| News-Info-Alerts |
Re: Senators Press for Invocation of S. 1339
From: POW-MIA InterNetwork
Date: April 16, 2003
From the good folks at Rolling Thunder and Danny "Greasy" Belcher. Please visit them at -
http://www.greasyonline.com/
"News & Hot Topics > Public Law 107-258 >
Campbell/Sensenbrenner Urge Homeland Secretary Ridge to Invoke Recent Law to Reward Iraqi for Help with Jessica Lynch Recovery
The following letter from Senators Campbell and Sensenbrenner says it all. Sen. Campbell's legislative director Larry Vigil had worked hard with Senator Sensenbrenner and his staff to move this bill out of his committee. Sen. Sensenbrenner helped us get the Speicher Bill passed into law. Thanks again to everyone that got their senators to be cosponsors on this bill. We may bring home LIVE prisoners of war (POWs) becauser of this law.
Danny "Greasy" Belcher
Infantry Sgt. Vietnam 68-69
"D" Troop 7th Sqdn 1st Air Cav.
From: Larry Vigil <Larry_Vigil@campbell.senate.gov>
News Advisory
For immediate release
April 9, 2003
Contact: Camden Hubbard Jeff Lungren/Terry Shawn
Office of Senator Campbell House Judiciary Committee
202-224-5852 202-225-2492
Campbell/Sensenbrenner Urge Homeland Secretary Ridge to Invoke Recent Law to Reward Iraqi for Help with Jessica Lynch Recovery
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act author Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., (R-Wis.) today urged Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to invoke legislation enacted last year and grant refugee status to the Iraqi national who played an instrumental role in the rescue of POW Pfc. Jessica Lynch. News reports have detailed the courageous efforts of "Mohammed" to contact U.S. forces in Iraq with information about where Pfc. Lynch was being held, leading to her rescue.
Sen. Campbell and Chairman Sensenbrenner wrote to Secretary Ridge, "America can repay Mohammed's bravery and compassion. Should Mohammed and his family want to come to America, we can welcome them through legislation that both of us worked to enact last Congress - the Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002."
Under the legislation which was signed by President Bush on October 29, 2002, the Homeland Security Secretary (previously the Attorney General before the abolishment of the Immigration and Naturalization Service) is directed to grant refugee status in the United States to any alien and immediate family who, "is a national of Iraq or a nation of the Greater Middle East Region who personally delivers into the custody of the United States Government a living American Persian Gulf War POW/MIA." Sen. Campbell authored this law (S. 1339) and Chairman Sensenbrenner ensured that it would cover Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"We urge you to offer Mohammed and his family the opportunity of a new life in a peaceful land. America would understand if he would rather stay in his homeland and help build a free and democratic Iraq, but we owe him the opportunity to make that choice," Sen. Campbell and Chairman Sensenbrenner added.
The Campbell/Sensenbrenner letter is below.
###
April 9, 2003
The Honorable Tom Ridge
Secretary of Homeland Security
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
Dear Secretary Ridge:
America is deeply grateful for the courageous rescue by U.S. Special Operations forces of American POW Pfc. Jessica Lynch in Iraq. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to the brave Iraqi lawyer, known only as "Mohammed," who witnessed her plight and risked his life several times to get our forces the information they needed to rescue Jessica. America can repay Mohammed's bravery and compassion. Should Mohammed and his immediate family wish to come to America, we can welcome them through legislation that both of us worked to enact last Congress - the Persian Gulf War POW/MIA Accountability Act of 2002.
The Act provides that you can grant refugee status in the U.S. to any alien and his immediate family who is a national of Iraq or a nation of the Greater Middle East Region who personally delivers into the custody of the U.S. Government a living American Persian Gulf War POW/MIA or an American POW/MIA from a successive conflict, operation, or action. We championed this legislation last year to ensure that Iraqis would be kept safe if they came forward with crucial information. The legislation's initial motive was to encourage the rescue of Michael Speicher, a Navy pilot shot down over Iraq in 1991 and still unaccounted for.
Today we recognize that U.S. servicemen and women are currently being called upon to serve our country in Iraq. As of today there are seven Americans listed as POW, and another seven listed as MIA. As the October 15, 2002 House Committee report stated before Operation Iraqi Freedom commenced, "[t]he nation owes it to . . . all those who may be called upon to serve in the coming months to take every step possible to ensure that no American soldier is left behind." Hopefully, word of this legislation will encourage Iraqis to assist in the rescue of American POWs and MIAs.
We urge you to offer Mohammed and his family the opportunity of a new life in a peaceful land. America would understand if he would rather stay in his homeland and help build a free and democratic Iraq, but we owe him the opportunity to make that choice.
Sincerely,
BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR.
U.S. Senator Chairman, House Committee on the Judiciary "
FROM AII POW-MIA: Full text of latest bill, S. 1339, Public Law 107-258 see:
http://www.aiipowmia.com/inter23/in041603s1339ref.html
Peruse More InterNetwork Notices
Peruse Older InterNetwork Notices
DISCLAIMER: The content of this message is the sole responsibility of the originator. Posting of this message to the POW-MIA InterNetwork© does not show AII POW-MIA endorsement. It is provided so you may make an informed decision. AIIPOWMIAI is not associated in any capacity with any United States Government agency or entity, nor with any non-governmental organization.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational purposes only. [Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ]
AII POW-MIA does not endorse any offsite material, organization or individual. For information purposes only.
The opinions expressed on this site are those of
Advocacy and Intelligence Index for Prisoners of War - Missing in Action.
If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail us at the above address.
Archive ©AII POW-MIA