[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 15] [House] [Pages 20256-20257] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]RECOGNIZING 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOMBINGS OF EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1461) recognizing the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the memorializing of the citizens and families of the United States, the Republic of Kenya, and the United Republic of Tanzania whose lives were lost and injured as a result of these attacks, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the resolution. The text of the resolution is as follows: H. Res. 1461 Whereas, on August 7, 1998, there were near simultaneous vehicular bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Whereas the bombs detonated at the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, were an act of terrorism masterminded by Osama bin Laden and perpetrated by members of al Qaeda as a conspiracy to kill United States citizens; Whereas although the bombs detonated before reaching their intended targets, the effects of the bombs were widespread and catastrophic to the people of the Republic of Kenya, the United Republic of Tanzania, and the United States; Whereas at least 213 people died and approximately 5,000 people were injured in the Nairobi bombing, the majority of whom were Kenya nationals; Whereas in the Nairobi bombing, the victims included 14 United States citizens, 13 Foreign Service Nationals, and 2 United States Government contractors, including-- (1) the following United States citizens: Nathan Aliganga, Julian Bartley, Sr., Julian Bartley, Jr., Jean Dalizu, Molly Hardy, Kenneth Hobson, Prabhi Kavaler, Arlene Kirk, Dr. Mary Louise Martin, Michelle O'Connor, Sherry Olds, and Uttamlal (Tom) Shah; (2) the following Foreign Service Nationals: Chrispin W. Bonyo, Lawrence A. Gitau, Hindu O. Idi, Tony Irungu, Geoffrey Kalio, G. Joel Kamau, Lucy N. Karigi, Francis M. Kibe, Joe Kiongo, Dominic Kithuva, Peter K. Macharia, Francis W. Maina, Cecelia Mamboleo, Lydia M. Mayaka, Francis Mbugua Ndungu, Kimeu N. Nganga, Francis Mbogo Njunge, Vincent Nyoike, Francis Olewe Ochilo, Maurice Okach, Edwin A.O. Omori, Lucy G. Onono, Evans K. Onsongo, Eric Onyango, Sellah Caroline Opati, Rachel M. Pussy, Farhat M. Sheikh, Phaedra Vrontamitis, Adams T. Wamai, Frederick M. Yafes; and (3) the following United States Government contractors: Moses Namayi and Josiah Odero Owuor; Whereas 85 people were injured in the Dar es Salaam, Tanzania bombing, including 2 United States citizens and 5 Foreign Service Nationals; Whereas 1 Foreign Service National working at the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Saidi Rogarth, is still listed by the Department of State as missing; Whereas 11 people were killed in the Dar es Salaam bombing, including-- (1) Yusuf Ndange, a Foreign Service National; and (2) the following United States Government contractors: Abdulrahaman Abdalla, Paul E. Elisha, Abdalla Mnyola, Abbas William Mwilla, Bakari Nyumbu, Mtendeje Rajabu, Ramadhani Mahundi, and Dotto Ramadhani; Whereas security guards at both embassies acted bravely on the day of the bombings, protecting the lives and property of citizens of the United States, Kenya, and Tanzania; Whereas the outpouring of assistance from the people and Governments of Kenya and Tanzania was widespread and greatly appreciated by the people of the United States; Whereas Congress provided emergency supplemental appropriations of $50,000,000 as economic aid to Kenya and Tanzania to assist the bombing victims' families and for reconstruction of damaged structures surrounding the embassies; Whereas the structural damages in Nairobi alone reportedly exceeded $500,000,000; Whereas the people and economies of Kenya and Tanzania are still recovering from these dastardly attacks; Whereas during the 110th Congress the House of Representatives passed H.R. 2828 (the Foreign Service Victims of Terrorism Act of 2007) to provide compensation to the families of those who died in the Nairobi attack; Whereas the United States Government is partnering with the people and Governments of Kenya and Tanzania to help both countries obtain a more democratic future; Whereas 12 of the suspects indicted for their involvement in the 1998 Embassy Bombings have either been killed, captured, or are serving life sentences without parole; Whereas in June 1999, Osama bin Laden was placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's most wanted terrorist list for his connection to the bombings; and Whereas the United States Government continues to search for the remaining suspects, including Osama bin Laden: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) recognizes the historic significance of the 10th anniversary of the al Qaeda bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; (2) memorializes the citizens and families of the United States, the Republic of Kenya, and the United Republic of Tanzania whose lives were lost or who suffered injury as a result of these attacks; (3) mourns the loss of those who lost their lives in these tragic and senseless attacks, especially those who were employed by the embassies; (4) remembers the families and colleagues of the victims whose lives have been forever changed by the loss endured on August 7, 1998; (5) expresses its deepest gratitude to the people of Kenya and Tanzania for their gracious contributions and assistance following these attacks; (6) reaffirms its support for the people of Kenya and Tanzania in striving for future opportunity, democracy, and prosperity; and (7) reaffirms its resolve to defeat al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) and the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia. General Leave Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Georgia? There was no objection. Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. August 7, 1998, is a day that will never be forgotten. With near simultaneous vehicular bombing attacks by members of al Qaeda on our embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, the United States was challenged to face a new world. The violence that day claimed the lives of Americans, Kenyans, and Tanzanians with a death toll of 213 individuals in Kenya and 11 in Tanzania. The injured numbered well over 5,000. As great as the tragedy that day, without the dedication and bravery of the security individuals of those embassies, those acts of terrorism would have been far more catastrophic. Shortly after the bombings, Congress provided $50 million in emergency supplemental appropriations to aid in the recovery process. And last October, the House passed the Foreign Service Victims of Terrorism Act of 2007 which provides compensation to the families victimized by these tragedies who are still recovering from their loss. Our embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam have been rebuilt. Nevertheless, we must never forget the tragedy of that fateful day, and we must always remember the significance of the lives of those lost. Madam Speaker, that is why I strongly urge and support this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in that support. I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 1461 which recognizes the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and honors those who were killed or injured as a result of these attacks. I imagine there is not one among us here today that could not tell you exactly where they were or what they were doing when the al Qaeda terrorist [[Page 20257]] network launched its cowardly and dastardly attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. Many of us recounted those stories just 2 weeks ago as the House and the Senate united to solemnly commemorate the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks. And while September 11 represents the deadliest attacks suffered by the American people at the hands of the al Qaeda operation to date, it was not the first. Three years earlier on the morning of August 7, 1998, 223 people were killed and 5,000 people were injured as nearly simultaneous car bombs ripped through the United States embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The bombings in Nairobi were particularly serious as the embassy stood on one of the busiest intersections in the city and the blast took down several neighboring buildings. The bombing in Tanzania was no less spectacular, but remarkably, it occurred on a national holiday when the embassy was closed. Though these terrorist attacks reportedly were intended to punish the United States, the overwhelming majority of the victims that day were Kenyan and Tanzanian. This is typical of a network which callously views the innocent victims it kills, including fellow Muslims, merely as collateral damage. It also reveals the true hypocrisy of al Qaeda's radical Islamic agenda. In all, 12 Americans were killed as a result of the east African embassy bombings, 31 foreign service nationals were killed, and one is still listed as missing. Scores more were saved as guards protecting the embassy in Nairobi succeeded in physically blocking the suicide bombers from gaining entry into the underground parking area. They paid with their lives for this act of heroism. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who died in service to our country on August 7, 1998. And we are compelled to express our profound sorrow for those whose lives were taken or were forever altered as a result of these dastardly attacks. As we solemnly commemorate the 10th anniversary of the bombings in Kenya and Tanzania and the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks on our Nation, we seek to reaffirm our resolve to defend our Nation, to defend our interests from radical Islamic terrorists who seek to destroy the United States and our citizens. I want to thank my colleague, Mr. Scott, for introducing this important measure, and I urge unanimous support for its passage. With that, I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Madam Speaker, it is with both sorrow and gratitude that we indeed recognize this 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and in memorializing the citizens and families of the United States, the Republic of Kenya, and the United Republic of Tanzania whose lives were lost and injured as a result of these horrible terrorist attacks. Mr. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1461, ``Recognizing the Tenth Anniversary of the terrorist bombings of the United States embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Kenya and Tanzania who lives were lost or whose were injured as a result of these attacks which is introduced by my distinguished colleague Representative Scott. This legislation is important to ensure that we remember those who lost their lives and those lives were affected by these tragic and horrendous bombings. general On August 7, 1998, approximately 4,000 people were injured in the Nairobi bombing and 85 injured in Dar es Salaam. These attacks which killed hundreds of people, first brought international attention to Osama Bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network, and stand out as one of the worst anti-American terrorist attacks preceding September 11, 2001. This legislation will recognize all the citizens whose lives were lost in these bombings. In addition to recognizing the 10th anniversary of the al Qaeda bombings, this resolution will recognize all the families and friends of victims lost in the attack and mourn those who lost their lives in these tragic and senseless attacks. This resolution will also express gratitude for the people of Kenya and Tanzania for their gracious contributions and assistance following these attacks in striving for future opportunity, democracy, and prosperity, and reaffirm its resolve to defeat al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations. It is a national tragedy that lives have been victim to reckless acts of terrorism, and the least we can do as a Congress, as a Nation is to recognize those involved in this tragedy and the counties who came to our aid. We cannot withhold this honor from those victims that perished in the tragedy. As honored Members of Congress, we have the honor to have the opportunity to recognize this anniversary and ensure the proper recognition is given to those involved in the terrorist bombings of 1998. Anything else would be giving in to the power of the terrorist, to which America will not yield. I firmly believe that we must pass this legislation in order to demonstrate our support of those people who lost their lives and those people who lost their loved ones, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Though this was a horrible tragedy, we can recognize the Tenth Anniversary and bring honor to those who were victims of al Qaeda. Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. I yield back the balance of my time. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1461, as amended. The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed. The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn. ____________________