[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 1]
[House]
[Pages 326-331]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING SEVEN AMERICANS KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2009

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1009) honoring the seven Americans killed in 
Khost, Afghanistan, on December 30, 2009, for their service to the 
United States, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1009

       Whereas the men and women of the Central Intelligence 
     Agency are dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to 
     protect the United States;
       Whereas many of the individuals serving the Central 
     Intelligence Agency do so under harsh conditions, far from 
     home, and on the front lines of the battle against 
     terrorists;
       Whereas these public servants face great risks in the line 
     of duty on a daily basis;
       Whereas seven Americans in the service of the Central 
     Intelligence Agency gave their lives for their country in a 
     bombing that took place in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 
     30, 2009;
       Whereas six additional Americans were wounded in the 
     attack, some of them suffering serious injuries;
       Whereas the loss of these highly trained counterterrorism 
     experts will be deeply felt throughout the Intelligence 
     Community; and
       Whereas the entire Nation owes an enormous debt of 
     gratitude to these proud Americans, their families, and their 
     loved ones for the quiet, dedicated, and vital service they 
     offered to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the seven Americans who died in the bombing that 
     took place in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 30, 2009, and 
     the families of those patriots for their service and their 
     sacrifice for the United States;
       (2) expresses condolences to the families, friends, and 
     loved ones of those killed in the bombing;
       (3) offers support and hope for a full recovery for those 
     who were wounded in the bombing; and
       (4) shares in the pain and grief felt in the aftermath of 
     such a tragic event.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Reyes) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Thornberry) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes).


                             General Leave

  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, on December 30, while many of us were watching 
football, traveling back from holiday visits with our families, or 
preparing to usher in the new year with loved ones, seven members of 
the Central Intelligence Agency family had their lives cut short in an 
attack on Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, Afghanistan. This 
was the deadliest day for the CIA since the bombing of the Beirut 
Embassy in 1983.
  The news of this tragic loss was of particular personal sadness and 
difficulty for me. I had the privilege to meet the Khost team when I 
last visited Afghanistan on a committee oversight trip. I can attest 
that these men and women were among the finest America has to offer. 
They did not shy from the dangers they knew existed, and they believed 
in the mission they were asked to perform. They worked tirelessly in an 
environment that is always dangerous. I am proud of the work that they 
did and the work that their colleagues continue to do today to keep our 
country safe.
  The officers who died in Khost were true professionals. They were 
savvy officers who relied on years of experience to make judgments and 
to calculate risk. These men and women were deployed to an area of 
great danger and hardship, and they did so knowing that the worst could 
happen. But, they did it anyway, because we as a Nation are relying on 
them and colleagues like them to make the United States safe from the 
threat of terrorism.
  I realize that many people have a distorted vision of what it means 
to be part of the CIA family. Movies and books have made the life of a 
CIA officer seem exciting. It wasn't until I joined the Intelligence 
Committee that I fully understood the unique sacrifices that the men 
and women of the CIA and their families are willing to make in service 
to our Nation. In addition to the inherent dangers of the job, there 
are long separations from family and loved ones, often without 
explanation and on very short notice. Birthdays and holidays are spent 
in foreign corners of the world.
  To those who were wounded in the attack, let me just add my personal 
thanks for your service and wish you a full and speedy recovery.
  To the families of those who lost their lives on December 30, you 
have our deepest appreciation and gratitude. In this time of grief, 
please know that you are in our prayers and that this tragic loss will 
never be forgotten. It is my hope that you can find solace in the 
selfless, quiet devotion that these brave men and women gave for the

[[Page 327]]

safety and protection of our great Nation. They made the ultimate 
sacrifice on behalf of all of us. And all Americans owe them, and you, 
a great debt for their commitment and dedication to a job that very 
rarely receives any kind of public recognition.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I appreciate the chairman's introducing this 
resolution and bringing it to the floor. It has been cosponsored by all 
Republican and Democrat members on the Intelligence Committee, and I 
think it is an appropriate way to honor the sacrifice of those who were 
killed or wounded in this tragic accident.
  Madam Speaker, those in the intelligence community work, serve our 
Nation, indeed, in dangerous places and in dangerous circumstances. I 
will never forget an incident shortly after I first joined the 
Intelligence Committee in this House. I had been on a trip to Iraq 
where I had gotten to see firsthand more of what our intelligence 
community members as well as our members of the military do in that 
conflict, and on my way back home to Texas, I was on a commercial 
flight where there was a soldier who was on leave going back home. When 
the plane landed in Amarillo, all of the passengers stayed seated, let 
the soldier get off first, and applauded him. There were some tears 
around the plane, all of which was very, very appropriate. But in the 
back of my mind, I was always thinking about those people who serve our 
Nation who do not wear a uniform, whose brave acts will never be known 
and will never get the public recognition that our military sometimes 
get. It is, in fact, tragic that it is only in death that these 
individuals are honored in this more public way, but they clearly do a 
job that is essential to our country's security, and especially to the 
fight against terrorists to prevent further terrorist acts here.
  I think it is also important, Madam Speaker, to point out that these 
individuals gave their lives doing exactly the kind of intelligence 
gathering that is absolutely essential to stopping terrorists. They 
were trying to gather human intelligence, information from human 
sources. And to gather that kind of information, you often have to deal 
with some rather unsavory-type characters in dangerous places. But the 
fact of the matter is that we will not be successful in stopping 
terrorists unless we gather that sort of information. And so these 
Americans who were willing to put themselves into dangerous places, 
dangerous circumstances, were gathering exactly the kind of information 
we have to have to secure our country.
  There has been a lot of talk since the Fort Hood shooting and the 
attempt at bombing an airliner in Detroit about connecting the dots. 
Well, the truth of the matter is the more information we can gather 
closer to the front lines, closer to the center of where terrorists 
operate, the easier it is to connect those dots. And gathering that 
information out on the front lines at the tip of the sword, as it is 
sometimes said, that is exactly what these officers were doing.
  So I think it is important for us all to resolve to support them in 
that effort. Certainly to try to find ways to encourage and support 
their efforts, not to appoint special prosecutors to go after people 
who are getting that kind of information, but to support their efforts.
  The other point I would like to make is I think in this situation 
there is an extra burden placed on families. Because these officers 
were undercover, there is a lot of media interest and so forth, the 
families cannot go through the traditional kind of grieving process 
like other families can. As the chairman mentioned, I hope they know 
that they are certainly in our prayers even as we honor their loved 
ones who served our Nation.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the Chair of the 
Select Intelligence Oversight Panel and a member of our Intelligence 
Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Holt).
  Mr. HOLT. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman for bringing this 
resolution forward, and I rise in support of the resolution and to 
offer my condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the 
seven clandestine service officers who were killed by a suicide bomber 
in Khost, Afghanistan, a couple of weeks ago, and to offer support and 
appreciation and best wishes for those recovering from their injuries.
  As Chair of the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel and a member of 
the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am well aware, as we 
all are here, of the risk to forward-deployed clandestine service 
employees, a risk they face on a daily basis.
  These seven employees gave their lives in the line of duty, and our 
thoughts and prayers remain with their loved ones. May they find 
comfort in part in the knowledge of the high service these people have 
given to their country.
  Let me also take a moment to express my wishes for a full and speedy 
recovery to those wounded in the bombing and my appreciation to all 
Americans, civilian and military, who are serving our Nation in 
Afghanistan. We look forward to the day when their presence in 
Afghanistan will no longer be needed and that they will return home 
safely to their families.
  I thank Chairman Reyes for offering this resolution, and I urge my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
a member of the Intelligence Committee and the ranking member of the 
Terrorism Subcommittee on the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Miller).

                              {time}  1315

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  As we Members come to the floor from time to time to pass 
resolutions, to talk about resolutions supporting athletic events or 
special occasions, it is always difficult for us to come to the floor 
to talk about people who have given their lives in the defense of this 
country, who have been injured in the duty that they are performing for 
this Nation.
  Being at a forward operating base for someone within the intelligence 
community or the CIA is about as far outside the wire as you can get. 
In some of the most austere conditions, men and women are asked to 
ascertain intelligence so that we here in the United States of America 
can remain safe and secure in our homes and our business places. Seven 
individuals gave that ultimate sacrifice. It is altogether fitting that 
this House would pause to give honor to those seven individuals and 
their families, and to the individuals who have been injured. And as my 
colleagues have already said, I wish them a speedy recovery, but also 
to say thank you.
  Thank you to the men and women of the clandestine services who are 
willing to do what they do 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a 
year. We in this House, we as Americans, owe them a debt of gratitude 
that we will never be able to repay.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, it is now my honor to recognize for 1 
minute a former ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, and 
certainly someone that knows and understands the sacrifices that our 
men and women in the CIA make every day. We are fortunate to have her 
as the Speaker of the House.
  Ms. PELOSI. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  I thank him for giving us the privilege to come to the floor to honor 
the lives, the leadership, the service and sacrifice of the seven CIA 
officers killed, and those who were wounded in Afghanistan on December 
30, 2009.
  For those of us who have worked closely with members of the 
intelligence community, visited them and their stations around the 
world, some undercover, some not, we know the sacrifice that they make. 
Like so many of the dedicated men and women in the intelligence 
community, these officers worked far from home, close to the enemy, and 
on the front lines of the fight for freedom and security around the 
world.

[[Page 328]]

  They were mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and 
daughters, friends and loved ones. They never asked for recognition or 
credit, for medals or awards. They simply sought to fulfill their duty 
to protect our Nation, to secure the blessings of a brighter future for 
our people, to bear any burden, as President Kennedy said, in the name 
of our safety, our shared values, and our common ideals.
  Go back a number of years before terrorism became such an important 
part of our intelligence gathering, go back a couple of decades, force 
protection was one of the primary responsibilities of the intelligence 
community. When they were sent into harm's way or in anticipation of 
that, the intelligence community was the advance team and the ongoing 
force protector. And so as we honor on every occasion, and we will 
later today, our men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, we know that 
there are people taking risks to protect them as we talk about honoring 
them. These are the members of the intelligence community in their 
various manifestations.
  The stories of these intelligence officers, theirs were stories of 
sacrifice, tales of bravery in the face of danger, and valor in the 
face of great peril. In carrying out their mission, they gave hope to 
children, families, and complete strangers. We are the land of the free 
and the home of the brave because of them. In performing acts of 
extraordinary courage, they advanced the cause of peace. In answering 
the calls of service, they became heroes.
  These officers knew we live in a time of peril at home and around the 
world. As the attack on them in Afghanistan, the failed plot on 
Christmas Day, and the shootings at Fort Hood remind us, intelligence 
must remain the first line of defense against terrorism and other 
threats to global security and peace.
  We must continue to support those still in the field, the men and 
women who, taking inspiration from their fallen colleagues, keep 
pursuing their mission on every front. In the words of this resolution, 
the entire Nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to these proud 
Americans, their families, and their loved ones for the quiet, 
dedicated, and vital services offered to the United States. May their 
proud and selfless acts be a source of strength and inspiration to all 
Americans. May those so painfully touched by this event find comfort in 
knowing the thoughts and prayers of our entire Nation are with them at 
this very sad and difficult time.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) a member of the Intelligence 
Committee and the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee.
  Mr. KING of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas 
for yielding.
  I rise in strong support of this resolution.
  As the gentleman from Texas indicated earlier, it is unfortunate that 
it is only at times like this that many of the American people realize 
just what an outstanding service is performed by the men and women of 
the Central Intelligence Agency day in and day out, year in and year 
out. They perform missions and they put themselves at risk in ways that 
many of us cannot even imagine.
  I have only been a member of the Intelligence Committee for less than 
a year, but during that time I have had the opportunity to visit with 
members of the CIA at remote outposts, seeing the type of conditions 
under which they live, seeing the burdens they bear, seeing the risks 
that they endure. And it should be reminded to all of us that not only 
do we honor these seven men and women who were murdered in the line of 
duty, not only do we offer our condolences to the family members of 
those who were killed, and not only do we pray for those who are 
recovering from their wounds, but we should also, I think, take an 
extra moment to express our solidarity for those that are in the field 
today, those who are doing, as we are standing here on the House floor 
here today speaking, as we go back to our apartments tonight, as we go 
back to our districts over the next several days and be with our 
families, that there are men and women out there who will not be with 
their families, who will not be living in the comfort we take for 
granted in this Nation.
  And it also should be reminded to us that we should not find 
ourselves being Monday morning quarterbacks or second-guessing these 
men and women who were on the field, who have to make literally life 
and death decisions at any moment. And sometimes looking back on them 
years later we can say they should have done this, they should have 
done that. The reality is they are the people on the front lines. They 
are the people actually, as Congressman Miller said, almost beyond the 
front lines. They are as remote as you can be in many instances, and 
also have to take extraordinary risks, as they did in this situation.
  Because if we are going to win the war against terrorism, we have to 
obtain the intelligence. We have to get that information that is so 
vital to heading off attacks. And we can't do it just by intercepts. We 
can't do it always in a neat and easy way. It has to be done by people 
putting themselves on the line, actually going out and meeting with 
those who may turn out to be, as in this case, double agents or triple 
agents.
  So let's just again express our heartfelt admiration, our sympathy, 
our sense of condolence for all these people who, again, died so 
tragically, these brave men and women. But also keep in mind that there 
are many, many more brave men and women out in the field today doing 
this exact same type of work. And they deserve our support. So it is 
not only at times like this, in times of tragedy, that we acknowledge 
them, but we acknowledge them 365 days a year for the work that they 
do.
  With that, again, I am proud to support the resolution.
  Mr. REYES. It is now my honor to yield 2 minutes to my colleague on 
the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Schiff from California.
  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I join my colleague, the distinguished 
chairman of the Intelligence Committee, in honoring the seven American 
intelligence professionals who lost their lives at Forward Operating 
Base Chapman on December 30, and their six colleagues who were wounded 
in the attack.
  It is the nature of service in the intelligence community that the 
American public will never know the names of some of the dead and 
wounded. These patriots served quietly, often undercover, and when they 
are lost, their families and colleagues must mourn them in private.
  It is a blessing, I think, of service on the Intelligence Committee 
that we get the chance to visit intelligence officials here at home and 
around the world. We have the chance to get to know them, to see the 
courage that they exhibit. More than that, we have a chance to thank 
them. But we also get a chance to see the strain it puts on their lives 
and on the lives of their families, a sacrifice that is not rewarded 
with the kind of public attention and public thanks that their 
colleagues in uniform often receive. But we are here today to express 
our profound gratitude for their service and to share in the grief that 
has been suffered and visited upon their families.
  In the coming months, seven stars will be etched into the CIA's 
memorial wall, joining 90 other employees who died in service to the 
United States. Even today, 35 of the 90 stars honor the sacrifice of 
officers whose identities still remain classified. I hope that all of 
our colleagues will join us in expressing our deepest condolences to 
the families of those who were lost, and friends, and to pay homage to 
these patriots, whose service and sacrifice has made each one of us 
more secure.
  I yield the floor and thank, again, the chairman for his sponsorship 
of this resolution.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYES. I now yield 3 minutes to the former ranking member on the 
Intelligence Committee and the current Chair of the Homeland Security 
Subcommittee on Intelligence, a lady that I have had the privilege of 
traveling with around the world to visit our men and women in the 
intelligence community, Ms. Harman from California.

[[Page 329]]


  Ms. HARMAN. I thank Chairman Reyes for yielding to me and for the 
nice things that he says not only about me but surely about the women 
and men who serve our intelligence community around the world. And I 
thank him for authoring this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, every single time I enter CIA headquarters in Langley, 
Virginia, the first thing I do is to look at the wall of stars 
displayed in the lobby, each star, as we just heard, signifying a loss 
somewhere in the world of an agency employee. Some of those stars have 
no names attached, underscoring the sensitivity and singular importance 
of the missions undertaken by CIA women and men. On my most recent 
visit to Langley, in late December, I asked my host if any new stars 
had been added to the wall. Yes, he said, simply. Sadly, the next time 
I or anyone else enters CIA headquarters, seven more stars will be on 
that wall, stars honoring patriots I probably met on one of my many 
trips that I made as ranking member of the Intelligence Committee, and 
more recently as chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on 
Intelligence.
  On those trips I always meet with our intelligence officers to hear 
firsthand about their work and to thank them for their service and 
sacrifice. When a suicide bomber took those seven lives at Forward 
Operating Base Chapman, Americans got a rare glimpse of the dangerous 
reality that our intelligence community faces on a daily basis. There 
is no question, Madam Speaker, that their work has saved and will 
continue to save American lives.
  So on behalf of a grateful nation, our profound gratitude goes to the 
families of Harold Brown, Elizabeth Hanson, Dane Paresi, Scott 
Roberson, and Jeremy Wise, and to those of two others whose names are 
not disclosed. We also salute those who were wounded in the attack and 
their families.
  Madam Speaker, accurate, actionable, and timely intelligence is 
America's first line of defense, the so-called tip of the spear.

                              {time}  1330

  These intelligence professionals died in an effort to penetrate the 
top leadership of al Qaeda. I believe that the best way to honor them 
is by supporting their colleagues, who continue to put their lives on 
the line in the service of the American people and defense of our 
Nation. Let us do so this afternoon by supporting this bipartisan 
resolution.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Just to emphasize the point made earlier by the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. King), as we come today to honor those who sacrifice their 
lives and their families for their sacrifice, as we come today to honor 
and express our appreciation for those who are wounded and wish them a 
speedy recovery, it is also important that we reaffirm our support to 
those who are all over the world also in dangerous places, in dangerous 
circumstances, carrying out the Nation's business in the intelligence 
community. I think we are uniquely situated in Congress, not only to 
oversee their activities, but to support and encourage the work that 
they do that can never be shared with the outside world. So I think 
it's appropriate to have this resolution, but I think it's also 
important for all Members of this body to reaffirm our support for 
those who serve our Nation in this way.
  With that, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from Ohio (Ms. Sutton).
  Ms. SUTTON. I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for the time and for your 
leadership.
  Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Res. 1009. Today we are 
honoring the seven members of our intelligence community who were 
tragically killed on December 30 and their colleagues who were injured 
by a suicide bomber at our CIA base in Khost, Afghanistan. In honoring 
these brave men and women, we also seek to express our deep support and 
appreciation to all the civil servants who dedicate their lives to 
protecting our Nation. We mourn the loss of all of these seven brave 
heroes.
  Along with the Congresswoman from the 13th District of Ohio, I would 
like to take a moment to reflect on the loss of Scott Roberson, an Ohio 
native who was among those killed in this tragic attack. Scott 
dedicated his life to serving and protecting. He spent many years as a 
police officer before serving with the U.N. Security Forces in Kosovo. 
He also served several tours in Iraq as a security officer before his 
assignment in support of U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
  Members of Scott's family reside in my district. When I had the deep 
honor of attending his memorial service some days ago, as I sat among 
his family and friends, I listened to those who knew him best speak of 
his character and unwavering commitment to protecting the safety and 
security of all Americans. By all accounts, Scott was an exceptional 
person who, along with his selfless colleagues, sacrificed beyond 
measure to protect us.
  He left behind a loving wife expecting their first child, a child who 
will know her father through our hero's family and friends and through 
this resolution passed in honor of the service and sacrifice that he 
and his colleagues have given on our behalf and on behalf of our great 
Nation.
  For those families who cannot publicly mourn their loss, please know 
that our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers are with you. And to all 
of the families, know that the sacrifice of your parent, your child, 
your sibling or spouse does not go unrecognized and will not be 
forgotten.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I now yield 2 minutes to a valued member of 
the Intelligence Committee and the chairman of the Strategic Forces 
Subcommittee of the Armed Services Committee, the gentleman from Rhode 
Island (Mr. Langevin).
  Mr. LANGEVIN. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the bravery and sacrifice of 
the seven CIA officers and contractors who gave their lives in the line 
of duty during the December 30 bombing of a CIA base in Khost, 
Afghanistan. My thoughts and prayers are with them and with their 
families. I also want to recognize those Americans who were injured in 
the blast and offer my best wishes for a full and quick recovery.
  Madam Speaker, as we have all learned by now, a suicide bomber who 
was believed to possess valuable information critical to 
counterterrorism operations entered the U.S. forward operating base in 
Khost, where he activated explosives that took the lives of seven 
Americans, including one of our Nation's top counterterrorism experts 
as well as a Jordanian intelligence officer. Six other Americans 
standing nearby were also injured in the explosion.
  The men and women of our intelligence community do critically 
important work behind a veil of secrecy, yet as this tragic incident 
reminds us, they're still exposed to the dangers that come from the 
difficult and often thankless job of protecting our Nation. Unlike our 
soldiers in uniform, these public servants must keep their many 
victories secret while their rare failures and raw grief make 
headlines.
  My thoughts and prayers again are with the families of these brave 
men and women. They and all the other patriots who serve so honorably 
in our intelligence community have my unending gratitude and my 
unwavering support. And I, I know along with all of my colleagues, will 
continue to do everything in our power to ensure that they have the 
tools and the resources and the encouragement they need to continue to 
keep America safe.
  May God bless those who lost their lives and those who are injured.
  Mr. THORNBERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all my colleagues for 
their great words and condolences and sympathy in honor of those who 
were killed in Khost.
  Again, personally, I extend my condolences to the families and 
friends who are forever impacted by this tragic

[[Page 330]]

loss. And to those who are recovering today from injuries they received 
in this attack, I wish you a full and fast recovery.
  We, as Members of Congress, recognize that we have a tremendous 
responsibility to provide our men and women in the intelligence 
community all the tools that they need to carry out their mission. We 
are forever grateful. We are blessed to have these men and women 
serving, protecting our great Nation.
  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) women and men who were killed 
recently in Khost, Afghanistan.
  I recently returned from a House Intelligence Committee oversight 
visit to various locations in Europe and the Middle East. I met with a 
number of CIA officers, who provided me with exhaustive briefings on 
the December 30 bombing in Khost, Afghanistan.
  That bombing killed seven of their CIA colleagues and wounded a 
number of others, several grievously.
  Many others have offered words of praise for the selfless patriots 
who gave their lives for their country, and words of condolence to 
their families and loved ones. In memorial services and private 
funerals scheduled for the coming weeks, many more will surely do the 
same. I am honored to add my voice to this chorus.
  I have met with hundreds of CIA professionals in my years on the 
Intelligence Committee. I can tell you that they are invariably brave, 
committed patriots who have dedicated their lives to the protection of 
this Nation. Their jobs are difficult and dangerous in the best of 
times. In others--as the recent tragedy reminds us their missions 
require the ultimate sacrifice.
  We owe the seven Americans killed in Khost our thanks and praise. We 
owe their families our condolences and our prayers. And we owe their 
colleagues our respect, admiration, and gratitude.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Madam Speaker, seven brave Americans were 
killed in the line of duty on December 30, 2009, in Khost, Afghanistan.
  On that day, we lost good and honorable public servants, whose 
contributions to our national security will be dearly missed. We lost 
productive citizens--loving parents, siblings, children of Americans 
who will never see their loved ones again.
  We honor their records of service and their sacrifice. We honor their 
willingness to serve our country during turbulent and dangerous times.
  I extend on behalf of my constituents sincerest condolences to the 
families of those who have died.
  Nothing we say here can heal the wounds of those who loved them. But 
decisions we make here can ensure that their lives were not lost in 
vain.
  Mr. MANZULLO. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 1009. One 
of those individuals honored today in this resolution spent her 
formative years in the northern Illinois Congressional district that I 
am proud to represent. Miss Elizabeth C. Hanson of Rockford, Illinois 
deployed to Afghanistan as part of America's war against terrorist 
extremists. On December 30, 2009, Elizabeth, along with six colleagues 
from the Central Intelligence Agency and a Jordanian liaison officer, 
was killed when a suicide bomber attacked the base where they were 
stationed.
  Elizabeth Hanson was born in February 1979 and graduated from Keith 
Country Day School in 1997. She attended Colby College during the time 
of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. Elizabeth joined the CIA 
as a specialist tasked with collecting information on terrorists, and 
she was part of a team dedicated to defeating America's worst enemies.
  Elizabeth Hanson served her country with passion, dedication, and 
conviction. Elizabeth will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and 
all who had the privilege of knowing her. I am enclosing for the Record 
a copy of a recent local newspaper editorial that honored her service.

             [From the RRStar.com Editorial, Jan. 17, 2010]

           Brave, Remarkable Woman Went From Keith to the CIA

       In the weeks since CIA employee Elizabeth Hanson died in a 
     suicide bombing in Afghanistan, her college placement adviser 
     at Keith Country Day School has reflected on what the loss 
     meant.
       Sally Hoff's words should shed new light on the heroism 
     that Hanson exhibited in the dark corners of Afghanistan.
       Hanson, 30, was among seven CIA employees who died Dec. 30 
     when a double agent detonated an explosive device at a remote 
     base near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
       Hoff worked closely with Hanson for two years at Keith, a 
     private college preparatory school, before Hanson graduated 
     in 1997.
       At first, the former counselor's deep sadness was paired 
     with shock that Hanson worked for the CIA. Then it seemed to 
     fit.
       She recalled Hanson's courage, energy and resolve--traits 
     unusual for most teenagers.
       ``Although she was involved in many activities and had a 
     lot of friends, I was aware of a strong sense of independence 
     and self-reliance in her,'' Hoff wrote in an e-mail to the 
     Editorial Board.
       ``As we moved through the college selection process, she 
     was clearly the captain of her destiny; she made her own 
     decisions without seeking much input from family and friends.
       ``There's a marked amount of bravery in that for a 17-year-
     old,'' Hoff wrote.
       Hanson went on to attend Colby College in Maine, a highly 
     selective liberal arts school where she majored in economics. 
     She graduated in 2001. A professor at Colby told The 
     Associated Press that Hanson didn't study economics as a path 
     to a lucrative job in the financial world. Her concern wasn't 
     so much the raw data, Michael Donihue said, but the behaviors 
     behind it.
       ``There are some who come into economics because they're 
     interested in making money,'' he said. ``Others want to look 
     at the world in a different way.''
       At Keith, Hanson was known as Bitsy. She was a vivacious, 
     generous, friendly young woman who seemed to enjoy 
     challenging herself in academics and extracurriculars, 
     according to Hoff.
       ``I feel honored to have known this remarkable young 
     woman!'' Hoff wrote.
       This community is honored that Hanson gave her life trying 
     to unlock the secrets of al-Qaida and its terrorist network. 
     Our condolences to her family and friends. May the pride that 
     her hometown feels in her sacrifice be some comfort.

  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to the seven brave Americans who recently lost their lives in 
Afghanistan.
  I was deeply saddened to learn of the seven Americans who died in the 
December 30th suicide blast at Forward Operating Base Chapman. This 
tragic bombing was the deadliest single attack on U.S. intelligence 
personnel in decades.
  Over and over again, the men and women who serve the Central 
Intelligence Agency have shown their dedication to their mission and 
the protection of the United States.
  These seven Americans served with distinction at a facility on the 
front lines in the Khost province, an area which borders North 
Waziristan and is believed to be al-Qaeda's home base.
  Unfortunately, this terrible event also has a connection to my home 
State. We've been hit hard in the Northwest. Over 60 service members 
from Washington State or assigned from Washington military 
installations have died in Afghanistan. Of that, 32 were killed in the 
past year from Fort Lewis, a major Army base in my district.
  Regrettably this tragic event only adds to that total. One of the 
victims, Dane Clark Paresi, was a DuPont, Washington resident and 
former Fort Lewis soldier. Paresi retired from 1st Special Forces Group 
at Fort Lewis in 2008, concluding 27 years in the Army. He is survived 
by his wife, two daughters, parents, and five siblings.
  I would like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt sympathy 
to his family and the families of the other brave Americans who lost 
their lives. Their service will not be forgotten.
  For the six additional Americans that were injured in the attack, I 
would like to offer my support and hope for their full recovery.
  The men and women of the CIA have done everything their country has 
asked of them and more. We all should have the utmost respect and 
admiration for their service and sacrifice. The loss of these highly 
trained counterterrorism experts will be deeply felt throughout the 
Intelligence Community.
  And with that, Madam Speaker, I would urge my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Speaker I rise today in support of H. Res. 
1009, honoring the seven Americans killed in Khost, Afghanistan in a 
suicide attack on December 30, 2009. I extend my sincere condolences to 
their families and friends, as well as to the entire intelligence 
community.
  The men and women of the clandestine services face great personal 
danger to protect the United States. Their work is largely done in the 
shadows and seldom do they receive the credit and recognition they so 
deeply deserve. We owe them a debt of gratitude for their courageous 
service.
  As a member of the Intelligence Committee, I have seen firsthand the 
work these men and women are doing to protect Americans on the 
frontlines of international conflicts. While their names may never be 
made public, their memory and the impact of their service will not be 
forgotten.

[[Page 331]]

  The loss of seven American men and women in the December 30th attack 
is a tragedy for both the intelligence community and our country, and 
my thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were killed.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the bravery 
and sacrifice of the seven CIA officers and contractors who gave their 
lives in the line of duty during the December 30 bombing of a CIA base 
in Khost, Afghanistan. I also want to recognize those Americans who 
were injured in the blast and offer my wishes for a full and quick 
recovery.
  As we have all learned by now, a suicide bomber who was believed to 
possess information critical to counterterrorism operations entered the 
U.S. forward operating base in Khost, where he activated explosives 
that took the lives of seven Americans, including one of our nation's 
top counterterrorism experts. Six other Americans standing nearby were 
injured in the explosion.
  The men and women of our intelligence community work behind a veil of 
secrecy, yet as this tragic incident reminds us, they are still exposed 
to the dangers that come from the difficult and often thankless job of 
protecting our country. Unlike our soldiers in uniform, these public 
servants must keep their many victories secret, while their rare 
failures and raw grief make headlines. My thoughts and prayers are with 
the families of these brave men and women. They, and all the other 
patriots who serve so honorably in our intelligence community, have my 
unending gratitude and my unwavering support. I will continue to do 
everything in my power to ensure that they have the tools, resources 
and encouragement they need to keep America safe.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of House Resolution 1009, which honors the seven Americans who 
died in the bombing that took place in Khost, Afghanistan on December 
30, 2009, and the families of those patriots for their service and 
their sacrifice to our country.
  These men and women were on the front lines of the battle against 
terrorism and worked tirelessly on a daily basis for the safety of the 
American and Afghanistan people. Their absence will be greatly felt 
throughout the intelligence community.
  In 2008, I had the opportunity to visit Khost with the 101st Airborne 
Division of the U.S. Army along with a Texas Reserve Unit based in 
Pasadena, Texas in our district. There, I saw these men and women 
working under harsh conditions, away from their loved ones, and in the 
face of great risks. Our entire nation owes a great debt to all the men 
and women working to protect our country and stabilize Afghanistan.
  Again, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the 
families, friends, and loved ones of those killed in the bombings and 
also offer my support and hope for a full recovery to the other six 
Americans who were wounded in this tragic bombing.
  Ms. TSONGAS. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1009 
and to honor the seven Americans who died in the bombing that took 
place in Khost, Afghanistan, on December 30, 2009. One of the heroes 
murdered on that day was Harold E. Brown, Jr., a native of Bolton, 
Massachusetts.
  Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the seven brave 
individuals who lost their lives. I extend my condolences to Harold's 
wife of 16 years, Janet, his three young children, and his parents, 
Harold and Barbara Brown, who are active and beloved members of the 
Bolton community.
  As the tragic events of December 30, the failed terrorist attack on 
Christmas Day, and the shootings at Ft. Hood illustrate, there are 
radicals who wish to do us harm any way and anywhere they can. In this 
war against extremism, intelligence is our most important asset to 
prevent future attacks and to keep our country, our freedoms and our 
ideals secure.
  It is the men and women of the intelligence community who sacrifice 
much to obtain this valuable resource. They are frequently separated 
from their families and risk life and limb to keep us safe, but they 
carry out their responsibilities with quiet determination and 
professionalism.
  Rarely do they receive the recognition and thanks that they deserve, 
and too frequently it only comes in instances of tragedy.
  Across the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, is the 
message, freedom is not free. The freedom we enjoy is the result of the 
sacrifices of those who serve. We are the beneficiaries of their 
courage, their sacrifice, and their vigilance; and so are countless 
people around the world. The seven brave Americans who were murdered on 
December 30 made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is a debt 
that we can never repay.
  Madam Speaker, it is appropriate that we pass this resolution today 
to recognize and express our gratitude to the brave men and women of 
our intelligence community; to remember the tragic loss of the seven 
Americans who died on December 30 and to honor their lives; and to 
express our condolences to their families and loved ones.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Madam Speaker, on December 30, 2009, we were reminded of 
the dangers and challenges our intelligence community faces every day, 
working in anonymity to keep our country safe. We were reminded that 
they often operate under harsh conditions, leaving loved ones behind, 
and that their service will likely never be publicly recognized. Seven 
Americans died in service to their country and several others were 
severely wounded. If we can collectively take anything from this 
tragedy, I hope it is to re-commit ourselves to be mindful of the toll 
the our military, intelligence, and civilian personnel persevere under 
every day to keep this country safe and to do everything in our power 
to support their mission. I extend my personal condolences to the 
families, loved ones, friends, and colleagues of our fallen and wounded 
personnel.
  Mr. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Reyes) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1009.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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