[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[House]
[Pages 22913-22914]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



ENCOURAGING THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES 
AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO ARE ENGAGED IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM AS PART 
      OF A UNITED EFFORT TO BE KNOWN AS OPERATION ENDURING SUPPORT

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of the 
resolution (H. Res. 284) encouraging the people of the United States to 
support the Armed Forces and civilian personnel who are engaged in the 
war on terrorism as part of a united effort to be known as Operation 
Enduring Support, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, under my 
reservation, I yield to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Forbes).
  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support my distinguished 
colleague in encouraging all Americans to support the men and women who 
serve our Armed Forces in both uniform and civilian garb.
  On September 11, our Nation suffered a great tragedy. Now, more than 
ever, we need to support our service personnel, the true power behind 
America's military might. We must give our soldiers, sailors, airmen 
and Marines modern weaponry with which to keep American interests 
secure. We must support shipbuilding, aircraft procurement and research 
and development. We must support the Armed Forces, not just in 
Operation Enduring Freedom, but in everything they do.
  Equally important, we must give them our moral support. They are 
risking their lives and sacrificing their spirits to protect our 
freedom. We should all wear the proverbial yellow ribbons signifying 
our support of these brave heroes every day with pride.
  With our support, America's Armed Forces will be able to respond to 
aggression any time and all the time. I urge my fellow Members to 
support this resolution.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, under my reservation, I rise to support 
House Resolution 284.
  This resolution encourages Americans to support the Armed Forces and 
civilian personnel who are engaged in the war on terrorism as a part of 
a united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Freedom.
  There are over 2.6 million active duty, Reserve, and National Guard 
personnel. Since September 14, nearly 42,000 Reservists and National 
Guard have been called to active duty to support Operation Enduring 
Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle. In addition, thousands of civilians, 
including those from the Department of Defense, Department of Justice, 
Department of State, the FBI and CIA, just to name a few, have 
dedicated themselves to protecting our national security interests. Air 
Force pilots are patrolling our skies. Coast Guard ships are patrolling 
our shores, and members of the National Guard are securing our 
airports.
  State Department employees across the world are working with our 
allies, and the FBI and CIA are working to track down and prosecute 
those associated with the terrorist attacks against our United States. 
FDA employees are working with health providers to increase education 
and awareness of biological and chemical threats to our citizens, and 
the list goes on and on.
  Since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the 
American people have been asking, what can they do? How can they help? 
The bill before us encourages the American people to support the Armed 
Forces and the civilians participating in the war on terrorism by 
contributing assistance to voluntary and to charitable organizations. 
It also provides support and comfort to the family members of our men 
and women in uniform who are now, or will be, overseas during this 
time.
  The attacks of September 11 did not rip apart the multicolored fabric 
of the United States. Instead, they have made us closer, stronger, and 
united in our determination to stand against aggression and protect the 
democratic principles and the freedoms that we enjoy in the United 
States.
  Mr. Speaker, continuing my reservation, I yield to the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Otter) for his remarks.

                              {time}  1500

  Mr. OTTER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California for 
yielding to me, and my good friend, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Forbes), for providing me this time to bring to the attention of the 
House of Representatives and also to the American people Operation 
Enduring Support.
  First, it establishes the sense of Congress that September 11 from 
this day forward will be known as the American Unity Day, establishing 
once and for all that that was the day that these evildoers of the 
world decided to take an attack on the United States, and when they 
did, they attacked not just the United States but, individually, all of 
the people of the United States.
  The gentlewoman from California (Ms. Sanchez) has correctly pointed 
out that this calls upon all charitable organizations, all military 
organizations, like the VFW and like the American Legion, and all 
others who would take the opportunity to celebrate the return of our 
warriors who are now engaged in that front line battle.
  But it goes further than that, Mr. Speaker. This also engages all of 
the American people. It was not that many years ago, probably too many 
that I would care to lay claim to, but I remember coming home with my 
uniform in 1968. It was not a happy time to be a person in uniform at 
that time, Mr. Speaker.
  In 1968, leaving Fort Knox, Kentucky, in order to get the best price 
on an airline, I had to be in full dress uniform.
  As I left the gates of Fort Knox, Kentucky and ventured through the 
town of Louisville, Kentucky, and got on that airplane and landed first 
in Washington, D.C., and then in Baltimore, then back to Washington, 
D.C., having completed my business, and then took a connecting airline 
from Washington, D.C. to Chicago, Illinois, Denver, Colorado, and 
finally, Boise, Idaho, I did not feel very safe.
  In fact, I wondered to myself aloud about the active time that I 
spent wearing that uniform, because it was not a happy time for people 
in uniform in 1968, during the Vietnam conflict.
  This should never happen again to anyone who is returning after the 
defense, after defending our country. So this calls upon all the people 
of the United States, every citizen, every State, every community, to 
celebrate the return of these warriors; if nothing else, to let these 
evildoers know around the world that they are not just fighting those 
folks on the front line; that that is not the people alone that they 
have to worry about, they have to worry about every citizen in this 
United States, because we are going to let them know that we are a 
whole people, and we are a united people.
  There is no reflection on the past into the sixties and early 
seventies. In this, we are of one voice; in this, we are of one mind 
and one spirit, and that is the spirit of unity and the spirit of 
enduring support.
  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Fossella). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 284

       Whereas in response to the terrorist attacks on the United 
     States on September 11, 2001, the United States is engaged in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom, which will require

[[Page 22914]]

     the men and women of the Armed Forces to engage and defeat 
     terrorists, and which will require both military and civilian 
     personnel to protect the Nation from further attack; and
       Whereas it is imperative that the Nation support the Armed 
     Forces and civilian personnel in such an effort: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes and commends the efforts of State and local 
     governments, and community, religious, and charitable 
     organizations to support the Armed Forces engaged in 
     Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as civilian personnel who 
     are also engaged in the war on terrorism;
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to further 
     support the Armed Forces and civilian personnel through a 
     united effort to be known as Operation Enduring Support;
       (3) encourages the people of the United States, as part of 
     Operation Enduring Support--
       (A) to support the families of Armed Forces personnel;
       (B) to stage patriotic send-off and welcome-home rallies 
     and parades; and
       (C) to volunteer and contribute financial assistance to the 
     Red Cross, the United Way, and other such organizations.


                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Forbes

  Mr. FORBES. Mr. Speaker, I offer an amendment.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Forbes:
       Page 3, strike lines 1 through 3 and insert the following:
       (C) to volunteer and contribute financial assistance to 
     volunteer and charitable organizations.

  The amendment was agreed to.
  The resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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