[Congressional Record: January 20, 2010 (House)]
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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
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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
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).
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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
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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.
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.
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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.
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 yield back 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 valiant 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 asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
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
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who are forever impacted by this tragic 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.
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. REYES. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by
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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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