[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 10 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S215]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SEEKING THE RETURN OF THE USS ``PUEBLO''

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 423, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the 
resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 423) seeking the return of the USS 
     Pueblo to the United States Navy.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 423) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 423

       Whereas the USS Pueblo, which was attacked and captured by 
     the Navy of North Korea on January 23, 1968, was the first 
     ship of the United States Navy to be hijacked on the high 
     seas by a foreign military force in more than 150 years;
       Whereas 1 member of the USS Pueblo crew, Duane Hodges, was 
     killed in the assault, while the other 82 crew members were 
     held in captivity, often under inhumane conditions, for 11 
     months;
       Whereas the USS Pueblo, an intelligence collection 
     auxiliary vessel, was operating in international waters at 
     the time of the capture, and therefore did not violate the 
     territorial waters of North Korea;
       Whereas the capture of the USS Pueblo resulted in no 
     reprisals against the Government or people of North Korea and 
     no military action at any time; and
       Whereas the USS Pueblo, though still the property of the 
     United States Navy, has been retained by the Government of 
     North Korea for 40 years, was subjected to exhibition in the 
     North Korean cities of Wonsan and Hungham, and is now on 
     display in Pyongyang, the capital city of North Korea: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) desires the return of the USS Pueblo to the United 
     States Navy;
       (2) would welcome the return of the USS Pueblo as a 
     goodwill gesture from the North Korean people to the American 
     people; and
       (3) directs the Secretary of the Senate to transmit copies 
     of this resolution to the President, the Secretary of 
     Defense, and the Secretary of State.

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