H4182 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 20, 2008 They served with distinction as well, inspect- Whereas 19 members of the United States I stand before you and my colleagues ing and searching over 30,000 semi-trucks Air Force were killed, more than 500 other today in support of House Concurrent and designing all of the force protection plans Americans were injured, and 297 innocent Resolution 32, honoring members of the Saudi or Bangladeshi citizens were killed or who were for northern Kuwait. They were recognized for injured in the terrorist attack; their service, earning 3 Bronze Stars, 12 Meri- Whereas the 19 airmen killed while serving wounded and killed in the June 25, 1996 torious Service Medals, 142 Army commenda- their country were Captain Christopher J. terrorist bombing of the Tow- tions and more than 200 Army Achievement Adams, Staff Sergeant Daniel B. Cafourek, ers in , . Medals over the course of their deployment. Sergeant Millard D. Campbell, Senior Air- The June blast took the lives of 19 I was honored to be invited to their welcome man Earl F. Cartrette, Jr., Technical Ser- airmen from Eglin Air Force Base, home celebration at Camp Shelby in Mis- geant Patrick P. Fennig, Captain Leland T. Florida, and destroyed the entire front sissippi this past October. I was humbled to Haun, Master Sergeant Michael G. Heiser, of Dhahran’s Khobar Towers housing spend time with them and, as I told the Na- Staff Sergeant Kevin J. Johnson, Staff Ser- compound. More than 500 U.S. Air geant Ronald L. King, Master Sergeant Ken- tional Guardsmen at Camp Shelby, ‘‘You can’t dall K. Kitson, Jr., Airman First Class Chris- Force troops were wounded, and 297 support the troops unless you respect them. I topher B. Lester, Airman First Class Brent Middle Eastern citizens were killed or humbly respect you because you have done E. Marthaler, Airman First Class Brian W. injured as a result of the bombing. Five your job as you were charged to do so, and McVeigh, Airman First Class Peter J. thousand pounds of plastic explosives as volunteers. You left your families and you Morgera, Technical Sergeant Thanh V. disguised in a water tanker truck went forth and accomplished what you were Nguyen, Airman First Class Joseph E. claimed the lives of servicemembers taught to do.’’ Rimkus, Senior Airman Jeremy A. Taylor, whose families were left grieving the I truly believe that the importance of the Na- Airman First Class Justin R. Wood, and Air- loss of their loved ones. man First Class Joshua E. Woody; Life, our most treasured asset, is too tional Guard to our country cannot be over- Whereas the families of these brave airmen stated, which is why it is important that we still mourn their loss; often taken unexpectedly. It was the honor these citizen-soldiers. We must not, Whereas three months after that terrorist sworn duty of our airmen to protect however, forget the families of these citizen- bombing, on September 24, 1996, the House of and serve this country by all means, soldiers, who make their own sacrifice for our Representatives agreed to House Concurrent and in our commitment to them and country and earn nothing but the thanks of the Resolution 200 of the 104th Congress, hon- others who have given their lives in de- Republic. oring the victims of that terrorist bombing; fense of our great Nation, we honor And so I respectfully urge the House to Whereas on the fifth anniversary of that their selfless sacrifice and take a mo- terrorist bombing, on June 25, 2001, the ment to reflect upon their contribution pass this resolution, to thank those citizen-sol- House of Representatives agreed to House diers from Alaska and to thank their families. Concurrent Resolution 161 of the 107th Con- that provides us the freedoms we enjoy It is the greatness of these citizens from which gress, which was concurred in by the Senate today. America derives its own and we would all do on July 12, 2002, further honoring the victims House Concurrent Resolution 32 ex- well to remember that. of that bombing; tends our sympathies to the families of Finally, I would like to thank my colleagues Whereas on June 27, 2005, the House of Rep- loved ones whose perpetrators have yet on both sides of the aisle that cosponsored resentatives agreed to House Concurrent been brought to justice. this resolution. Resolution 188 of the 109th Congress, further Although this tragedy acknowledges honoring the victims of that terrorist bomb- the cost we pay in our fight against Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- ing; er, I yield back the balance of my time. Whereas those guilty of carrying out the , we remain proud of our cou- Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. attack have yet to be brought to justice; and rageous and steadfast troops who are Speaker, I yield back the balance of Whereas terrorism remains a constant and no doubt the best in the world. We call my time. ever-present threat around the world: Now, upon every American today to pause The SPEAKER pro tempore. The therefore, be it and pay tribute to the brave airmen question is on the motion offered by Resolved by the House of Representatives (the who died, and to take a moment to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Senate concurring), That, on the occasion of thank our members of the Armed the 12th anniversary of the terrorist bomb- DAVIS) that the House suspend the ing of the Khobar Towers United States mili- Forces currently serving around the rules and agree to the resolution, H. tary housing compound in Dhahran, Saudi world and express our appreciation for Res. 961. Arabia, Congress— their duty and honor to protect Amer- The question was taken; and (two- (1) recognizes the service and sacrifice of ica’s interests around the world. thirds being in the affirmative) the the 19 members of the United States Air This resolution recognizes the service rules were suspended and the resolu- Force who died in that attack; and sacrifice of those airmen whose tion was agreed to. (2) calls upon every American to pause and lives were lost on that fateful day. I pay tribute to those brave airmen; A motion to reconsider was laid on strongly urge my colleagues to support (3) extends its continued sympathies to the House Concurrent Resolution 32 in re- the table. families of those who died; and f (4) assures the members of the Armed membrance of the 19 fallen heroes on the 12th anniversary of the Dhahran HONORING MEMBERS OF AIR Forces serving anywhere in the world that their well-being and interests will at all terrorist bombing. FORCE KILLED IN THE KHOBAR times be given the highest priority. I thank my good friend and colleague TOWERS TERRORIST BOMBING The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- from Florida (Mr. MILLER) for bringing Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from forward this measure, and I urge my er, I move to suspend the rules and California (Mrs. DAVIS) and the gen- colleagues to support this resolution. agree to the concurrent resolution (H. tleman from Virginia (Mr. WITTMAN) Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of Con. Res. 32) honoring the members of each will control 20 minutes. my time. the United States Air Force who were The Chair recognizes the gentle- Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. killed in the June 25, 1996, terrorist woman from California. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I bombing of the Khobar Towers United GENERAL LEAVE may consume. States military housing compound Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, as amend- er, I ask unanimous consent that all of House Concurrent Resolution 32, ed. Members have 5 legislative days in honoring the 19 members of the United The Clerk read the title of the con- which to revise and extend their re- States Air Force who were killed, and current resolution. marks on the resolution under consid- more than 500 other Americans injured The text of the concurrent resolution eration. in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, by a ter- is as follows: The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there rorist truck bomb in June, 1996. H. CON. RES. 32 objection to the request of the gentle- I want to commend my colleague on the House Armed Services Committee, Whereas June 25, 2008, marks the 12th anni- woman from California? versary of the terrorist bombing of the There was no objection. Representative JEFF MILLER of Flor- Khobar Towers United States military hous- Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- ida, for sponsoring this resolution. This ing compound in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, on er, I yield myself such time as I may is the fourth time that the House of June 25, 1996; consume. Representatives has honored on this

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One fact is that the global war on ter- killed at Khobar Towers as well as the These American warriors were in Saudi Ara- rorism did not begin on September 11, many brave men and women who gave bia to aid in preserving freedom for our friends 2001. It was well before that date that their lives for our freedom and our se- in Kuwait. They were willing to risk their lives terrorists set out to kill and injure curity. It’s my sincere hope that all on the other side of the world, far away from Americans on a large scale. We must Americans will give pause and honor their families, far from home, to support a mis- never forget, and must be ever vigilant these heroes and others for their sac- sion to oppose tyranny. We must always re- today against the continuing commit- rifice. member the price these Americans paid. We ment of terrorists to seriously damage As we look back to 12 years ago, we must always honor their sacrifice for the free- America and its interests whenever and know that Khobar Towers and the dom of others. Today, I pay tribute to these wherever they can. bombing there was a precursor to the American airmen. They were brothers, fathers, Another fact is that the 19 Air Force terrorist attacks on the USS Cole; the and sons, and I know their families still mourn personnel who died at Khobar Towers September 11, 2001 attacks on the their loss. Nothing will ever replace the pre- in June, 1996, were defending our free- World Trade Center; and the current cious life of a lost loved one, but I offer their dom and the national security inter- global war on terrorism that we fight families my prayers and sympathy. ests of the United States. The resolu- in Iraq and Afghanistan. No matter These 19 American airmen represent the tion today honors them for that sac- where our troops are stationed, we rec- essence of what makes our Nation great. rifice. ognize that they are prepared to defend Their selfless service and the sacrifice that The resolution also serves as a way our security, American values, and the they made in the name of liberty is one that to extend our continued sympathy to American way of life. It’s my hope that we shall forever be in their debt. We should their families. we can prevent future attacks like the never let them be forgotten. So, Mr. Speaker, I call upon all one at Khobar Towers as we aggres- Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speak- Americans to pause and honor the serv- sively fight terrorism all around the er, I wish to take this opportunity to state my ice and sacrifice of those not only 19 globe. strong support for this legislation. I am grateful Americans who died in the Khobar I want to personally express my deep- to my colleague Representative JEFF MILLER Towers bombing, but also those who est appreciation to the families of for introducing this bill. served and continue to serve in the de- these heroes who were killed at Khobar The terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers fense of our Nation and its values. I Towers. We can never undo the tragedy in 1996 was a vicious attack upon the United urge my colleagues to support this that they have lived. We can never ease States and our allies in Saudi Arabia. It took most worthy resolution. the pain, and I know it’s with each of the lives of 19 brave U.S. servicemembers Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman them each and every day. But I hope, and hundreds of civilians were injured. This at- from Florida (Mr. MILLER) for that and I know that my colleagues join me tack was and remains a clear example of the time which he might consume. in this hope, that with the adoption of type of enemy we face in the Global War on Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the this resolution, they will take from our Terrorism. And so, it is incumbent upon us all gentleman for yielding. actions some solace in the fact that we to honor the lives of those lost as we comfort Mr. Speaker, I do rise today in honor do not forget those contributions and the families that were forever changed by this of H. Con. Res. 32, which does honor the those sacrifices of their loved ones. horrible event. members of the United States Air They were much more than airmen. As we pause to remember their lives and Force that were killed on the 25th of They were sons, fathers, brothers, and their sacrifice, we should recommit ourselves June, 1996 in the Khobar Towers in they are loved ones. to doing all we can to protect Americans— Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Mr. Speaker, our action on this reso- those serving overseas and those here at This is the 12th anniversary of the lution sends a message to the families home. We must be ever vigilant of the en- terrorist bombing which killed 19 mem- of those who died, to our Nation, and to emies we face and resolve to do all that is bers of the U.S. Air Force and injured the rest of the world, that we honor the necessary to defeat terrorism wherever it may over 300 Americans. On that day in sacrifices of these 19 airmen and the be. 1996, a truck bomb exploded outside the families they left behind. They served Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- fence around the Khobar Towers com- with the highest distinction and profes- er, I have no further requests for time, pound. sionalism which is indicative of the and I yield back the balance of my United States military. No one could time. b 1215 have served better or given more. The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. The bomb, estimated at more than I urge all of my colleagues to join me SERRANO). The question is on the mo- 3,000 pounds, detonated about 85 feet and the 50 cosponsors in support of this tion offered by the gentlewoman from from a residential housing unit where resolution. California (Mrs. DAVIS) that the House U.S. troops were, killing 19 United Mr. WITTMAN of Virginia. Mr. suspend the rules and agree to the con- States Air Force servicemen and Speaker, I have no further requests for current resolution, H. Con. Res. 32, as wounding hundreds of other Ameri- time, and I yield back the balance of amended. cans. The force of that explosion de- my time. The question was taken; and (two- stroyed or damaged six high-rise apart- Mrs. DAVIS of California. Mr. Speak- thirds being in the affirmative) the ment buildings and shattered windows er, I want to thank Mr. MILLER for rules were suspended and the concur- throughout the entire residential com- bringing this resolution forward in rent resolution, as amended, was pound. honoring the brave men killed in the agreed to. Today we honor the 19 airmen who Khobar Towers bombing. A motion to reconsider was laid on gave their lives in the service of this Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in the table. great Nation. This Congress joins me in support of H. Con. Res. 32 to honor the 19 f paying tribute to those men, who are airmen that were killed by a cowardly act of individually recognized in H. Con. Res. terrorism while serving our Nation on June 25, ESTABLISHING POSITION OF DI- 32. 1996, at Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi RECTOR OF PHYSICIAN ASSIST- It’s important to note that 12 of the Arabia. ANT SERVICES 19 men killed in the attack were based June 1996, Mr. Speaker. That is more than Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida’s 5 years before many people believe the global suspend the rules and pass the bill First District. Several of the airmen, began. But the terrible attack on (H.R. 2790) to amend title 38, United along with their families, were con- our Nation on September 11, 2001, was by no States Code, to establish the position stituents. These brave men, like the means the first attack against Americans in of Director of Physician Assistant men and women currently serving in the global war on terror. These 19 Americans Services within the office of the Under

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