[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 626]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          VICTIMS OF TERRORISM

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, before terrorism literally hit home on 
September 11, two fellow Kansans, two fellow Americans, had already 
been held hostage by Muslim terrorists for over 3 months. On May 27, 
2001, Martin and Gracia Burnham were snatched out of bed in a 
Philippine vacation resort and taken hostage by Muslim terrorists, the 
Abu Sayaff group, which has al Qaeda ties and a brutal disregard for 
human life. A third American, Guillermo Sobero of California, was also 
taken hostage and subsequently beheaded in June by the terrorists.
  Martin and Gracia are all that remains of the group of 21 hostages 
taken in May. It has been 8 long months for them and their family, 
especially their three young children, Jeff, Mindy and Zach. The 
Burnhams have lost considerable weight and have suffered from malaria, 
artillery wounds, eye infections and numerous sores and cuts.
  I ask my fellow Members of Congress and my fellow Americans to pray 
for the safe and swift release of Martin and Gracia Burnham from this 
endless nightmare.

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