[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 132 (Tuesday, September 28, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H7055-H7057]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING AID WORKERS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

  Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1661) honoring the lives of the brave and 
selfless humanitarian aid workers, doctors, and nurses who died in the 
tragic attack of August 5, 2010, in northern Afghanistan.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1661

       Whereas 10 unarmed civilians were brutally killed in 
     Badakhshan province, Afghanistan, on August 5, 2010;
       Whereas those killed were humanitarian aid workers, 
     operating a mobile health clinic for people with little 
     access to medical care;
       Whereas the humanitarian assistance team included a 
     surgeon, an optometrist, a dentist, a nurse, a photographer, 
     translators, a cook, and a guard;
       Whereas among the murdered humanitarian aid workers were 6 
     United States citizens, including Cheryl Beckett, Brian 
     Carderelli, Thomas Grams, Glen Lapp, Tom Little, and Dan 
     Terry;
       Whereas Cheryl Beckett, who grew up near Cincinnati, Ohio, 
     had spent 6 years in Afghanistan, helping mothers to provide 
     adequate nutrition for themselves and their children, and 
     organizing relief efforts for more than 200 Afghan families 
     struggling to survive the winter without heat or electricity;
       Whereas Brian Carderelli, a recent graduate of James 
     Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, joined the 
     medical team as a photographer and videographer, documenting 
     the Afghan communities to which the team provided assistance 
     and the successes they together achieved;
       Whereas Dr. Thomas Grams, a dentist from Durango, Colorado, 
     gave up his practice 4 years ago to devote his life to 
     providing free dental care to those in need, especially 
     children throughout Asia and Latin American, with a focus on 
     Nepal and Afghanistan;
       Whereas Glen Lapp, a nurse from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 
     came to Afghanistan in 2008 in order to serve as manager of a 
     much-needed provincial eye care program in Afghanistan;
       Whereas the humanitarian assistance team was led by Tom 
     Little, an optometrist from New York, who raised 3 daughters 
     while living in Afghanistan and was deeply dedicated to 
     serving the health needs of Afghans, particularly those in 
     remote areas without access to medical care;
       Whereas Dan Terry, originally from Sequim, Washington, was 
     fluent in multiple

[[Page H7056]]

     languages and had lived in Afghanistan since 1971, working 
     tirelessly on behalf of the country's most impoverished and 
     marginalized populations and helping international 
     humanitarian aid workers to understand and respect the local 
     culture;
       Whereas the organization that sponsored these humanitarian 
     aid workers was a signatory to the ``Principles of Conduct 
     for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent for NGOs and 
     Disaster Response Programmes'', which states that ``aid will 
     not be used to further a particular political or religious 
     standpoint'';
       Whereas international humanitarian aid workers have played 
     a vital role in saving lives and meeting basic human needs in 
     Afghanistan over the last 3 decades;
       Whereas violent extremists have committed many ruthless and 
     brutal attacks against the people of Afghanistan, starting in 
     the 1990s with public executions in soccer stadiums, attacks 
     against girls attending school, and many other terrible 
     measures;
       Whereas these violent extremists have directed wanton acts 
     of cruelty against Afghanistan's poorest and most vulnerable 
     populations, as well as against humanitarian aid workers; and
       Whereas these senseless killings will have a tragic impact 
     for decades to come, both on the families of the victims and 
     on the people of Afghanistan: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the lives of the brave and selfless humanitarian 
     aid workers, doctors, and nurses who died in the tragic 
     attack of August 5, 2010, in northern Afghanistan;
       (2) extends its deepest condolences to the families of the 
     victims;
       (3) strongly condemns those who committed these brutal 
     murders;
       (4) urges the Afghan authorities to do their utmost to 
     bring the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice;
       (5) encourages all parties to respect the neutral status of 
     humanitarian aid workers; and
       (6) commends international humanitarian aid workers for 
     their courageous efforts to save lives and alleviate 
     suffering by providing important services to the Afghan 
     people.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TANNER. 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 Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TANNER. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on August 5, 2010, 10 unarmed humanitarian aid workers 
affiliated with the International Assistance Mission, a nongovernmental 
organization operating a mobile health clinic for Afghans with little 
access to medical care, were brutally killed in Badakhshan province, 
Afghanistan.
  There were six Americans among the murdered aid workers. These brave 
and selfless individuals, Cheryl Beckett, Brian Carderelli, Thomas 
Grams, Glen Lapp, Tom Little and Dan Terry, dedicated their lives to 
serving the people of Afghanistan.
  Despite the grave danger that many humanitarian aid workers face, 
including from the Taliban, aid workers continue to operate in 
Afghanistan on behalf of the country's most impoverished and 
marginalized populations.
  We urge all parties involved in the conflict in Afghanistan to 
respect the neutral status of humanitarian aid workers and urge the 
Afghan authorities to do their utmost to bring the perpetrators of this 
heinous act to justice.
  The resolution before us today honors the sacrifice and the service 
of the brave and caring aid workers, doctors, and nurses who died in 
the tragic attack, and extends our condolences to the families of the 
victims.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1620

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield such time as he may consume to the 
author of the resolution, the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts).
  Mr. PITTS. I want to first thank the chairman of the committee, Mr. 
Berman, and Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for moving this resolution so 
promptly.
  It is a privilege for me to sponsor this resolution. The six 
Americans had their lives brutally taken from them as they served the 
people of Afghanistan, and they deserve our deepest respect.
  From my district, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Glen Lapp came to 
Afghanistan in 2008, leaving his life in Pennsylvania behind in order 
to serve as the manager of a much-needed provincial eye care program in 
Afghanistan. Glen wrote that his hope was to treat the Afghan people 
with respect and with love as he served them throughout their country.
  The others who were killed were just as dedicated to providing 
humanitarian aid to the Afghans in remote areas.
  Aid workers have played a vital role in serving the Afghan public 
over the last three decades, due to the country's instability. While 
many aid workers in the past were given safe passage in conflict areas, 
sadly, in recent months, attacks against them have escalated. The 
perpetrators are breaking longstanding customs and have resorted to 
targeting the very people who are trying to supply the people of 
Afghanistan with the resources necessary to meet their most basic 
needs.
  It is obvious that those who killed these aid workers oppose economic 
and social progress in Afghanistan, including access to medical care, 
education, and shelter. These perpetrators must be brought to justice. 
These terrorists who killed these six Americans and four others are no 
different from the terrorists who throw acid in girls' faces when they 
try to go to school. They are the same terrorists who use children as 
human shields against American troops.
  Do we understand that these senseless killings are another terrible 
reminder of the brutality of the Taliban and al Qaeda foreign fighters? 
Do we understand that these murderers must be brought to justice no 
matter where they originated, either in Afghanistan or Pakistan?
  The people of Afghanistan suffer every day from the cruelty of the 
Taliban. Along with the families who lost loved ones, the Afghans 
suffer from the loss of these dedicated and courageous aid workers. As 
a result of this brutal attack, critical medical care will no longer be 
available to many of the Afghans who were served by these humanitarian 
workers. We in the United States need to understand that, and we need 
to call for justice. The Afghan authorities must conduct an 
investigation and find these murderers, no matter where they might be 
hiding or receiving sanctuary.
  From various reports, there are strong indications that the attackers 
were not local and some were speaking non-Afghan languages. Given the 
location of the attack, the proximity to Taliban strongholds in 
Nuristan, a province that borders volatile areas of Pakistan, and given 
the cross-border nature of the Afghan insurgency, I strongly urge the 
Government of Pakistan to do its utmost to cooperate in rooting out 
extremism on its soil, in particular, the safe havens that exist on the 
Pakistani side that have been the source of many acts of violence in 
both Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  The safe havens for the Taliban, the al Qaeda, and the Haqqani 
network must be eradicated.
  This attack has been called by some the worst attack on humanitarian 
aid workers in three decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Justice must 
be served so that it never happens again.
  To this end, I hope the U.S. Government is seeking to enhance and 
dedicate greater resources to establishing law and order and 
strengthening Afghan institutions to better protect the Afghan people 
and their partners.
  In closing, today we honor the brave and selfless humanitarian aid 
workers, doctors, nurses who died on August 5. Their efforts to bring 
healing and care to the Afghans were noble and good.
  My thoughts and prayers are with the families of these heroes and 
quiet leaders, as well as with the Afghan people who have suffered so 
many decades of conflict and loss.
  Mr. TANNER. I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I yield myself 2 minutes.
  First, I want to thank Mr. Pitts for offering this important 
resolution to remember the aid workers who died in Afghanistan. These 
aid workers were killed because of their humanitarian efforts, because 
they were trying to provide the Afghan people with important services 
so they could live in freedom, opportunity, and prosperity.
  For undertaking these noble efforts, the aid workers lost their lives 
at the hands of murderous extremists who

[[Page H7057]]

seek an Afghanistan in the dark ages, an Afghanistan where people are 
debilitated by poverty and illiteracy, where democratic elections are 
unthinkable, where women and girls are murdered simply for trying to go 
to school, where freedom is a forbidden idea. Such an Afghanistan would 
again be a safe haven for violent extremist groups like the Taliban and 
al Qaeda who seek to destroy our Nation and our allies and to plunge 
civilization itself into darkness. So, Madam Speaker, we continue to 
strive to prevent such a threatening scenario from becoming a dangerous 
reality.
  In that respect, we owe a great deal of gratitude to the many 
Americans who have done their part and sacrificed so very much, 
particularly our men and women in uniform, to build a safe, secure, and 
free Afghanistan. And we owe gratitude to the courageous humanitarian 
aid workers who risk their lives as well to save lives and to alleviate 
the suffering of the Afghan people.
  In particular, we owe our thanks to the American aid workers who gave 
their lives almost 2 months ago--Cheryl Beckett; Brian Carderelli; 
Thomas Grams; Glen Lapp, who was Congressman Pitts' constituent and 
friend; Tom Little; and Dan Terry. We mourn their loss, and we send our 
condolences to their families.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1661, 
to honor the lives of the brave and selfless humanitarian aid workers, 
doctors, and nurses who died in the tragic attack of August 5, 2010, in 
northern Afghanistan, one of whom was my constituent, Dr. Thomas Grams.
  Dr. Grams practiced dentistry in Durango, Colorado, for many years.
  Several years ago, he retired from private practice so that he could 
dedicate his life fulltime to the assistance of residents in developing 
countries.
  Dr. Grams took countless trips to India, Nepal, and Afghanistan to 
provide care for the indigent residents of these countries.
  The focus of Dr. Grams' life was to provide service to others and his 
mission was to provide access to dental and health care in some of the 
most remote corners of the world.
  Dr. Grams represented Western Colorado and his entire nation with 
honor.
  He exemplified what is best in our country, a strong sense of 
compassion paired with the will and ability to help those in need.
  Dr. Grams' passion for service will be sincerely missed in both 
Durango and around the world by those he helped.
  Our Nation and our world have lost a strong voice for compassion and 
healing.
  In honor of Dr. Grams' legacy, as well as those who were lost with 
him, I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 1661.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Tanner) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1661.
  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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