[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 184 Engrossed in House (EH)]
In the House of Representatives, U.S.,
April 20, 2005.
Whereas on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. central daylight time in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, America was attacked in one of the worst terrorist attacks on
American soil, killing 168 and injuring more than 850 Americans;
Whereas this dastardly act of domestic terrorism affected thousands of families
and horrified millions of people across the State of Oklahoma and the
United States;
Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States responded to this tragedy
through the remarkable efforts of local, State, and Federal law
enforcement, fire, and emergency services, search and rescue teams from
across the United States, public and private medical personnel, and
thousands of volunteers from the community who saved lives, assisted the
injured, comforted the bereaved, and provided meals and support to those
who came to Oklahoma City to help those endangered or otherwise affected
by this terrorist act;
Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States pledged themselves to
create, build, and maintain a permanent national memorial to remember
those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed forever;
Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial draws hundreds of thousands of
visitors from around the world every year to the site of this tragic
event in American history;
Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial brings comfort, strength, peace,
hope, and serenity to the many visitors who come to the memorial and
museum each year to remember and to learn about this tragic event;
Whereas the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, is on April 19, 2005; and
Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial will commemorate the anniversary of
the terrorist bombing by recognizing the week of April 17-24, 2005, as
the National Week of Hope, which will include a day of faith, a day of
understanding, a day of remembrance, a day of sharing, a day of
tolerance, a day of caring, and a day of inspiration, and the annual
Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, A Run to Remember: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) joins with all Americans to send best wishes and prayers to the
families, friends, and neighbors of the 168 people killed in the
terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building;
(2) thanks the thousands of first responders, rescue workers,
medical personnel, and volunteers from the Oklahoma City community and
from communities around the Nation who answered the call for help that
April morning and in the days and weeks that followed;
(3) sends best wishes and thoughts to those injured in the bombing,
and expresses gratitude for their recovery;
(4) resolves to stand with all Americans to promote the goals and
mission established by the Oklahoma City National Memorial as stated in
the following mission statement of the memorial: ``We come here to
remember those who were killed, those who survived, and those changed
forever. May all who leave here know the impact of violence. May this
memorial offer comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity.'';
(5) encourages Americans to observe a National Week of Hope--
(A) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma City
bombing; and
(B) to allow each American to participate in an event each
day of that week to teach a lesson that--
(i) hope can exist in the midst of political
violence;
(ii) good endures in the world even among those who
commit bad acts; and
(iii) there is a way to resolve differences other
than by resorting to terrorism or violence;
(6) congratulates the people of Oklahoma City for making tremendous
progress over the past decade and for demonstrating their steadfast
commitment to such lessons; and
(7) applauds the people of Oklahoma City as they continue to
persevere and to stand as a beacon to the rest of the Nation and the
world attesting to the strength of goodness in overcoming evil wherever
it arises.
Attest:
Clerk.