S.Res. 311Senate108th Congress (2003-2005)In Committee

A resolution calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and unconditionally release Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, and for other purposes.

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SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2235)

Foreign Relations Committee

March 4, 2004

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 4, 2004

SenateIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S2235)

Foreign Relations Committee

March 4, 2004

Floor Debate

2 members

What members said about S.Res. 311 on the floor

1 Republican1 Democrat

Sen. Patrick J. LeahyD-VT · Mar 4, 2004

Madam President, I proudly rise today to join my colleagues Senators Campbell, Hatch and Allard to introduce a resolution to designate May 15, 2004, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day. We submit this resolution to keep alive in the memory of all Americans the sacrifice and commitment of those law enforcement officers who lost their lives serving their communities.

I commend Senator Campbell for his leadership in this issue. This marks the eighth year running, I believe, that he and I have joined forces to introduce the resolution to commemorate National Peace Officers Memorial Day. As a former deputy sheriff, Senator Campbell has experienced first-hand the risks faced by law enforcement officers every day while they protect our communities. His knowledge in this area is a true asset to the U.S. people.

I also want to thank each of our Nation's brave law enforcement officers for their unwavering commitment to the safety and protection of their fellow citizens. They are real-life heroes, too many of whom too often give the ultimate sacrifice, and they remind us of how important it is to support and respect our State and local police.

Currently, more than 850,000 men and women who guard our communities do so at great risk. Each year, 1 in 15 officers is assaulted, 1 in 46 officers is injured,and 1 in 5,255 officers is killed in the line of duty in the United States every other day. After the hijacked planes hit the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001, 72 peace officers died while trying to ensure that their fellow citizens in those buildings got to safety. That act of terrorism resulted in the highest number of peace officers ever killed in a single incident in the history of this country.

In 2003, 146 enforcement officers died while serving in the line of duty, well below the decade-long average of 165 deaths annually, and a major drop from 2001 when a total of 237 officers were killed. A number of factors contributed to this reduction including better equipment and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, improved training, longer prison terms for violent offenders, and advanced emergency medical care. And, in total, more than 17,100 men and women have made the ultimate sacrifice.

During the 108th Congress, we have improved the Department of Justice's Public Safety Officers Benefits (PSOB) program by making law the Hometown Heroes Survivors Benefits Act (Public Law 108-182), which allows survivors of public safety officers who suffer fatal heart attacks or strokes while participating in nonroutine stressful or strenuous physical activities to qualify for Federal survivor benefits. The Senate also passed the Campbell-Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Act (S. 764), which will extend through FY 2007 the authorization of appropriations for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program that helps State, tribal and local jurisdictions purchase armor vests for use by law enforcement officers. The House has yet to act on this important measure that will continue our efforts to ensure that every police officer who needs a bulletproof vest gets one. This week, the Senate added to the gun liability bill by a vote of 91-8 the Campbell- Leahy Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (S. 253). This measure would establish national measures of uniformity and consistency to permit trained and certified on-duty, off-duty or retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed firearms in most situations so that they may respond immediately to crimes across State and other jurisdictional lines, as well as to protect themselves and their families from vindictive criminals. The support for such bills that will keep our law enforcement officers is there, but we need to do more.

We Vermonters this National Peace Officers Memorial Day will remember our brave State Police Officer, SGT Michael Johnson, who was killed last Father's Day while trying to stop a suspect leading two other State troopers on a high-speed chase. Sergeant Johnson was not even on duty, but he went out nonetheless to help his fellow troopers that Sunday afternoon after hearing their trouble on his radio. He had just deployed a set of tire spikes across the interstate when the suspect swerved to avoid the spikes and struck him. Johnson left behind a beloved wife and three children, as well as hundreds of police officers who called him ``brother.'' Words seem insufficient to acclaim the brave sacrifice of the man

who was so admired by his family, community and the Vermont State Police force.

National Peace Officers Memorial Day will provide the people of the United States with the opportunity to honor the extraordinary service and sacrifice given year after year by our police forces. More than 15,000 peace officers are expected to gather in Washington to join with the families of their fallen comrades who, by their last full measure of devotion to their responsibilities and the right and security of their fellow citizens, have rendered a dedicated service to our Nation. I look forward to passage of this important resolution, a fitting tribute for this special and solemn occasion.

Sen. Ben Nighthorse CampbellR-CO · Mar 4, 2004

Madam President, today I am joined by the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Hatch and Leahy and Senator Allard in introducing this resolution to keep alive in…

Madam President, today I am joined by the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Hatch and Leahy and Senator Allard in introducing this resolution to keep alive in the memory of all Americans the sacrifice and commitment of those law enforcement officers who lost their lives serving their communities. Specifically, this resolution would designate May 15, 2004, as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

As a former deputy sheriff, I know first-hand the risks which law enforcement officers face every day on the frontlines protecting our communities. Currently, more than 850,000 men and women who serve this Nation as our guardians of law and order do so at a great risk. Every year, about 1 in 9 officers is assaulted, 1 in 25 officers is injured, and 1 in 6,000 officers is killed in the line of duty somewhere in America every other day. There are few communities in this country that have not been impacted by the words ``officer down.''

On September 11, 2001, 72 peace officers died as a result of a cowardly act of terrorism. This single act of terrorism resulted in the highest number of peace officers ever killed in a single incident in the history of this country. Before this event, the greatest loss of law enforcement in a single incident occurred in 1917, when nine Milwaukee police officers were killed in a bomb blast at their police station.

In 2003, nearly 150 Federal, State, tribal and local law enforcement officers gave their lives in the line of duty, well below the decade- long average of 166 deaths annually, and a major drop from 2001 when a total of 230 officers were killed. A number of factors contributed to this reduction including better equipment and the increased use of bullet-resistant vests, improved training, longer prison terms for violent offenders, and advanced emergency medical care. And, in total, more than 16,000 men and women have made the supreme sacrifice.

The chairman of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Craig W. Floyd, reminds us that

a police officer is killed in the line of duty somewhere in

America nearly every other day. More than 850,000 officers

put their lives at risk each and every day for our safety and

protection. National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial

Day provide our Nation with an important opportunity to

recognize and honor that extraordinary service and sacrifice.

On May 15, 2004, more than 20,000 peace officers are expected to gather in our Nation's Capital to join with the families of their fallen comrades who by their faithful and loyal devotion to their responsibilities have rendered a dedicated service to their communities. In doing so, these heroes have established for themselves an enviable and enduring reputation for preserving the rights and security of all citizens. This resolution is a fitting tribute for this special and solemn occasion.

I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting passage of this important resolution.

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 4, 2004

        [Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 311 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

108th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 311

Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to
immediately and unconditionally release Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly,
and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 4, 2004

Mr. Brownback submitted the following resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Calling on the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to
immediately and unconditionally release Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly,
and for other purposes.

Whereas, in February 2001, Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, a Roman Catholic
priest, was formally invited to testify before the United States
Commission on International Religious Freedom but was denied permission
to leave the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and thus, instead, submitted
written testimony critical of the Government of Vietnam, which was read
into the Commission record on February 13, 2001;
Whereas Father Ly's testimony before the Commission documents numerous specific
actions of the Government of Vietnam against religious freedom that he
classified as collectively being ``extremely cruel'' and requiring a
``non-violent and persistent campaign'' to achieve full religious
freedom for all people in Vietnam;
Whereas Father Ly has been detained by the Government of Vietnam since February
2001, when the Government placed him under administrative detention,
and, as a direct response to his testimony, branded him a traitor for
``slandering'' the Communist party and ``distorting'' the religious
policy of the government;
Whereas the Government of Vietnam issued a second decree suspending Father Ly's
ability to ``carry on any religious responsibility and functions'' and
later formally removed Father Ly from his church, detained him, and
denied him access to legal counsel;
Whereas, on October 19 2001, the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People's Court
convicted Father Ly of all charges after a one-day, closed trial without
the benefit of counsel and sentenced him to 2 years in prison for
violating the terms of his administrative detention, 13 years in prison
for, ``damaging the Government's unity policy,'' and 5 years of
administrative probation upon release from prison;
Whereas, after pleas from United States Government officials and the world
community, Father Ly's sentence was reduced by 5 years;
Whereas, in June 2001, Father Ly's nephews Nguyen Vu Viet, age 27, and Nguyen
Truc Cuong, age 36, and his niece Nguyen Thi Hoa, age 44, were arrested
for allegedly being in contact and receiving support from
``reactionary'' organizations in the United States concerning the
religious situation in Vietnam and disseminating information concerning
the detention of Father Ly;
Whereas after their cases generated much concern in Congress, Nguyen Thi Hoa,
Nguyen Vu Viet, and Nguyen Truc Cuong all have been released;
Whereas, on November 27, 2003, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary
Detention issued Opinion No. 20/2003 stating that ``the Group is
convinced that [Father Ly] has been arrested and detained only for his
opinions . . . [and] the deprivation of the liberty of Father Thadeus
Nguyen Van Ly is arbitrary, as being in contravention of Article 19 of
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of Article 19 of the
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights'';
Whereas Father Ly has been deprived of his basic human rights by being denied
his ability to exercise freedom of opinion and expression; and
Whereas the arbitrary imprisonment and the violation of the human rights of
citizens of Vietnam are sources of continuing, grave concern to the
Congress: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That--
(1) the Senate--
(A) condemns and deplores the arbitrary detention
of Father Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly by the Government of
the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and calls for his
immediate and unconditional release;
(B) condemns and deplores the violations of freedom
of speech, religion, movement, association, and the
lack of due process afforded to individuals in the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam;
(C) strongly urges the Government of Vietnam to
consider the implications of its actions for the
broader relationship between the United States and
Vietnam; and
(D) strongly urges the Government of Vietnam to
consider the implications of its actions in the context
of the United States-Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement,
under which Vietnam currently receives Normal Trade
Relations (NTR) status subject to chapter 1 of title IV
of the Trade Act of 1974 (commonly known as the
``Jackson-Vanik Amendment''); and
(2) it is the sense of the Senate that the United States
should--
(A) make the immediate release of Father Thadeus
Nguyen Van Ly a top concern;
(B) make it clear to the Government of Vietnam that
it is not in the Government's interest to detain Father
Ly and others like him for political or religious
reasons or to inflict human rights violations on such
people or groups because such actions create obstacles
to improved bilateral relations and cooperation with
the United States; and
(C) reiterate the deep concern of the United States
regarding the continued imprisonment of Father Ly and
other persons whose human rights are being violated and
discuss the legal status and immediate humanitarian
needs of such people with the Government of Vietnam.
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