[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 151 (Tuesday, September 23, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H8643-H8645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOMBINGS OF EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND 
                                TANZANIA

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1461) recognizing the 10th anniversary 
of the terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, 
Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the memorializing of the 
citizens and families of the United States, the Republic of Kenya, and 
the United Republic of Tanzania whose lives were lost and injured as a 
result of these attacks, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1461

       Whereas, on August 7, 1998, there were near simultaneous 
     vehicular bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, 
     Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
       Whereas the bombs detonated at the United States embassies 
     in Nairobi, Kenya,

[[Page H8644]]

     and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were an act of terrorism 
     masterminded by Osama bin Laden and perpetrated by members of 
     al Qaeda as a conspiracy to kill United States citizens;
       Whereas although the bombs detonated before reaching their 
     intended targets, the effects of the bombs were widespread 
     and catastrophic to the people of the Republic of Kenya, the 
     United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States;
       Whereas at least 213 people died and approximately 5,000 
     people were injured in the Nairobi bombing, the majority of 
     whom were Kenya nationals;
       Whereas in the Nairobi bombing, the victims included 14 
     United States citizens, 13 Foreign Service Nationals, and 2 
     United States Government contractors, including--
       (1) the following United States citizens: Nathan Aliganga, 
     Julian Bartley, Sr., Julian Bartley, Jr., Jean Dalizu, Molly 
     Hardy, Kenneth Hobson, Prabhi Kavaler, Arlene Kirk, Dr. Mary 
     Louise Martin, Michelle O'Connor, Sherry Olds, and Uttamlal 
     (Tom) Shah;
       (2) the following Foreign Service Nationals: Chrispin W. 
     Bonyo, Lawrence A. Gitau, Hindu O. Idi, Tony Irungu, Geoffrey 
     Kalio, G. Joel Kamau, Lucy N. Karigi, Francis M. Kibe, Joe 
     Kiongo, Dominic Kithuva, Peter K. Macharia, Francis W. Maina, 
     Cecelia Mamboleo, Lydia M. Mayaka, Francis Mbugua Ndungu, 
     Kimeu N. Nganga, Francis Mbogo Njunge, Vincent Nyoike, 
     Francis Olewe Ochilo, Maurice Okach, Edwin A.O. Omori, Lucy 
     G. Onono, Evans K. Onsongo, Eric Onyango, Sellah Caroline 
     Opati, Rachel M. Pussy, Farhat M. Sheikh, Phaedra 
     Vrontamitis, Adams T. Wamai, Frederick M. Yafes; and
       (3) the following United States Government contractors: 
     Moses Namayi and Josiah Odero Owuor;
       Whereas 85 people were injured in the Dar es Salaam, 
     Tanzania bombing, including 2 United States citizens and 5 
     Foreign Service Nationals;
       Whereas 1 Foreign Service National working at the U.S. 
     Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Saidi Rogarth, is still listed by 
     the Department of State as missing;
       Whereas 11 people were killed in the Dar es Salaam bombing, 
     including--
       (1) Yusuf Ndange, a Foreign Service National; and
       (2) the following United States Government contractors: 
     Abdulrahaman Abdalla, Paul E. Elisha, Abdalla Mnyola, Abbas 
     William Mwilla, Bakari Nyumbu, Mtendeje Rajabu, Ramadhani 
     Mahundi, and Dotto Ramadhani;
       Whereas security guards at both embassies acted bravely on 
     the day of the bombings, protecting the lives and property of 
     citizens of the United States, Kenya, and Tanzania;
       Whereas the outpouring of assistance from the people and 
     Governments of Kenya and Tanzania was widespread and greatly 
     appreciated by the people of the United States;
       Whereas Congress provided emergency supplemental 
     appropriations of $50,000,000 as economic aid to Kenya and 
     Tanzania to assist the bombing victims' families and for 
     reconstruction of damaged structures surrounding the 
     embassies;
       Whereas the structural damages in Nairobi alone reportedly 
     exceeded $500,000,000;
       Whereas the people and economies of Kenya and Tanzania are 
     still recovering from these dastardly attacks;
       Whereas during the 110th Congress the House of 
     Representatives passed H.R. 2828 (the Foreign Service Victims 
     of Terrorism Act of 2007) to provide compensation to the 
     families of those who died in the Nairobi attack;
       Whereas the United States Government is partnering with the 
     people and Governments of Kenya and Tanzania to help both 
     countries obtain a more democratic future;
       Whereas 12 of the suspects indicted for their involvement 
     in the 1998 Embassy Bombings have either been killed, 
     captured, or are serving life sentences without parole;
       Whereas in June 1999, Osama bin Laden was placed on the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted terrorist list 
     for his connection to the bombings; and
       Whereas the United States Government continues to search 
     for the remaining suspects, including Osama bin Laden: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 10th 
     anniversary of the al Qaeda bombings of the United States 
     embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania;
       (2) memorializes the citizens and families of the United 
     States, the Republic of Kenya, and the United Republic of 
     Tanzania whose lives were lost or who suffered injury as a 
     result of these attacks;
       (3) mourns the loss of those who lost their lives in these 
     tragic and senseless attacks, especially those who were 
     employed by the embassies;
       (4) remembers the families and colleagues of the victims 
     whose lives have been forever changed by the loss endured on 
     August 7, 1998;
       (5) expresses its deepest gratitude to the people of Kenya 
     and Tanzania for their gracious contributions and assistance 
     following these attacks;
       (6) reaffirms its support for the people of Kenya and 
     Tanzania in striving for future opportunity, democracy, and 
     prosperity; and
       (7) reaffirms its resolve to defeat al Qaeda and other 
     terrorist organizations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam 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 Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this 
resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  August 7, 1998, is a day that will never be forgotten. With near 
simultaneous vehicular bombing attacks by members of al Qaeda on our 
embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the United 
States was challenged to face a new world. The violence that day 
claimed the lives of Americans, Kenyans, and Tanzanians with a death 
toll of 213 individuals in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania. The injured 
numbered well over 5,000. As great as the tragedy that day, without the 
dedication and bravery of the security individuals of those embassies, 
those acts of terrorism would have been far more catastrophic.
  Shortly after the bombings, Congress provided $50 million in 
emergency supplemental appropriations to aid in the recovery process. 
And last October, the House passed the Foreign Service Victims of 
Terrorism Act of 2007 which provides compensation to the families 
victimized by these tragedies who are still recovering from their loss.
  Our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam have been rebuilt. 
Nevertheless, we must never forget the tragedy of that fateful day, and 
we must always remember the significance of the lives of those lost.
  Madam Speaker, that is why I strongly urge and support this 
resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in that support.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1461 
which recognizes the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the 
United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and honors those who were 
killed or injured as a result of these attacks.
  I imagine there is not one among us here today that could not tell 
you exactly where they were or what they were doing when the al Qaeda 
terrorist network launched its cowardly and dastardly attacks against 
the United States on September 11, 2001.
  Many of us recounted those stories just 2 weeks ago as the House and 
the Senate united to solemnly commemorate the seventh anniversary of 
the September 11 attacks. And while September 11 represents the 
deadliest attacks suffered by the American people at the hands of the 
al Qaeda operation to date, it was not the first.
  Three years earlier on the morning of August 7, 1998, 223 people were 
killed and 5,000 people were injured as nearly simultaneous car bombs 
ripped through the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The 
bombings in Nairobi were particularly serious as the embassy stood on 
one of the busiest intersections in the city and the blast took down 
several neighboring buildings. The bombing in Tanzania was no less 
spectacular, but remarkably, it occurred on a national holiday when the 
embassy was closed.
  Though these terrorist attacks reportedly were intended to punish the 
United States, the overwhelming majority of the victims that day were 
Kenyan and Tanzanian. This is typical of a network which callously 
views the innocent victims it kills, including fellow Muslims, merely 
as collateral damage. It also reveals the true hypocrisy of al Qaeda's 
radical Islamic agenda.
  In all, 12 Americans were killed as a result of the east African 
embassy bombings, 31 foreign service nationals were killed, and one is 
still listed as missing. Scores more were saved as guards protecting 
the embassy in Nairobi succeeded in physically blocking the suicide 
bombers from gaining entry into the underground parking area. They paid 
with their lives for this act of heroism.

[[Page H8645]]

  We owe a debt of gratitude to those who died in service to our 
country on August 7, 1998. And we are compelled to express our profound 
sorrow for those whose lives were taken or were forever altered as a 
result of these dastardly attacks.
  As we solemnly commemorate the 10th anniversary of the bombings in 
Kenya and Tanzania and the seventh anniversary of the September 11 
attacks on our Nation, we seek to reaffirm our resolve to defend our 
Nation, to defend our interests from radical Islamic terrorists who 
seek to destroy the United States and our citizens.
  I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Scott, for introducing this 
important measure, and I urge unanimous support for its passage.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with both sorrow and 
gratitude that we indeed recognize this 10th anniversary of the 
terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, 
and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and in memorializing the citizens and 
families of the United States, the Republic of Kenya, and the United 
Republic of Tanzania whose lives were lost and injured as a result of 
these horrible terrorist attacks.
  Mr. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H. Res. 1461, ``Recognizing the Tenth Anniversary of the terrorist 
bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es 
Salaam, Kenya and Tanzania who lives were lost or whose were injured as 
a result of these attacks which is introduced by my distinguished 
colleague Representative Scott. This legislation is important to ensure 
that we remember those who lost their lives and those lives were 
affected by these tragic and horrendous bombings.


                                general

  On August 7, 1998, approximately 4,000 people were injured in the 
Nairobi bombing and 85 injured in Dar es Salaam. These attacks which 
killed hundreds of people, first brought international attention to 
Osama Bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network, and stand out as 
one of the worst anti-American terrorist attacks preceding September 
11, 2001.
  This legislation will recognize all the citizens whose lives were 
lost in these bombings. In addition to recognizing the 10th anniversary 
of the al Qaeda bombings, this resolution will recognize all the 
families and friends of victims lost in the attack and mourn those who 
lost their lives in these tragic and senseless attacks. This resolution 
will also express gratitude for the people of Kenya and Tanzania for 
their gracious contributions and assistance following these attacks in 
striving for future opportunity, democracy, and prosperity, and 
reaffirm its resolve to defeat al Qaeda and other terrorist 
organizations.
  It is a national tragedy that lives have been victim to reckless acts 
of terrorism, and the least we can do as a Congress, as a Nation is to 
recognize those involved in this tragedy and the counties who came to 
our aid. We cannot withhold this honor from those victims that perished 
in the tragedy. As honored Members of Congress, we have the honor to 
have the opportunity to recognize this anniversary and ensure the 
proper recognition is given to those involved in the terrorist bombings 
of 1998. Anything else would be giving in to the power of the 
terrorist, to which America will not yield.
  I firmly believe that we must pass this legislation in order to 
demonstrate our support of those people who lost their lives and those 
people who lost their loved ones, and I urge my colleagues to do the 
same. Though this was a horrible tragedy, we can recognize the Tenth 
Anniversary and bring honor to those who were victims of al Qaeda.
  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1461, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground 
that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum 
is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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