[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 195 (Saturday, December 17, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8775-S8776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 349--COMMEMORATING AND HONORING THE SERVICE AND 
   SACRIFICE OF MEMBERS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND THEIR 
    FAMILIES AS THE OFFICIAL COMBAT MISSION IN IRAQ DRAWS TO A CLOSE

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Reed of Rhode Island, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
Alexander, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Begich, Mr. 
Bennet, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Blunt, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. 
Boxer, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Burr, Ms. 
Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coats, 
Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Coons, Mr. 
Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Enzi, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mrs. 
Hagan, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Heller, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Hutchison, 
Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Johnson of 
Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Kirk, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, 
Mr. Lee, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Manchin, Mr. McCain, 
Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, 
Mr. Moran, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. 
Nelson of Florida, Mr. Paul, Mr. Portman, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reid of 
Nevada, Mr. Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Rubio, Mr. 
Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Shelby, Ms. 
Snowe, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Toomey, Mr. Udall of 
Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, 
Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which 
was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 349

       Whereas nearly 1,500,000 members of the United States Armed 
     Forces served in Iraq, many serving on multiple deployments;
       Whereas the members of the United States Armed Forces who 
     served in support of operations in Iraq performed brilliantly 
     in a highly complex and challenging environment, and did 
     everything that was asked of them and more to meet the 
     requirements of the mission;
       Whereas thousands of members of the National Guard and 
     Reserves left their civilian jobs and livelihoods to support 
     operations in Iraq, making enormous contributions, and 
     serving with distinction;
       Whereas nearly 4,500 members of the United States Armed 
     Forces made the ultimate sacrifice in giving their lives in 
     support of operations in Iraq;

[[Page S8776]]

       Whereas more than 30,000 members of the United States Armed 
     Forces were wounded serving in support of operations in Iraq;
       Whereas families of the members of the United States Armed 
     Forces serving in Iraq endured repeated deployments and spent 
     many holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries apart;
       Whereas, after nearly nine years of combat, we welcome home 
     our veterans and continue to support members of the United 
     States Armed Forces deployed in Afghanistan and elsewhere in 
     the world;
       Whereas Iraq's destiny and future development now lie with 
     its people; and
       Whereas the people of the United States recognize the 
     service and sacrifices made by those members of the United 
     States Armed Forces and veterans, as well as their families: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) pays tribute to the members of the United States Armed 
     Forces who served in support of operations in Iraq;
       (2) calls on the people of the United States to reflect on 
     the service of those members of the United States Armed 
     Forces, veterans, and their families, and honor their 
     sacrifices; and
       (3) commemorates and honors the contributions made by 
     members of the United States Armed Forces and their families, 
     as the official combat mission in Iraq draws to a close.
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SENATE RESOLUTION 350--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
  RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

  Mr. LEE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 350

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) all political leaders in the Democratic Republic of the 
     Congo and the supporters of those leaders should act 
     responsibly, renounce violence, and resolve any disagreements 
     regarding the presidential election of November 2011 through 
     peaceful, constructive dialogue and existing legal remedies;
       (2) the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
     should conduct a rapid technical review of the electoral 
     process to--
       (A) investigate the cause of any voting irregularities;
       (B) suggest ways in which governance could be structured to 
     give better effect to the will of the people of the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo; and
       (C) provide guidance for future elections;
       (3) the authorities of the Democratic Republic of the Congo 
     should complete the electoral process with maximum openness 
     and transparency; and
       (4) the United States Government should engage with other 
     governments in Central Africa and ask those governments to 
     reach out to President Joseph Kabila and opposition candidate 
     Etienne Tshisekedi to encourage the 2 leaders to embrace a 
     peaceful solution to the potential impasse facing the 
     Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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      SENATE RESOLUTION 351--RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND 
COMMEMORATING THE NUMEROUS ACHIEVEMENTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE ALASKA 
                  NATIVE PEOPLE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS

  Ms. MURKOWSKI (for herself and Mr. Begich) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 351

       Whereas on December 18, 1971, Public Law 92-203 (43 U.S.C. 
     1601 et seq.) was enacted to settle long-standing issues of 
     Alaska Native aboriginal land claims;
       Whereas the pioneering work of Alaska Native leaders has 
     created a lasting legacy of professional and personal 
     success;
       Whereas Alaska Native people have prospered from their own 
     initiative and innovative approaches to fostering economic 
     development through self-determination;
       Whereas Alaska Natives have produced a significant number 
     of educated Alaska Natives who now serve in positions of 
     leadership in the State of Alaska and beyond;
       Whereas Alaska Native people have risen to the challenge of 
     independently and productively managing their aboriginal 
     land, which has fostered sustainable businesses and created 
     employment opportunities for the people of the United States, 
     both across the country and globally;
       Whereas Alaska Native people continue to serve in positions 
     of leadership in the State of Alaska and beyond;
       Whereas the dedication and enthusiasm of the next 
     generation of Alaska Native leaders honors the previous 
     generation of Alaska Native leaders who worked diligently to 
     achieve the most significant Native land settlement in the 
     history of the United States;
       Whereas the next generation of Alaska Native people will 
     continue to make positive changes in the world around them 
     through acquired leadership skills, cultural advocacy, and 
     community engagement;
       Whereas the people of the United States have reason to 
     commemorate the economic and political contributions of 
     Alaska Native people; and
       Whereas the people of the United States have reason to 
     honor the tremendous educational, social, political, 
     economic, and cultural achievements of the Alaska Native 
     people over the past 40 years: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes December 18, 2011, as the 40th anniversary 
     of the original enactment of the Alaska Native Claims 
     Settlement Act (Public Law 92-203; 43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);
       (2) recognizes the significant educational, economic, 
     political, and cultural contributions of the Alaska Native 
     people over the past 40 years; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to 
     participate in activities that show support for the success 
     of the Native people and tribes of the State of Alaska.

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