[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 108 (Wednesday, July 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H4281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BRING HOME OUR POW AND MIA SERVICEMEMBERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I organized a 
discussion here on Capitol Hill focused on a resolution I have 
introduced which I believe could have a major impact on our Nation's 
ability to return more than 80,000 American citizens who served in the 
Vietnam war, Korean war, and World War II who are still missing in 
action.
  I authored H. Con. Res. 56 because I am thankful every day as the 
father of an injured Army soldier that he returned home safely. I 
cannot imagine the pain and anguish of the wives, the husbands, the 
mothers, the fathers, the sons and daughters who wait for decades, and 
even generations, to receive word regarding their loved one who was 
taken as a prisoner of war or is missing in action.
  We need to make the greatest effort possible to bring home the men 
and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our 
country. We need to fulfill that promise that we leave no man behind. 
That is why this resolution states that, in order to ensure 
transparency and efficiency, countries that enter into trade 
agreements, trade deals with our Nation, must assist in the research 
and the recovery efforts of America's missing servicemembers.
  I am proud to represent the Pennsylvania Fifth Congressional 
District, which covers a broad expanse of my State's northern and 
central territory. Over the years, I have heard from the families of 
servicemen, such as Major Lewis P. Smith II, of Bellefonte, Centre 
County, a Vietnam soldier who was listed missing in action; Captain 
Darl Bloom of Morrisdale, Clearfield County, who served in Vietnam as a 
pilot and is listed as missing in action; and Lieutenant David Myers of 
State College, Centre County, who also served in Vietnam and is listed 
as missing in action all these decades later.
  These brave men and the thousands of others across our Nation who 
remain listed as missing or as prisoners of war deserve our most 
diligent efforts. When a servicemember makes the ultimate sacrifice, it 
is our duty to ensure that they are returned home to their loved ones. 
I appreciate the support of this measure from groups dedicated to our 
servicemembers and veterans. It is time to bring home the men and women 
over the past several generations who have made the ultimate sacrifice 
in the name of freedom.

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