[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23738]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 19, 2000

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, on October 18, 2000, I was unavoidably 
detained and therefore unable to cast my vote on rollcall No. 531, H.J. 
Res. 631, on Agreeing to the Resolution Honoring the Members of the 
Crew of the Guided Missile Destroyer U.S.S. Cole Who Were Killed or 
Wounded in the Terrorist Attack on that Vessel in Aden, Yemen, on 
October 12, 2000. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted 
``yea.''
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in honoring the members of the crew 
of the U.S.S. Cole who died on October 12th as a result of a cowardly 
act of terrorism, and I send my heartfelt condolences to their 
families, friends, and loved ones. I also rise to honor those serving 
on the U.S.S. Cole who were wounded in the attack, and wish them a 
speedy recovery. Finally, I salute those members of the crew who fought 
valiantly to save their ship and rescue their wounded shipmates. 
Indeed, I wish to express my deep gratitude to all of the men and women 
of our Armed Forces who routinely put their lives on the line.

                          ____________________