[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 20997]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        HONORING U.S. NAVY PILOT CAPTAIN MICHAEL SCOTT SPEICHER

  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 249, which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 249) honoring United States Navy 
     Pilot Captain Michael Scott Speicher who was killed in 
     Operation Desert Storm.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 249) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 249

       Whereas more than 88,000 Americans remain missing from 
     World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, 
     and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan;
       Whereas the people of the United States honor Captain 
     Michael Scott Speicher;
       Whereas Captain Speicher was shot down in Wadi Thumayal 
     while flying an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet on January 16, 
     1991, the first night of the Persian Gulf War;
       Whereas Captain Speicher's fate remained unknown until July 
     2009, when United States Marines stationed in Anbar recovered 
     his remains in an unmarked desert grave;
       Whereas Captain Speicher made the ultimate sacrifice for 
     his country; and
       Whereas Captain Speicher's wife and 2 children have 
     sacrificed to the greatest extent, and the people of the 
     United States honor them by commemorating Captain Speicher: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors Captain Michael Scott Speicher for his service 
     and sacrifice, and for giving his life fighting for the 
     Nation in Operation Desert Storm;
       (2) honors Captain Speicher's family for their love and 
     undying strength and determination to bring Captain Speicher 
     home;
       (3) encourages the Department of Defense to continue the 
     Nation's efforts to provide clear and accurate information 
     about what happened to our fallen heroes, to determine the 
     nature and cause of Captain Speicher's death, and to continue 
     accounting for all who remain missing in action; and
       (4) honors the United States Navy, the United States Marine 
     Corps, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the Department of 
     Defense for their efforts to bring Captain Speicher home.

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