The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“WELCOMING HOME FARC HOSTAGES” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Senate section on pages S8015 on Aug. 1, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WELCOMING HOME FARC HOSTAGES
Ms. CANTWELL. I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 627 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 627) welcoming home Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves, three citizens of the United States who were held hostage for over 5 years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, after their plane crashed on February 13, 2003.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
Ms. CANTWELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements be printed in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 627) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:
S. Res. 627
Whereas a Congressional Resolution in 2007 (S. Con. Res. 53) condemned the kidnapping and hostage-taking of three citizens of the United States, Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves for over four years by the FARC, and demanded their immediate and unconditional release;
Whereas the Senate expresses sorrow at the murder of Tom Janis by the FARC, another citizen of the United States that was on the downed aircraft, and Luis Alcedes Cruz, a member of the Colombian military, as well as citizens of the United States who died during a hostage search mission in 2003;
Whereas the Government of Colombia carried out a historic rescue mission on July 2, 2008, freeing 15 hostages who the FARC had kidnapped and held in captivity, including these three citizens of the United States, Ingrid Betancourt, and military and police personnel of Colombia;
Whereas the armed forces of Colombia planned, led, and executed the rescue operation without a single gunshot;
Whereas the United States Government played a key supportive role in the rescue mission by the armed forces of Colombia;
Whereas the FARC is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Department of State and the European Union;
Whereas the FARC utilizes kidnappings for ransom, extortion, and the drug trade to finance its activities;
Whereas the FARC committed atrocities against citizens of both Colombia and the United States;
Whereas the FARC has kidnapped at least 36 citizens of the United States since 1980, and killed 10 citizens of the United States;
Whereas the FARC currently holds an estimated 700 people as hostages; and
Whereas over 50 FARC leaders have been indicted in the United States for drug trafficking: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) welcomes Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves home to the United States after being held for over five years by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia
(FARC);
(2) celebrates with the families and relatives of the hostages who kept faith despite being unsure of the fates of their family members for more than five years;
(3) expresses gratitude to the Government of Colombia and the armed forces of Colombia for successfully rescuing the hostages, and applauds the effective contribution of the United States Government to this effort;
(4) calls for the immediate release of all hostages held by the FARC and other armed terrorist groups in Colombia; and
(5) urges the FARC to lay down their weapons and reject terrorism.
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