News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Bob Necci & Carol Hrdlicka, Andi Wolos
(POW-MIA FaxNetwork)

Re: S. 755

Date: July 08, 1997

THE HOUSE HAS PASSED H.R. 409 - THE MISSING PERSONS AUTHORITIES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1997 - FROM WHAT WE WERE TOLD, IT PASSED AS PART OF THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.

The Senate bill, S. 755 is another story.

S. 755 is a stand-alone bill and needs at least 50 co-sponsors to be brought up to the floor for a vote according to Larry Vigil, legislative staff for Sen. Campbell. The TIME IS NOW to write those letters, send those faxes, make those calls (1-800-972-3524) and visit your Senator's office in your district. Everyone should concentrate on their state's federal senators.

The following is the dear colleague letter sent out by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell:

May 20, 1997

Dear Colleague:

Recently, I introduced S. 755, the "Missing Persons Authorities Improvement Act of 1997." This legislation strengthens the role of the Department of Defense in recovery efforts for our missing service personnel. The bill also improves and expands DoD's work on behalf of MIAs and their families by:

Allowing coverage for Civilian Contract Employees of DoD who are U.S. citizens.

Requiring that theater component and unit commanders report missing personnel within 48 hours with allowances of up to 10 days if operational conditions prevent timely reporting.

Requiring the initial reporting of missing personnel be submitted to the Theater Commander rather than the Service Secretary.

Enabling primary MIA next of kin or designated persons before the case review board to submit any information they may possess regarding the case.

Requiring review of case files of persons last known alive or suspected of being alive, every three years for thirty years. (excludes Korean War cases, as well as Vietnam War cases, after 1966, unless new information is discovered that could result in a change of status in the missing person.)

Penalizing those who wilfully and knowingly withhold information and those who direct withholding of information about cases.

Reinstating the provision that if a recovered body is not identified through visual means, a certification by a forensic scientist is required.

Broadening definitions of "new information" and appointing legal counsel for a missing person when a review of new material is made.

Establishing files for Korean Conflict cases that were unaccounted for but were last known alive or suspected of being alive.

This bill asks the Department of Defense only to make the best possible effort to recover and return our missing personnel. It is the least we owe our soldiers, past and present, who endanger their lives in defense of our country. If you would like to be a cosponsor of this legislation, please have your staff contact Larry Vigil at (202) 244-5852.

Sincerely.

(Signed)

Ben Nighthorse Campbell
U.S. Senator