March 16, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1573

S. RES. 116 Whereas the 1,113 members of Assault Bri- Whereas the agreement between the United Whereas April 17, 2021, marks the 60th an- gade 2506 who finally returned to the United Kingdom and the European Union on the niversary of the first day of the Bay of Pigs States after the operation have made signifi- withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the operation, an event held dear in the hearts of cant and valuable contributions to the European Union, and the protocol to that many who long for the return of freedom, de- , while never forgetting their agreement on Northern Ireland preserving an mocracy, and justice to Cuba; beloved homeland; open border on the island of Ireland (in this Whereas the Communist dictatorship in Whereas, on December 29, 1962, President preamble referred to as the ‘‘Northern Ire- Cuba that resulted from the January 1, 1959, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was presented with land Protocol’’), are intended to protect the revolution in Cuba has systematically denied the banner of Assault Brigade 2506 that had peace forged under the Good Friday Agree- the Cuban people their most basic human reached the shores of Cuba during the oper- ment; rights and fundamental freedoms; ation, and the President pledged, ‘‘I can as- Whereas, despite the historic progress of Whereas, from 1959 until his death in 2016, sure you that this flag will be returned to the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent dictator Fidel Castro, who promised to im- this brigade in a free Havana.’’; agreements, including the Stormont House plement a revolution against tyranny, sys- Whereas, on April 24, 1986, a joint resolu- Agreement agreed to in December 2014, im- tematically violated the human rights of the tion (Public Law 99–279; 100 Stat. 398) was ap- portant issues remain unresolved in North- Cuban people, curtailed freedom of the press, proved ‘‘Commemorating the twenty-fifth ern Ireland, including the passage of a Bill of Rights, securing justice for all victims of vi- arbitrarily imprisoned and killed an untold anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion to olence, including state-sponsored violence, number of members of the political opposi- liberate Cuba from Communist tyranny.’’; and reducing sectarian divisions and pro- tion in Cuba, and confiscated the properties Whereas Cuba’s authoritarian regime con- moting reconciliation; of citizens of Cuba and the United States; tinues to arbitrarily detain thousands of Whereas section 6 of the Good Friday Whereas the men and women participating critics, activists, and opponents; and Agreement (‘‘Rights, Safeguards and Equal- in the Bay of Pigs operation assumed the Whereas the Cuban people continue to ity of Opportunity’’) recognizes ‘‘the impor- title of Brigada de Asalto 2506 (Assault Bri- struggle and demand respect for democratic tance of respect, understanding and toler- gade 2506), which was named after the serial values, civil liberties, freedom, and justice: ance in relation to linguistic diversity’’ as number (2506) of Carlos Rodriguez Santana, a Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— part of ‘‘the cultural wealth of the island of founding member of the brigade who died (1) remembers and pays tribute to the Ireland’’ and declares the Government of the during training exercises in September 1960; brave and courageous members of Brigada de United Kingdom will seek ways to encourage Whereas Assault Brigade 2506 consisted of Asalto 2506 (Assault Brigade 2506), both liv- the use of and education in the Irish lan- individuals, primarily Cuban exiles in the ing and deceased; guage and provide opportunities for Irish United States, from diverse backgrounds, in- (2) calls on the Government of the United language arts; cluding doctors, nurses, engineers, archi- States to continue to support policies that Whereas the reintroduction of barriers, tects, priests, cooks, musicians, actors, busi- promote the respect for democratic prin- checkpoints, or personnel on the island of ness owners, barbers, bankers, construction ciples, civil liberties, freedom, and justice in Ireland, also known as a ‘‘hard border’’, in- workers, office clerks, students, pilots, and Cuba, in a manner consistent with the aspi- cluding through the invocation of Article 16 many other individuals representing dif- rations of the Cuban people; of the Northern Ireland Protocol, would ferent sectors in Cuba; (3) recognizes that individual members of threaten the successes of the Good Friday Whereas, on April 17, 1961, approximately Assault Brigade 2506 later joined the United Agreement; 1,400 individuals selflessly volunteered to States Armed Forces and fought in the Viet- Whereas the United States Congress played free the Cuban people from tyranny; nam war; and a prominent role in support of negotiations Whereas, in the ensuing days, and in the (4) recognizes that many veterans of the of the Good Friday Agreement and has taken course of a battle against the Cuban mili- Bay of Pigs operation settled across the a leading role in promoting peace on the is- tary, which was superior in manpower and United States to become productive mem- land of Ireland more broadly; and firepower, more than 100 men lost their lives; bers of the society of the United States, in- Whereas Congress greatly values the close Whereas the events of April 17 through cluding public officials and industry leaders. relationships the United States shares with April 20, 1961, ended with the capture and im- both the United Kingdom and Ireland and prisonment of 1,204 members or more than 75 f stands steadfastly committed to supporting percent of Assault Brigade 2506; SENATE RESOLUTION 117—EX- the peaceful resolution of any and all polit- Whereas a large number of the 1,204 cap- PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE ical challenges in Northern Ireland: Now, tured members of Assault Brigade 2506 were therefore, be it imprisoned in deplorable conditions for close FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE Resolved, That the Senate— to 18 months, subjected to harsh and inhu- GOOD FRIDAY AGREEMENT, OR (1) urges the United Kingdom and the Eu- mane treatment, and later sentenced with- THE BELFAST AGREEMENT, AND ropean Union to support peace on the island out due process to 30 years of imprisonment; SUBSEQUENT AGREEMENTS AND of Ireland and the principles, objectives, and Whereas, in September 1961, the Cuban re- ARRANGEMENTS FOR IMPLE- commitments of the Good Friday Agree- gime executed 5 members of Assault Brigade MENTATION TO SUPPORT PEACE ment, also known as the ‘‘Belfast Agree- 2506 who had been captured during the oper- ON THE ISLAND OF IRELAND ment’’; ation; (2) expresses support for the full implemen- Whereas 67 members of Assault Brigade Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Ms. tation of the Good Friday Agreement and 2506 died in combat, including 4 American pi- COLLINS, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. subsequent agreements, including the lots and 10 Cuban pilots and navigators, 10 MARKEY, Mr. COONS, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. Stormont House Agreement agreed to in De- members died while trying to flee Cuba on a SCHUMER, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. CASEY, cember 2014, as well as the protocol on fishing boat that drifted in the Gulf of Mex- Mr. BOOKER, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Northern Ireland to the agreement on the ico for almost 15 days, 10 members died while Mr. CARDIN, and Mr. REED) submitted withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the being transported to prison by their Cuban the following resolution; which was re- European Union (in this resolution referred captors inside a sealed truck with limited ferred to the Committee on Foreign to as the ‘‘Northern Ireland Protocol’’); oxygen, 9 members were executed by firing (3) congratulates all parties in Northern squads, and 3 members died while in prison Relations: Ireland for the return in January 2020 to a due to lack of medical attention; S. RES. 117 power-sharing agreement; Whereas one of the most heinous acts re- Whereas, on April 10, 1998, the Government (4) urges all parties in Northern Ireland to lating to the operation was ordered by then of Ireland and the Government of the United work collectively to ensure the implementa- Captain Osmany Cienfuegos, who forced Kingdom signed the Good Friday Agreement, tion of all commitments of the Good Friday nearly 100 male prisoners into a closed trail- also known as the ‘‘Belfast Agreement’’; Agreement and subsequent agreements so er in which they were transported for 8 hours Whereas the goals of the Good Friday that all of the institutions of the Good Fri- with limited oxygen; Agreement were to bring a new era of de- day Agreement can operate successfully and Whereas the Cuban regime is a party to the volved government and democracy to North- sustainably and that ongoing political chal- Geneva Conventions of 1949, which require ern Ireland, end violence, and ensure peace lenges can be overcome; the humane treatment of prisoners of war; for the people of the island of Ireland; (5) calls for continuing attention and ac- Whereas, in March 1962, as the trial of the Whereas the successful negotiation of the tion to resolve the injustices of past vio- captured fighters approached, the President Good Friday Agreement stands as a historic lence, including state-sponsored violence; of the International Committee of the Red and groundbreaking success that has proven (6) supports the passage of a Bill of Rights Cross (ICRC) appealed to Cuban dictator critical to the decades of relative peace that for Northern Ireland and the right of all the Fidel Castro, asking that the provisions of have followed; people on the island of Ireland to self-deter- Article 3 of the Geneva Convention relative Whereas the return to power sharing in mine their future as provided for in the Good to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, done 2020 after the collapse of power-sharing insti- Friday Agreement; at Geneva August 12, 1949, be fully applied, tutions in 2017 creates new opportunities for (7) encourages renewed attention to edu- and for permission to visit the prisoners, but strengthening peace and reconciliation in cational and cultural efforts that will ensure all the requests went unanswered; Northern Ireland; the rich language, literature, and arts of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:41 Mar 17, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16MR6.035 S16MRPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE S1574 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 16, 2021 Northern Ireland endure and are not dimin- Carmel Catholic High School) was opened Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph ished; and named after Kapaun; 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- (8) expresses support for the Northern Ire- Whereas, in 1993, John Paul II de- ate, the following committees are au- land Protocol and its full implementation, clared Chaplain Kapaun a , thorized to meet during today’s session which ensures through international agree- the first stage on the path to ment that no ‘‘hard border’’ will be reintro- and the continues investigations of the Senate: duced on the island of Ireland; and into possible canonization; COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES (9) will insist that any new or amended Whereas, in 2013, President The Committee on Armed Services is trade agreements and other bilateral agree- posthumously awarded Chaplain Kapaun the authorized to meet during the session ments between the Government of the ; United States and the Government of the Whereas, upon bestowing the highest of the Senate, on Tuesday, March 16, United Kingdom take into account, as rel- award for valor in the United States mili- 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing. evant, conditions requiring that obligations tary, President Obama stated that Chaplain COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN under the Good Friday Agreement be met. Kapaun was ‘‘an American soldier who didn’t AFFAIRS f fire a gun, but who wielded the mightiest The Committee on Banking, Housing, weapon of all: the love for his brothers so and Urban Affairs is authorized to SENATE RESOLUTION 118—HON- powerful that he was willing to die so that ORING ARMY CHAPLAIN EMIL J. they might live’’; meet during the session of the Senate KAPAUN Whereas, in addition to the Medal of on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 2 p.m., Mr. MARSHALL (for himself, Mr. Honor, Chaplain Kapaun has been awarded to conduct a hearing. the— MORAN, Mr. BLUNT, and Mr. HAWLEY) COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL (1) Distinguished Service Cross; RESOURCES submitted the following resolution; (2) with ‘‘V’’ Device; which was considered and agreed to: (3) ; The Committee on Energy and Nat- S. RES. 118 (4) Medal; ural Resources is authorized to meet Whereas Chaplain (Captain) Emil J. (5) Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 during the session of the Senate on Kapaun was born to parents of German-Bo- Bronze for Central Burma Cam- Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., to hemian ancestry in the rural farming com- paign; conduct a hearing. munity of Pilsen, Kansas on April 20, 1916; (6) World War II Victory Medal; COMMITTEE ON FINANCE Whereas Chaplain Kapaun studied classics (7) with Japan and philosophy and graduated from Concep- Clasp; The Committee on Finance is author- tion College in Conception, Missouri in June (8) with 2 Bronze ized to meet during the session of the 1936 and Kenrick Seminary in St. Louis, Mis- Service Stars; Senate on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at (9) National Defense Service Medal; and souri in 1940; (10) United Nations Service Medal; 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Whereas Chaplain Kapaun was ordained a Whereas there are more than 7,800 service COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, Catholic priest of the Diocese of Wichita in members who served in the who AND PENSIONS 1940; remain unaccounted for; Whereas Chaplain Kapaun was appointed The Committee on Health, Edu- Whereas, in 1956, 867 sets of unidentified re- auxiliary chaplain in 1943 at the Herington cation, Labor, and Pensions is author- mains were interred as Unknowns at the Na- Army Airfield near Herington, Kansas; ized to meet during the session of the Whereas, in 1944, Chaplain Kapaun entered tional Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in , Hawaii; Senate on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, at the Army Chaplain Corps and, following 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nom- Army Chaplaincy School at , Whereas, in 2019, the Defense POW/MIA Ac- Massachusetts, and a post at Camp Wheeler counting Agency began disinterring 652 sets ination. , Chaplain Kapaun served the troops of unknown Korean War remains at the Na- SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE in World War II in the Burma and India The- tional Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific; and The Select Committee on Intel- ater until 1946; ligence is authorized to meet during Whereas, in 1948, Chaplain Kapaun re- Whereas, in 2021, the remains of Chaplain turned to active duty in the Army Chaplain Kapaun were exhumed from the National Me- the session of the Senate on Tuesday, Corps; morial Cemetery of the Pacific and identi- March 16, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct Whereas Chaplain Kapaun mobilized in fied using dental records and DNA: Now, a closed briefing. support of the Korean conflict in 1950, and therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— served as a chaplain with the 1st Cavalry Di- f vision in Japan and Korea; (1) honors and recognizes Chaplain (Cap- Whereas Chaplain Kapaun was taken as a tain) Emil J. Kapaun for— prisoner of war by Chinese forces on Novem- (A) his heroic service to the United States HONORING ARMY CHAPLAIN EMIL ber 2, 1950, during the Battle of Unsan; of America and the ; J. KAPAUN (B) his heroism, patriotism, and selfless Whereas during the fight, which started on Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask November 1, 1950, Chaplain Kapaun moved service; and repeatedly under enemy direct fire to rescue (C) the extraordinary courage, conviction, unanimous consent that the Senate wounded soldiers outside the perimeter of his and faith with which he provided comfort proceed to the consideration of S. Res. battalion and successfully— and reassurance to his fellow soldiers; 118, submitted earlier today. (1) negotiated with the enemy for the safe- (2) expresses condolences to the family of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ty of wounded soldiers of the United States; Chaplain Emil Kapaun; clerk will report the resolution by (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary (2) knocked aside the rifle of a Chinese sol- title. dier who was about to execute Staff Sergeant of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of Herbert Miller; and this resolution to the family of Chaplain The bill clerk read as follows: (3) rejected multiple opportunities for es- Emil Kapaun; and A resolution (S. Res. 118) honoring Army cape and instead volunteered to stay and (4) will never cease in the task of recov- chaplain Emil J. Kapaun. care for the wounded; ering and remembering all prisoners of war Whereas, during the time Chaplain Kapaun and soldiers missing in action from World There being no objection, the Senate spent in captivity, Chaplain Kapaun fre- War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, proceeded to consider the resolution. quently risked his life by sneaking around hostilities during the Cold War, the Persian Mr. PETERS. I ask unanimous con- the camp after dark, foraging for food, build- Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Op- sent that the resolution be agreed to, ing fires, caring for the sick, and encour- eration Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, the preamble be agreed to, and that the aging his fellow soldiers to sustain their Operation Inherent Resolve, and other con- motions to reconsider be considered faith and their humanity, and Chaplain tingency operations taking place in the Mid- made and laid upon the table with no Kapaun risked punishment by leading pray- dle East since September 11, 2001. intervening action or debate. ers and spiritual services for the other pris- f oners of war; The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Whereas Chaplain Kapaun died of illness AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO objection, it is so ordered. and maltreatment on May 23, 1951; MEET The resolution (S. Res. 118) was Whereas, in 1953, Chaplain Kapaun’s sur- Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I have 6 agreed to. viving fellow prisoners of war were released and began to share stories of the role of requests for committees to meet during The preamble was agreed to. Chaplain Kapaun in their survival; today’s session of the Senate. They (The resolution, with its preamble, is Whereas, in 1956, Chaplain Kapaun Memo- have the approval of the Majority and printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- rial High School (now known as Kapaun Mt. Minority leaders. mitted Resolutions.’’)

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