous support while they are deployed.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
305, which honors the 53,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and 
civilians that comprise the Nation's Special Operations Forces 
community. This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Command's 
founding on April 16, 1987, at congressional direction, pursuant to 
passage of the Goldwater-Nichols Defense Reorganization Act of 1986. 
The unique structure of the Command ensures joint training, equipping, 
planning, and operations. Special Operations Forces personnel are 
currently executing their duties in over 50 nations throughout the 
world.

[[Page H3499]]

  The Special Operations Command was created following a congressional 
assessment of the unsuccessful attempt to rescue 53 American hostages 
held in Iran in 1980. Among the major shortcomings identified was the 
inability of the military to operate effectively in a joint manner, 
particularly due to differences in equipment and lack of coordinated 
training. This deficiency was directly addressed by the establishment 
of the Special Operations Command, which allowed for the creation of a 
truly joint force with the authority to organize, train, and equip for 
complex national security challenges.
  The Special Operations Command currently consists of over 53,000 
individuals, including Army Special Forces personnel, Air Force Special 
Operations personnel, U.S. Navy SEALs, and Marine Special Operators. 
Its core tasks include counter-terrorism, counter-proliferation of 
weapons of mass destruction, foreign internal defense, special 
reconnaissance, direct action, psychological and information 
operations, civil-military operations, unconventional warfare, and the 
``synchronization'' of the war against terrorism.
  I fully support the Command's ongoing commitment to its primary focus 
of neutralizing terrorists and destroying their associated networks. 
The Command should be encouraged and fully resourced to balance its 
focus between ``direct'' and ``indirect'' action--or between the 
``kinetic'' mission and the effort to ``win the hearts and minds.'' I 
also believe that greater emphasis should be afforded to humanitarian 
and counter-insurgency missions.
  I sincerely appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of the 53,000 
soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and civilians that comprise the 
Nation's Special Operations Forces community. I urge all my colleagues 
to join me in supporting the 53,000 brave men and women who risk their 
lives in the most dangerous of missions to preserve our freedom. Vote 
aye on H. Res. 305.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I'm proud to work with 
Representative Drake to mark the 20th anniversary of founding of the 
Special Operations Command.
  Congress established SOCOM on April 16, 1987 in response to the 
failure of the Desert One mission to rescue American hostages in Iran. 
We learned two main lessons from Desert One. First, we needed a better 
joint command structure; our military was too divided and did not work 
well together, due to a lack of interoperable equipment and a lack of 
familiarity and joint training among the various branches. Second, we 
lacked forces trained for these kinds of missions. The establishment of 
SOCOM was meant to address these shortcomings.
  SOCOM has been a fabulous success. We have roughly 53,000 special 
operations personnel operating in more than 50 countries around the 
world, taking direct action to counter terrorists and working with 
local populations to prevent terrorists from taking root.
  I am especially proud of the three special operations force 
components housed in the 9th District of Washington: the Army 1st 
Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Army 160th Special Operations 
Aviation Regiment (SOAR)--4th Batallion at Fort Lewis and the Air Force 
22nd Special Tactics Squadron at McChord Air Force Base. I've also been 
able to visit several other components of our special operations forces 
across the country and around the world, and they are doing a fantastic 
job.
  Going forward, we need more special operations forces to fight the 
spread of the totalitarian ideology pushed by al-Qaeda and related 
groups. Consistent with the 2006 Quadrennial Defense Review, we will 
seek to grow SOCOM forces by 15 percent. We will not sacrifice quality 
for quantity, but we must have the capability to train more special 
operations forces to face complex national security challenges.
  And, we must ensure proper emphasis on indirect action. Often when 
people think of special operations, they think of direct action against 
terrorists. But much of SOCOM's mission involves less dramatic but 
essential work. Special operations forces are currently working in well 
over a dozen countries to prevent al-Qaeda and other organizations from 
taking root. They train locals to defend themselves and help local 
populations improve their living situations so that they are less 
susceptible to terrorist recruitment.
  Getting to know local populations, learning the languages, becoming 
helpful to them--these steps are vital to preventing insurgencies and 
terrorist groups from taking hold. We recently heard from a special 
operations veteran who told us that the most helpful counter-terrorism 
tool his force brought with them in North Africa was a dentist. The 
population needed this service so badly that our providing it led to 
them working with us to root out terrorists in the area. This kind of 
work to win the hearts ana minds of local populations is essential if 
we are to defeat the spread of al-Qaeda's message across the globe. 
That's why we in Congress must ensure that SOCOM is resourced and 
structured properly to sufficiently emphasize and effectively carry out 
this critical indirect work.
  I want to thank the members from both parties on the terrorism 
subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee for their work to 
make sure our special operations forces have the tools they need to 
protect our country. I want to especially thank Ranking Member Mac 
Thornberry and Representative Thelma Drake for their hard work on this 
important resolution.
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Engel). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Smith) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 305.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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