News-Info-Alerts

Re: BSpeicher - Senate Vote

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: June 29, 2002

"Speicher - Senate votes to compel more Speicher reports

By Paul Pinkham
Times-Union staff writer

The amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill is designed to hold the Pentagon accountable for "a probe that has languished," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

"A schedule of accountability puts the Defense Department squarely and clearly within the view of Congress and America, so that we can take the measure of their efforts and progress," Nelson said.

"Our goal with this measure is to force those responsible for finding our missing in action to leave no stone unturned."

The Senate is expected to pass the authorization bill today. The House is expected to go along after the July 4 break, several Senate staffers said, basing their opinions on the widespread bipartisan support the measure received yesterday. "Anything that can be done to cause the administration to take an aggressive role to free Scott is very favorable, and we think this does it," said Cindy Laquidara, attorney for Speicher's family in Orange Park.

Speicher was shot down on the first night of the Persian Gulf War in 1991 and immediately declared killed in action. The Pentagon changed his status to missing in action last year, based on intelligence reports that suggest he survived the crash and might be imprisoned in Baghdad.

Staff writer Paul Pinkham can be reached at (904) 359-4107 or via e-mail at ppinkham@jacksonville.com.
© The Florida Times-Union "