[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 5986]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  COMMEMORATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE APRIL 1983 BOMBING OF THE 
                    UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN BEIRUT

  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 516, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 516) solemnly commemorating the 25th 
     anniversary of the tragic April 1983 bombing of the United 
     States Embassy in Beirut and remembering those who lost their 
     lives and those who were injured.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise to commemorate the 25th anniversary 
of the tragic April 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. As we 
speak, thousands of State Department employees are living and working 
abroad, promoting U.S. interests and building stronger relations with 
foreign governments and their peoples. While their work is always 
important, it is also sometimes dangerous. The 25th anniversary of the 
April 18, 1983, bombing of the U.S. embassy in Beirut reminds us of 
this fact. On that sad day, the lives of 63 people, including 42 
Americans and Lebanese members of the Embassy staff, were tragically 
taken. In addition to those who lost their lives, many others were 
injured, including 35 embassy personnel.
  On April 18th, 2008, the State Department will host a commemoration 
ceremony. Senior U.S. Government officials will join Ambassador Robert 
Dillon, the U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon at the time of the bombing, and 
over 100 family members of the victims to remember their sacrifice. The 
U.S. Senate also joins in honoring the service of those who died, 
mourning their death, and condemning all terrorist acts that 
deliberately target the innocent. We also reiterate our unwavering 
support for the people of Lebanon and their government as they seek to 
build a better future free from the threat of terrorist violence.
  Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 516) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 516

       Whereas, on April 18, 1983, terrorists detonated a bomb at 
     the United States Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, killing 63 
     people, including 42 American and Lebanese Embassy staff;
       Whereas the bombing injured many other people, including 35 
     Embassy staff;
       Whereas President Ronald Reagan denounced the ``vicious 
     terrorist bombing'' as a ``cowardly act''; and
       Whereas the April 18, 1983 attack was at the time the 
     deadliest attack against a United States diplomatic mission 
     in history, but was followed by other terrorist attacks 
     against Americans in Beirut including the bombing of the 
     United States Marines barracks in Beirut on October 23, 1983, 
     which killed 241 members of the United States Armed Forces, 
     the bombing of the United States Embassy annex in Beirut on 
     September 20, 1984, which killed 12 people, including 9 
     Embassy staff, and the bombing of a United States Embassy 
     vehicle on January 15, 2008, which injured 2 Lebanese 
     employees of the Embassy and killed 3 Lebanese passers by: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate, on the 25th anniversary of the 
     April 18, 1983, bombing of the United States Embassy in 
     Beirut, Lebanon--
       (1) remembers the victims of the bombing;
       (2) joins family and friends in mourning the American and 
     Lebanese victims who lost their lives in this tragic bombing;
       (3) condemns all terrorist acts that deliberately target 
     the innocent; and
       (4) reiterates its strong support for the people of Lebanon 
     and their Government as they seek to build a better future 
     free from the threat of terrorist violence.

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