December 11, 2001 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H9149 This legislation authorizes the Montgomery Spann as an American hero and will soon young daughters, Mike selflessly re- GI Bill full-time study allotment to $985 by Oc- memorialize him on a wall of honor; sponded to the call to serve at the fore- tober 2002. Additionally, the legislation im- Whereas Spann, a former Captain in the front of our Nation’s war against ter- Marine Corps, is survived by his wife, Shan- rorism. proves home loan guarantees for veterans to non, and 3 young children; and $60,000. It increases the burial and funeral ex- Whereas the thoughts and prayers of the Half a world away, in a dusty, inhos- pense benefits for service-connected veterans Congress and the Nation remain with the pitable and alien environment, Mike to $2,000. It improves automobile and adapt- families of Spann and all the soldiers fight- confronted our Nation’s fiercest enemy ive equipment grants for severely disabled vet- ing to ensure the Nation’s freedom and safe- eye to eye. He did this not because it erans to $9,000. ty: Now, therefore, be it was his job, but because he was com- Most importantly, this legislation remembers Resolved by the House of Representatives (the pelled to ensure that all people, regard- those who have often been forgotten. The leg- Senate concurring), That the Congress— less of their nationality or religion, islation repeals the 30-year presumptive pe- (1) honors Johnny Micheal Spann, a para- could live without the fear of being vic- military officer in the Central Intelligence riod for respiratory cancers and diabetes due Agency, who was the first American killed in tims of terrorism. That is what this is to Agent Orange. It requires the National combat during the war against terrorism in about. Academy of Science to conduct research to Afghanistan, and recognizes him for his Mike died fighting, trying to obtain determine the effects of dioxin or herbicide ex- bravery and sacrifice; information on terrorist plans and in- posure on Vietnam veterans. Finally, it (2) extends its deepest sympathies to the tentions so we could save others. Face changes the Gulf War programs to include family of this brave hero; and to face against those bent on killing in- fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chron- (3) pledges its continued support for the nocent men, women, and children, ic multisymptom illness and any other illness men and women who risk their lives every Mike stood strong, he stood tireless day to ensure the safety of all United States that cannot be clearly identified to the defini- citizens. and fearless. That is the description of tion of undiagnosed illnesses, thus allowing an American hero and Mike was one. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- veterans to receive compensation. Up to the moment of his death, Mike I am grateful for the work done on this legis- ant to the rule, the gentleman from never stopped being a Marine. ‘‘Semper lation by my House colleagues concerning vet- Florida (Mr. GOSS) and the gentle- Fidelis.’’ He was always faithful. He erans’ issues. I hope that the House will join woman from California (Ms. PELOSI) was faithful to the countless, nameless me in supporting this legislation. each will control 20 minutes. millions of Americans, especially those The Chair recognizes the gentleman Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. incapable of defending themselves. from Florida (Mr. GOSS). Speaker, I yield back the balance of Mike exemplified a breed of officer not my time. GENERAL LEAVE normally acknowledged in the public The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unani- sector. He readily accepted the risks of question is on the motion offered by mous consent that all Members may service, including the possibility of the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. have 5 legislative days within which to death, in order to secure the safety of SMITH) that the House suspend the revise and extend their remarks on H. his fellow Americans. rules and agree to the resolution, Con. Res. 281. His death acts as a reminder of the House Resolution 310. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there high cost we must sometimes pay in The question was taken; and (two- objection to the request of the gen- order to secure our pursuit of liberty thirds having voted in favor thereof) tleman from Florida? and happiness. We hold the greatest the rules were suspended and the reso- There was no objection. debt to Mike and to his family. The lution was agreed to. Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I yield my- memory of his deeds must be held for- A motion to reconsider was laid on self such time as I may consume. ever dear in our hearts. We pray for the table. I rise obviously in very strong and Mike’s family and ask God to give f sad support of this resolution; sorry them strength and see them through that we have to have it. It is author- HONORING JOHNNY MICHEAL these difficult days. ized by my friend and colleague, the SPANN, FIRST AMERICAN We also pray for Mike’s fellow col- gentleman from Alabama (Mr. KILLED IN COMBAT IN WAR leagues in intelligence and in the mili- ADERHOLT). AGAINST TERRORISM IN AF- tary, who are still standing, even now, Johnny Micheal Spann, ‘‘Mike’’ as he GHANISTAN, AND PLEDGING as the Nation’s vanguard in the war was known, served in the Central Intel- CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR MEM- against terrorism. ligence Agency for approximately 2 BERS OF ARMED FORCES There are many Mike Spanns out years, just long enough to complete his there doing dangerous hard work for Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I move to training as a paramilitary and an oper- our country. God bless them all and suspend the rules and agree to the con- ations officer in the clandestine serv- keep them safe. But there is only one current resolution (H. Con. Res. 281) ice, which is arguably the most chal- Mike Spann for his family and his honoring the ultimate sacrifice made lenging and dangerous job in the intel- loved ones. by Johnny Micheal Spann, the first ligence community. American killed in combat during the Mike was up to the challenge. In fact, b 1730 war against terrorism in Afghanistan, he humbly accepted the opportunity to Mr. Speaker, we share the burden of and pledging continued support for serve his country as an intelligence of- their loss today, and we want them to members of the Armed Forces. ficer. Prior to joining the CIA, Mike know we honor him before the world The Clerk read as follows: served in the United States Marine from this place. H. CON. RES. 281 Corps; he loved the Corps. I think all Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous con- Whereas as part of the war against ter- Marines love the Corps and often spoke sent to yield the balance of my time to rorism, United States military personnel and of the Corps as if it was a family. And the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. agents from the Central Intelligence Agency it is a family. We all know that. He left ADERHOLT), who is the sponsor of the were involved in combat with Taliban forces the Corps and he joined the CIA be- during a prison uprising in Mazar-e Sharif, legislation, to control the time. Afghanistan, on Sunday, November 25, 2001; cause, in his own words, ‘‘Somebody’s The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Whereas Johnny Micheal Spann, age 32, an got to do the things that nobody else DUNCAN). Is there objection to the re- officer in the Central Intelligence Agency, really wants to do.’’ quest of the gentleman from Alabama? was inside the prison fortress interviewing His dedication to this country and There was no objection. Taliban prisoners when the uprising began; his commitment to defending its val- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield Whereas Spann was killed in this rebellion ues and liberties highlight the quality myself such time as I may consume. and is the first American known to be killed of the men and women who have de- Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the in combat in Afghanistan during this war; cided to serve our great country. Mike legislation to honor Johnny Micheal Whereas Spann is the 79th employee of the Central Intelligence Agency killed in the did exactly what he set out to do. He Spann, who was laid to rest yesterday line of duty; served his country in a way many with other fallen men and women of Whereas the Director of the Central Intel- would not or could not. A relatively great courage in Arlington National ligence Agency, George J. Tenet, hailed newlywed, with a newborn son and two Cemetery. That an officer of the CIA

VerDate 10-DEC-2001 04:48 Dec 12, 2001 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00067 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11DE7.092 pfrm01 PsN: H11PT1 H9150 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2001 was the first combat fatality of the Mr. Speaker, as we sing the praises of was not popular. His father recently struggle against terrorism in Afghani- Micheal Spann and mourn his death quoted Mike as saying, ‘‘Someone has stan is a stark reminder of how dan- and try to comfort his family, I would to do the right thing that no one else gerous and difficult the mission of col- like to pay tribute to those Americans wants to do.’’ lecting intelligence can be. The gen- who lost lives in the so-called friendly From a young age, he wanted to pur- tleman from Florida (Mr. GOSS) spoke fire incident that occurred in Afghani- sue a career in the Marines and with ei- eloquently to that point. He also de- stan. They have been memorialized as ther the CIA or FBI. After graduating scribed Mike’s role at the CIA, and the well, the three Green Berets. They from Winfield High School in Marion circumstances and the danger in which were Master Sergeant Jefferson Davis County, Alabama, he attended Auburn he was placed; and which, unfortu- of Watauga, Tennessee; Staff Sergeant University where he earned a degree in nately, caused his demise. Brian Cody Prosser of Frazier Park, criminal justice. He immediately pur- Like 78 CIA officers before him, Mr. California; and Sergeant First Class sued his next goal, serving in the Ma- Spann gave his life to protect the free- Daniel Petithory of Cheshire, Massa- rine Corps from 1992–1999, and he dom which we hold dear and which de- chusetts. We lost two others in heli- earned the rank of captain. From fines us as a Nation. As we mourn his copter accidents in Pakistan. Every there, he was recruited to work for the death, it is well to remember the gifts one of these losses is felt by all of us in CIA in special operations. he gave our country through a career our country. Mike is survived by his wife Shannon of service, first in the Marine Corps, Today we mourn and pay tribute to and three children, Alison 9, Emily 4, and sadly, finally, in the CIA. He went Johnny Micheal Spann, known as and 6-month old Jake. Our prayers go to Afghanistan because he knew that is Mike, who would want us to recognize out to them and the rest of the Spann where his country needed him most. the others whose lives were sacrificed, family. Mike is also survived by his Our ability to respond effectively to to end terrorism in our country, to pro- parents, Johnny and Gail Spann, and the events of September 11 is due in tect Jake and Alison and Emily, and two sisters, Tonya Ingram and Tammy large measure to the willingness of all of the children of our country. Dunavant. We are glad that they can people like Mike to put personal con- Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of join us in the Chamber today. siderations aside and accept the risks my time. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to attend inherent in their important work. Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield the burial of Mike Spann yesterday in Mr. Speaker, we are joined by Mike’s myself such time as I may consume. Arlington National Cemetery. The family in the gallery today, and want (Mr. ADERHOLT asked and was cemetery is appropriate for a fallen them to know, those of us who are given permission to revise and extend hero. Full military honors were given, speaking on this resolution speak for his remarks.) highlighted by the caisson, a 21-gun sa- the entire Congress when we offer them Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise lute and a Marine honor guard. our deepest sympathy and condolences. today to bring voice to my constitu- It should be noted that a memorial No words we can say will ever be ade- ents, my State, and people around the service was also held last Thursday in quate to relieve the agony that they Nation who mourn the loss of Johnny Mike’s hometown in the district I rep- are in. However, I would like to place Micheal Spann, better known as Mike resent of Winfield, Alabama. Mike’s daughter, Alison, wrote a letter to him in the RECORD some of the words of Spann. Mike Spann lost his life as has just a short while back, and the words Mrs. Spann that she said in eulogy yes- already been said, in service to this of this letter should echo in our ears terday which eloquently describe country during a prison uprising in Af- and our hearts as we consider this reso- Mike’s contribution to our country. ghanistan on November 25, 2001. He is lution today. In her words, ‘‘Dear She said, ‘‘Mike was faithful in giving an American hero and I stand to honor Daddy, I miss you dearly. Thank you, his life to God and to his colleagues, him today. Daddy, for making the world a better his friends, his country and his fam- There are few facts about the exact place.’’ ily.’’ Mrs. Spann said her husband ‘‘was circumstances of his death that we cur- May we use this resolution today as a hero not because of the way he died, rently know, due to the nature of the an opportunity to thank Mike Spann but rather because of the way he lived. war. Mike Spann was serving as a para- and to honor Mike Spann and the rest He served his country not only by risk- military officer with the CIA and was of the men and women fighting the war ing his life, but by being good. It at the prison in Mazar-e Sharif inter- against terrorism, and for making this seemed like when Mike took an oath to viewing Taliban prisoners. It is be- world a better place. protect the Constitution of the United lieved that these prisoners smuggled Today as we commemorate the 3- States from all enemies, foreign and guns and grenades into the prison and month anniversary of September 11, domestic, that he took that oath to our used these munitions to stage an upris- the attack on this Nation, our hearts family as well. He just thought that it ing against the Northern Alliance and go out to all. was really his duty as a father to pro- the American soldiers. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the tect his children from terrorism, just Mike and a fellow CIA officer drew gentleman from Alabama (Mr. BACH- as equally as he thought it was his their weapons and attempted to fight US), who is a strong supporter of this duty to provide a roof over their their way out of the prison fortress. resolution. heads.’’ While his fellow CIA officer was able to Mr. BACHUS. Mr. Speaker, the gen- As we pay tribute to Mike Spann’s escape, Mike, unfortunately, became tleman from Florida (Mr. GOSS) said it sacrifice, Mr. Speaker, our sympathies the first American killed in action in best when the gentleman said we are and prayers certainly go to his family, Afghanistan. sorry that we are here. We are sorry his wife, Shannon, who is also a CIA of- Before his death, he and his fellow that Johnny Micheal Spann had to die ficer; his daughter, Alison, who is here CIA officer were able to alert outside for his country. But we are very proud with us today; Emily, his daughter, forces who were sent in to squelch the of him. We are proud of his family and who is 4, is not; and his infant son, uprising. The bloody battle continued the way that they have responded to Jake, who is with us. Their loss is in- for 3 days. Five other Americans were this tragedy. calculable. His father and mother are injured during the struggle. It was not We honor the memory and the sac- with us today, and our condolences go until the prison could be secured that rifice that he made for his family: The to them. As a mother of a son 32 years Mike’s body was found. first American killed in combat by our old, I cannot imagine the scale of their Even without the full details of the enemy in Afghanistan. Mr. Speaker, loss; but nonetheless, offer my prayers prison riot during which he was killed, yesterday Mike Spann was given a in sympathy. we can be certain that Mike Spann died well-deserved hero’s burial at a place To his children especially go our doing what he loved, serving and fight- where many of our heroes are buried, hope that they learn more clearly of ing for his country. Since September Arlington National Cemetery. The Na- their father’s life in the years to come, 11, we have witnessed an outpouring of tion was focused on his death and on that they will find it a source of pride patriotism across this Nation. Mike the ceremony. and comfort, and that he will always be was someone who overflowed with pa- Mr. Speaker, in that, the fact that in our prayers and in our memory. triotism even during a time when it the Nation has followed this event and

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has paid respect to this fallen warrior, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 11⁄2 Mike Spann was a young man, 32 I think is good. It has not always been minutes to the distinguished gen- years old. I have four children in their that way. tleman from Georgia (Mr. BISHOP), who thirties and one in their late twenties. Mr. Speaker, I remember back in 1994 is a member of the Permanent Select He was a former captain in the Marine when two Army rangers were post- Committee on Intelligence. Corps. He was working as an officer in humously given an award at the White Mr. BISHOP. I thank the gentle- the Central Intelligence Agency. He House after they fell in Somalia. I re- woman for yielding me this time, and I was inside a prison fortress in Mazar-e member that weekend, there was a car rise, Mr. Speaker, in support of this Sharif, Afghanistan, interviewing chase in Southern California. Members concurrent resolution in honor of Taliban prisoners when a prison upris- may remember that. It led to a famous Johnny Micheal Spann, a fellow native ing began on Sunday, November 25. He murder trial. Mr. Speaker, there was Alabaman, the first known U.S. com- was brutally beaten and shot to death, no coverage of that ceremony at the bat casualty in the war in Afghanistan. the first American known to be killed White House, no coverage of the burial. This is indeed a solemn time for all in combat in Afghanistan during the There was an article on page D5 of the Americans as we realize the tremen- war. paper in Washington, D.C., a short arti- dous sacrifices made in our behalf by Mike Spann is the 79th employee of cle. the men and women of the United the Central Intelligence Agency killed Mr. Speaker, the Nation has changed States Armed Forces, our intelligence in the line of duty and will be memori- in many ways since September 11; and agencies, and by their families. We are alized with a star on a wall of honor at one change for the better, Mr. Speaker, all in awe of their bravery, their cour- CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia. is that the Mike Spanns, and the hun- age, their dedication to our national Let us hope that his will be the last dreds of thousands of young men and security and their willingness to en- star that is ever necessary to be placed women like him, are finally given a dure great hardship and great risks in on that wall. priority, a priority they should have our collective behalf. We give great Words are so inadequate at this time had. thanks for their service, for Mike’s in expressing our heartfelt sympathies Captain Spann reenlisted in the Ma- service to our country. to the family of this brave hero, his rines. He served the CIA, and he did Mike Spann loved his country. He mom and dad and his sisters, his wife that, although his country did not served his country. He was a friend to Shannon and his three young children. make it a priority, but thank God he each and every American citizen. Be- But they should know that the made it a priority to serve and defend cause, as the Good Book says, ‘‘Greater thoughts and prayers of a grateful Con- his country. Shortly before his death love hath no man but that he lay down gress and Nation remain with them. he sent an e-mail to his family which his life for his friends.’’ Our thoughts and prayers are also read, ‘‘What everyone needs to under- We honor his memory today and ex- with the thousands of men and women stand is these fellows hate you. They tend our deepest sympathy to his fam- in service to their country who risk hate you because you are an American. ily. We are eternally grateful to him their lives every day fighting to assure Support your government and your and to the brave men and women who our freedom and safety. military, especially when the bodies risk their lives as part of our intel- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I am start coming home.’’ Little did he or ligence community to ensure the safe- pleased to yield 2 minutes to the dis- his family or we know that the first ty of all Americans and all freedom- tinguished gentleman from Texas (Mr. body brought home would be his. loving people throughout the world. REYES), a member of the Permanent Mr. Speaker, my oldest son grad- God bless Mike Spann. God bless his Select Committee on Intelligence. uated from Parris Island. He is a Ma- family. May God continue to bless Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I thank the rine. I can understand the pride that America. gentlewoman for yielding time under this family has in Mike; but I cannot Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield these very difficult circumstances, but imagine what they are going through 2 minutes to the gentleman from Vir- I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. now. Their worst fears have been real- ginia (Mr. WOLF), who represents the 281. ized. To lose a son, it is the natural district in which Mike Spann and his Mr. Speaker, I did not know Mike order turned upside down. We expect to family were living. Spann. I never had the privilege or die before our children, but the Spanns Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I join my honor of meeting him. But I have had have shown great character, great colleagues today in support of H. Con. the opportunity and the privilege and courage and great patriotism, and we Res. 281, honoring Johnny Micheal honor of meeting many in the Central can tell where Mike got a lot of his Spann, the first American killed in Intelligence Agency, field agents like courage and bravery and patriotism. As combat during the war against ter- Mike, all doing their work in a very the gentleman from Florida (Mr. GOSS) rorism in Afghanistan. I had the oppor- and others have said, this is shattering difficult and dangerous environment. I tunity to attend the funeral yesterday, experience for a young wife, two little would venture to say tonight that if which was very moving. girls and a baby boy. To the family I Mike were able to join us, he would say Mike Spann was laid to rest yester- say, they can never take one thing something along the lines of, ‘‘Just day with full honors at Arlington Na- away, and that is, that he was the best. doing my job, sir.’’ That has been my tional Cemetery. He resided with his I conclude by saying what the gentle- experience in meeting men and women wife and family in Manassas Park, Vir- of the Central Intelligence Agency. woman from California (Ms. PELOSI) ginia, in the 10th Congressional Dis- The fact that his neighbors and quoted Mrs. Spann as saying, Mike was trict which I represent. I wish these friends never knew that he was work- a hero not because of the way he died, kinds of resolutions never needed to be ing for the CIA is a testament to the but rather because of the way he lived. introduced. I wish our world was a fact that Mike, like thousands of other b 1745 peaceful place where there was never CIA employees all around the world, Mr. Speaker, he was a good son, a any time of war, when we never had to are defending this Nation, its citizens good husband, a good father to his call on the brave men and women of and its freedoms with no expectation of young children, a good U.S. Marine, a our Armed Forces and security agen- thanks, with no expectation of recogni- good CIA agent, and a God-fearing, pa- cies to fight for our freedoms. But I am tion. triotic American. thankful that when our freedoms must We are here this evening under very Semper fi, Mike Spann. be defended, we have people like Mike difficult and sad circumstances, but we Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I am very Spann who are willing to lay their lives are here as grateful Americans hon- moved by the words of the gentleman on the line for us. Our Nation will for- oring an American hero, the 79th that from Alabama (Mr. ADERHOLT) and the ever be grateful to Mike Spann for his will be honored on that wall of honor. gentleman from Alabama (Mr. BACHUS) bravery and sacrifice and to all the To Shannon and to his mom and dad and extend condolences to them and men and women fighting to defend our and all the family and especially the the people of Alabama for the great Nation and willing to pay the ultimate children, we are all extremely proud of sacrifice that they have all made as sacrifice for their country and for free- the true American hero that Mike was. well as the Spann family. dom. And we are all mindful that the things

VerDate 10-DEC-2001 04:48 Dec 12, 2001 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K11DE7.093 pfrm01 PsN: H11PT1 H9152 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE December 11, 2001 that we have, the freedoms that we Johnny Micheal Spann is the most re- unshakeable belief in the righteousness of his enjoy, are there for us because of peo- cent intelligence hero in American his- mission. ple like Mike. tory. They both lost their lives in de- In a sand blown fort, in a war torn land far God has blessed us with Mike. We fense of freedom, democracy and the from the comforts of his home, Mike Spann hope that God blesses his family, and values of our great Nation. May God stood on the front line defending our American we hope that you know how grateful we bless them and keep them, now and for- values and our way of life. Unlike most, Mike as Members of Congress are for having ever. Spann understood that the freedoms we all had Mike Spann as a member of the Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I am cherish do not come without a hefty price. Central Intelligence Agency. A grateful pleased to yield 1 minute to the distin- Sadly, he paid the ultimate price and gave his Nation joins all of you in grieving. guished gentleman from Maine (Mr. life in defense of these cherished freedoms. Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield BALDACCI). But, as his wife Shannon has said, ‘‘Mike is a 3 minutes to the gentleman from Con- Mr. BALDACCI. Mr. Speaker, I would hero not because of the way that he died, but necticut (Mr. SIMMONS), another strong like to thank the gentlewoman for rather because of the way that he lived.’’ So, supporter of this resolution who sought yielding me this time and to recognize while we mourn his loss, we all can take com- me out early on that he wanted to be a the family and to thank the family for fort and pride in the knowledge that he gave supporter of this resolution and to allowing us an opportunity to honor his life defending the values that shaped and speak on it. Micheal and at the same time to honor animated his life. Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in all of you because you folks have en- Today, with this resolution we honor him for strong support of this resolution to dured the sacrifice and allowed for our his bravery and sacrifice. And to his family, a honor Johnny Micheal Spann, a Cen- country to have the foundation of free- grateful nation offers its deepest sympathies. tral Intelligence Agency officer who dom and liberties that we all enjoy, This nation and the world are better places was the first American killed in the and that it does cost lives and that it because of the sacrifice made by Johnny Mi- war against terrorism in Afghanistan. does impact on families. chael Spann. He was killed on November 25, 2001, Thank you for allowing us to have Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield during an uprising of Taliban and al this opportunity to do it. I would like back the balance of my time. Qaeda prisoners in northern Afghani- to thank the Members from Alabama The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. stan. Yesterday he was buried with full who put the resolution forward. I know DUNCAN). The question is on the mo- military honors in the hallowed ground all of my colleagues will be very sup- tion offered by the gentleman from of Arlington National Cemetery. portive of this. Florida (Mr. GOSS) that the House sus- Micheal Spann’s life began in a small Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, I yield pend the rules and agree to the concur- Alabama town and ended tragically on myself such time as I may consume. rent resolution, H. Con. Res. 281. the other side of the world in an an- I urge the passage of this resolution The question was taken. The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the cient fort near the city of Mazar-e to send a strong bipartisan message of opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of Sharif. His death is a loss for his fam- solidarity with the Spann family as those present have voted in the affirm- ily, for the Central Intelligence Agen- well as the men and women in the in- ative. cy, and for our country. But his mem- telligence community and the armed Mr. ADERHOLT. Mr. Speaker, on ory will live on as an example to all services who are putting themselves at that I demand the yeas and nays. Americans of the values of patriotism, personal risk to defend this Nation and The yeas and nays were ordered. courage, and sacrifice. our people. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Although I never knew Mike Spann, I Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the knew many like him. He was a para- of my time. Chair’s prior announcement, further military officer with the Central Intel- Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I yield proceedings on this motion will be ligence Agency. I also served as a para- myself such time as I may consume. postponed. military officer with the CIA from 1969 I want to join in thanking the Spann f to 1974. He served in a war zone. I too family for being with us tonight. You served in a war zone with the CIA for 2 honor us with your presence. Mike b 1800 years in South Vietnam. I believe that Spann was an example of the best that MIKE MANSFIELD FEDERAL he and I shared the view that oper- our country has to offer. Again, I want BUILDING AND UNITED STATES ations officers for the CIA, and espe- to extend the condolences of all of our COURTHOUSE cially paramilitary officers, should colleagues and certainly my constitu- Mr. LATOURETTE. Mr. Speaker, I serve on the front lines of freedom. We ents to his mother and father who are move to suspend the rules and pass the know that the work there is difficult with us, his sisters, his wife, Shannon, bill (H.R. 3282) to designate the Federal and dangerous, even deadly. The stakes their baby, Jake, and Alison and building and United States courthouse are high. But that is where a para- Emily. Mike Spann will always be in located at 400 North Main Street in military officer needs to be if he or she our memory and in our prayers. God Butte, Montana, as the ‘‘Mike Mans- is going to get the job done. Mike knew bless him and God bless America. field Federal Building and United what the risks were. He was willing to Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my States Courthouse.’’ take those risks. A grateful Nation colleagues in honoring Johnny Michael Spann, The Clerk read as follows: now thanks him for his dedication and the first American killed in combat during the H.R. 3282 his sacrifice. war against terrorism in Afghanistan. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Mr. Speaker, I represent the second Mike Spann was born and raised in a small resentatives of the United States of America in district of Connecticut. Over 200 years town in North Alabama called Winfield. Like Congress assembled, ago, a young man named Nathan Hale most kids growing up in small town America, SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. was born and raised in my district in Mike grew up with a great love for his country. The Federal building and United States the town of Coventry. He graduated And it was this great love of country that led courthouse located at 400 North Main Street from Yale College, taught school, and Mike first to the Marine Corps, where he rose in Butte, Montana, shall be known and des- joined the Revolutionary Army as a to the rank of captain, and later to the CIA, ignated as the ‘‘Mike Mansfield Federal captain. He volunteered for a dan- where he fulfilled a lifelong dream. Duty, Building and United States Courthouse’’. gerous espionage mission at the re- honor, integrity, and patriotism. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, may, regulation, quest of George Washington, was Mr. Speaker, to Mike Spann these were not document, paper, or other record of the caught by the British, sentenced and simply words to be carelessly thrown about, United States to the Federal building and hanged as a spy. Before his death, he is but rather they were words that had real United States courthouse referred to in sec- reported to say, ‘‘I only regret that I meaning and were words around which he or- tion 1 shall be demand to be a reference to have but one life to lose for my coun- dered his life. Indeed it was the weight of the ‘‘Mike Mansfield Federal Building and try.’’ these words that carried Mike to Afghanistan. United States Courthouse’’. Nathan Hale is now the official State For, Mr. Speaker, when duty called Mike The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. hero of Connecticut. He is also the first Spann answered—without hesitation and with DUNCAN). Pursuant to the rule, the gen- intelligence hero in American history. a quiet and steady dignity that came from an tleman from Ohio (Mr. LATOURETTE)

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