[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 21, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              THE STATE OF TEXAS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2011

  Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Speaker, I submit the following:

                       H.R. No. 1694, Resolution

       Whereas, On September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden, a sworn 
     enemy of the United States of America, coordinated a series 
     of monstrous and cowardly terrorist attacks that resulted in 
     the tragic loss of 2,977 innocent lives, leading to an 
     engagement in a war on terrorism across many fronts; and
       Whereas, On May 1, 2011, after nearly 10 years of bin 
     Laden's evasion of military and intelligence forces seeking 
     his capture, President Barack Obama declared to the nation 
     and the world that bin Laden had finally been killed, and 
     that ``Justice has been done.''; and
       Whereas, The president's patience, leadership, wisdom, and 
     determination have led directly to the demise of the most 
     wanted man in the world and have hardened this nation's 
     resolve to defeat the forces of malevolent fanaticism, and by 
     destroying the mastermind behind the worst terrorist attack 
     on American soil he has struck a significant and historic 
     blow against Al Qaeda; and
       Whereas, Following the death of the perpetrator of the 
     attacks, the family members and friends of those who lost 
     their lives in the attacks on September 11 are able to 
     achieve a greater sense of closure; and
       Whereas, After months of meetings of the National Security 
     Council, led by President Obama, who directed intelligence 
     officials to zero in on bin Laden's whereabouts, intelligence 
     officials devised and carefully carried out a clandestine 
     operation, which had frequently been rehearsed in an effort 
     to minimize casualties, both civilian and military; and
       Whereas, As commander-in-chief of our great nation, he 
     boldly gave the final authorization to commence the operation 
     to brave and highly trained members of our nation's armed 
     services; and
       Whereas, Upon hearing the news of bin Laden's elimination, 
     in an impressive show of unity and in defiance of the 
     fanatics who still today seek to destroy our free way of 
     life, jubilant citizens expressed pride in our nation and our 
     president by spontaneously celebrating the news in cities 
     across the country, singing ``The Star Spangled Banner'' and 
     loudly chanting ``U-S-A,'' and former presidents Bill Clinton 
     and George W. Bush have offered him their congratulations; 
     and
       Whereas, Domestically, he has acted with both initiative 
     and organizational acumen toward the precautionary defense of 
     our citizens and has successfully prevented a terrorist 
     attack on American soil during his service to our nation as 
     president; and
       Whereas, Internationally, he has wisely exercised the use 
     of diplomacy to nurture collaborative relationships with 
     other nations, which has helped improve the freedom and 
     safety of the world's people; and
       Whereas, President George W. Bush had the near universal 
     support of the freedom-loving peoples and countries of the 
     world after the attacks on September 11, 2001, when he 
     famously pledged to defend freedom, against fear, saying ``We 
     will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail,'' 
     and President Obama had the strength and wherewithal to see 
     that pledge through to fulfillment; and
       Whereas, Legislators in Texas reaffirm the solemn creed 
     that we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty 
     and justice for all, who stand strongly behind the president 
     with respect to these several issues as he confronts the 
     grave problems of national and international security; now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd 
     Legislature of the State of Texas hereby congratulate 
     President Obama on his proven and successful policies in the 
     war on terrorism and in homeland security; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd 
     Legislature of the State of Texas hereby commend the 
     intelligence personnel who diligently and quietly toiled for 
     years to uncover the whereabouts of bin Laden and whose 
     achievement, while historic, may never be fully known to the 
     public; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd 
     Legislature of the State of Texas hereby commend the members 
     of the armed forces who successfully and heroically carried 
     out an incredibly sensitive mission with no military losses 
     and with a minimal loss of civilian lives; and, be it further
       Resolved, That the chief clerk of the Texas House of 
     Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to 
     the president of the United States, to the speaker of the 
     House of Representatives and the president of the Senate of 
     the United States Congress, to the governor of Texas, and to 
     all the members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the 
     request that this resolution be officially entered in the 
     Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the 
     United States of America.
                                                       Joe Straus,
                                             Speaker of the House.

       I certify that H.R. No. 1694 was adopted by the House on 
     May 2, 2011, by a non-record vote.
                                                     Robert Haney,
     Chief Clerk of the House.

                          ____________________