Expressing the sense of the United States House of Represensatives regarding the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, the kidnapping of Captain Richard Phillips by Somali pirates, the rescue of Captain Phillips by United States Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge, USS Boxer, USS Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of House Resolution 339.

I am pleased to join my colleagues, Peter Welch and Jim Langevin, as well as the many cosponsors of this resolution, in expressing the pride of the United States House of Representatives regarding the heroic actions of Captain Richard Phillips, the crew of the Maersk Alabama, and the professionalism and skill of the crews of the USS Bainbridge, the USS Boxer, the USS Halyburton, Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 and the U.S. Navy SEALs.

On April 8, 2009, in what has now become a well-known story, a group of armed Somali pirates hijacked the Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk Alabama, which is a cargo ship sailing under a U.S. flag. The Alabama was on a mission to deliver over 8,000 metric tons of vital food aid to Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda. This food aid had been provided by U.S. taxpayers through the United States Agency for International Development. It was highly ironic, then, that the Somali pirates targeted a vessel destined to provide relief to their home country.

When the Alabama came under attack, it was also the first such attack on a U.S.-flagged vessel in modern history. But the surprise that the crew of the Alabama must have felt did little to deter positive action on their part. The crew of the Maersk Alabama overpowered one of the pirate attackers, and the ship's commander, Captain Richard Phillips, offered himself up in return for the safe release of his crew and ship.

Captain Phillips' courageous action is a credit to him, his 20 years of maritime experience, his alma mater, the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, and his hometown of Underhill, Vermont.

Four of the Somali pirates fled with Captain Phillips to an 18-foot lifeboat and set off for the Somali coast. The length of the Somali coastline is vast, roughly the same length as the entire eastern seaboard of the United States.

Despite the diligent efforts of the international community and the U.S.-led Combined Task Force 151 counter-piracy operations, military vessels cannot be every place at once. As a result, the nearest U.S. ship at the time of the incident was more than 300 nautical miles away.

In response to the distress call from the Maersk Alabama, the United States Fifth Fleet immediately dispatched maritime patrol aircraft to locate, positively identify and monitor the Maersk Alabama to direct the closest U.S. Navy ship to the rescue. The United States Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge, which had been patrolling the region due to the increase in pirate activity, soon arrived. The Bainbridge, under command of U.S. Navy Commander Frank Castellano, monitored the conditions on the lifeboat and prevented the pirates from escaping. Commander Castellano also served as the on-the-scene coordinator for the combined rescue efforts of the State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation hostage negotiators, and the United States Navy.

While being held by pirates, Captain Phillips attempted a daring escape--

diving into the ocean and trying to swim to safety before being captured. Captain Phillips' ordeal cannot be understated. The pirates held him at gunpoint for 5 days until the U.S. Navy SEALs, who had quickly deployed to the scene onboard the USS Bainbridge, rescued Captain Phillips, demonstrating their extraordinary valor and skill.

The captain and crew of the Bainbridge were supported by two additional U.S. Navy ships. The USS Halyburton, an Oliver Hazard Perry- class frigate, assisted the USS Bainbridge with the rescue operation by ensuring that the pirates were blocked in their attempts to reach the Somali coast. The USS Boxer, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, assisted in the rescue operation by standing by to provide immediate medical support, which was, thankfully, not needed in this operation.

It is also remarkable to note that the namesake for the USS Bainbridge is Captain William Bainbridge, one of the United States' earliest naval officers who became the country's most famous pirate hostage.

In October 1803, Captain Bainbridge was in command of the USS Philadelphia, a 36-gun frigate, on a mission to blockade North African pirate ships from Tripoli. Following an unfortunate grounding of the Philadelphia on a shallow reef near shore, Captain Bainbridge and his crew of 300 were taken hostage and held in captivity for nearly 2 years. When Captain Bainbridge finally returned to this country, he continued to serve in the U.S. Navy and went on to distinguish himself in the War of 1812.

Now, 200 years later, pirates continue to operate along the coast of Africa, and the U.S. Navy ship named in his honor has played such a critical role in thwarting their efforts.

In conclusion, I urge the international community, as well as President Obama, to apply both private and government means to combat piracy. While the U.S. military can have a significant deterrence on piracy and can play a key role in disrupting pirate attacks, a long- term solution to this problem cannot be found through military force alone.

I also urge my colleagues to adopt House Resolution 339 to recognize the bravery of the crew of the Maersk Alabama, commend Captain Phillips who selflessly placed himself in harm's way to protect his crew, congratulate the United States Navy, the crews of the USS Bainbridge, Boxer, Halyburton, Patrol Squadron 8 and the Navy SEALs on the scene for their decisive action that resulted in the rescue of Captain Phillips and join all Americans in expressing great relief that the crew has returned home safely.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to further comment on the issue of piracy and how we address this in that I feel that there is a cost-effective solution available to us.

Right now, in trying to patrol 1.1 million square miles of ocean, we have deployed a carrier strike group and an additional combined task force; and it is a sledgehammer going after a fly when all we need is a flyswatter.

I would like to propose that the administration consider placing a small detachment of United States Marines or sailors with cruiser weapons aboard U.S.-flagged merchant ships sailing through these waters. There is an average of one U.S. flagship per day sailing through the Gulf of Aiden. And so the Department of Defense response was that we are stretched in resources, and it would be difficult to deploy a squad of marines or the equivalent of sailors aboard this one U.S.-flagged merchant ship going through the Gulf of Aiden on a daily basis. Yet, we are deploying over 10 ships on a daily basis in these

waters, which require far more resources than a small detachment of U.S. marines or sailors.

The precedent for this is certainly during World War II, when we did so to protect our U.S.-flagged merchant shipping. I believe the situation exists today where we have cause to do so. And this is not simply a criminal activity. In 1803, when Captain Bainbridge was in command of the USS Philadelphia, President Thomas Jefferson saw fit to see the actions of the Barbary pirates as an act of war, and I view the conduct of the Somalia pirates as the same.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 339) expressing the sense of the United States House of Representatives regarding the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, the kidnapping of Captain Richard Phillips by Somali pirates, the rescue of Captain Phillips by United States Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge,USS Boxer, USS Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks on the resolution under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am honored to rise this morning to recognize the efforts of some true heroes during the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama and its aftermath. Like millions of Americans, I watched as the ordeal unfolded from the initial attack, to the crew's quick response, to the captain's selfless sacrifice, to the Navy's breathtaking rescue.

Today, I hope all of our colleagues will join me in congratulating and in thanking the many brave Americans who played a role in the successful resolution of what could have been a terrible tragedy.

First, let me thank the gentleman from Vermont, my friend, Peter Welch, for spearheading this effort. I'm honored to sponsor this resolution with him. I would also like to thank Chairman Skelton and Ranking Member McHugh for working with us to bring this resolution so quickly to the floor.

The story of the merchant vessel Maersk Alabama is miraculous, not just for the safe return of its entire U.S. crew but also for the incredible bravery and professionalism displayed by the men and women of the U.S. Navy as well as Captain Richard Phillips, who gave himself up to ensure the safety of his crew.

We're all familiar with the story by now. On April 8, a group of armed Somali pirates hijacked the Norfolk, Virginia-based Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship--the first such attack on a U.S.- flagged vessel in modern history. Captain Phillips and his crew were delivering a life-sustaining USAID shipment of over 8,000 metric tons of food aid to Kenya, Somalia, and Uganda when the ship came under pirate attack. The crew overpowered one of the attackers, and Captain Phillips offered himself up in return for the safe release of his crew and ship. The four pirates then fled with Captain Phillips on an 18- foot lifeboat.

After receiving the distress call, the United States Fifth Fleet immediately dispatched maritime patrol aircraft to locate and monitor the Maersk Alabama and aid in directing the United States and the Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge to the scene.

The USS Bainbridge, under the command of Navy Commander Frank Castellano, immediately undertook efforts to monitor conditions on the lifeboat, and along with the USS Halyburton, would prevent the pirates from escaping. At one point, Captain Phillips attempted an escape by diving into the ocean but was recaptured. When it appeared that the captain's life was in imminent danger, the Navy SEALs did not hesitate. They drew on their training, and, most importantly, their courage and took decisive action to end the standoff and save the life of Captain Phillips.

Mr. Speaker, the resolution before us today recognizes the bravery of the captain and the crew of the Maersk Alabama and congratulates the Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge, Boxer, Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 for their decisive action in ensuring the safe return home of all concerned.

Again, I want to thank Congressman Welch for his work on this legislation, and I ask all of our colleagues to vote for its passage.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield as much time as he might consume to my friend and colleague, the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Skelton).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may consume to my friend and colleague, the original sponsor of this measure, the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to my friend and colleague, one of the newest members of the Committee on Armed Services, the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Nye).

Mr. Speaker, I want to again commend my colleague, Mr. Welch, for his sponsorship of this resolution. I am proud to join with him. This truly is a story of remarkable heroism and bravery.

I again recognize the leadership of Captain Phillips and his crew and, in particular, the Navy SEALs, and all of our naval vessels and sailors that were involved in this entire effort. They truly are well- trained, and it showed in this. The training paid off.

On a personal note, I have great respect for all of our merchant mariners. Both my grandfather and my great uncle were both members of the Merchant Marine during World War II. I know the sacrifices that these Merchant Marines give in their daily lives day in and day out to make sure that cargo moves safely around the world.

This is truly a good news story, but clearly we have work to do in stopping pirate activities in the future. This is going to be an ongoing effort. I look

forward to working with my colleagues to make sure that this type situation never happens again.

Again, my congratulations to all my colleagues involved in this resolution, particularly Mr. Welch.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I have no further requests for time. I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank my colleague from Rhode Island. I thank the Armed Services Committee and Chairman Skelton and my colleague, Mr. Coffman.

We have heard eloquent statements about the urgent problem of piracy and what the United States has to do. I would like to talk a little bit about Captain Phillips and about his hometown of Underhill, Vermont, and what is the good news behind this extraordinary rescue operation conducted by the United States Navy.

Mr. Speaker, Underhill is a small town in Vermont in the shadow of our largest mountain, Mt. Mansfield; about 2,800 people live there. The center of life is the Underhill Country Store where people go for their morning coffee to have conversation about what's going on. Neighbors know neighbors.

The folks who live in Underhill know the Phillips family very well. And it turned out that in that week when Captain Phillips was a hostage, all of the activity, all of the conversation in Underhill, of course, was totally about him, about his wife, Andrea, about Mariah and David, their son and daughter, both in college. And life in some ways went on in the ordinary course. David went over to a neighbor's and did his morning chores; it is what he said his dad would have wanted. And the neighbors did what neighbors do in Underhill and do in Vermont and do in communities all around this country when one of their own is in peril; they helped out. They brought over food. They checked in on their neighbors. They gave privacy and respect to Andrea and their family while they were going through this ordeal.

It is also the story about an extraordinary seaman, Captain Phillips, who, I think, as much as his bravery impressed all of us. His modesty impressed all of us as well. He insisted that he was not the hero. Let me use his own words that he was able to recite when he returned. ``I'm not a hero, the military is,'' the cargo shipper, Richard Phillips, told reporters. ``I'm a small part. I'm just a bit part in this story. I'm a seaman doing the best I can like all other seamen out there.'' Captain Phillips insisted on giving all credit to everyone else--his crew, the extraordinary Navy SEALs, the United States Navy, not taking any of the credit for his heroics upon himself.

Now, why is it that he is that way? You know, oftentimes it is said that a hero is a person who is ordinary but, faced with extraordinary circumstances, does extraordinary things. And certainly Captain Phillips fits that description because, when faced with this danger, he put himself and his life on the line to save his crew. It was an extraordinary act in extraordinary circumstances.

But when you reflect on it, Captain Phillips didn't see it that way. He was a seaman doing his job. And maybe what he is reminding us, all of us in America, is that it is doing our jobs day in and day out, what is required of us, that makes us all have it within our reach to be heroic.

Captain Phillips has as his primary responsibility, the way he defines it and the way the law of the sea defines it, to protect his crew. And on some days protecting his crew may be that he has to guide his ship through troubled waters, but on another day, when his ship was seized by pirates, protecting his crew meant turning over his life and his safety to the pirates in exchange for the safety of his crew. And for him, that was just an ordinary, matter-of-fact decision. He didn't even have to think about it because that was his job. It is what he signed up to do. And when the circumstances required he make that decision, he did.

That is what is so inspiring, I think, to so many of us about Captain Phillips, the matter-of-fact way in which he went about being a captain in the Merchant Marine. And it is the same attitude he displays as a dad when he is home, with the jealous guarding of his time with his family that means so much to him so that he can ski, play basketball, do outdoor activities with his kids and with his friends. He is known in the community as just another guy, and that is the person who he wants to return to be.

The inspiring story here is all up and down the line. When a captain was faced with an extraordinary decision, he made it as though it was just an ordinary decision. When one of America's own ships on the high seas was in peril, our Navy responded as they were trained to do. And when one of the hostages, Captain Phillips, was in imminent danger of losing his life, these Navy SEALs, who had trained quietly, relentlessly, and effectively, did what was required of them, and they went on to live the rest of their lives. So this act is an extraordinary act of heroics because of how Captain Phillips made this an ordinary day in his life.

All of us, of course, are thrilled about the safe return of Captain Phillips to Underhill, Vermont, and the reunification of the family, but we are also very proud of our Navy. We are proud of the Navy SEALs and all the people who were involved in this, doing the jobs they were trained to do, doing it successfully, and then going on about their lives without request for fame or favor.

Mr. Speaker, I stand here today with great jubilation for the successful rescue of Captain Phillips. I urge my colleagues to support H. Res. 339 ``Expressing the sense of the United States House of Represensatives regarding the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, the kidnapping of Captain Richard Phillips by Somali pirates, the rescue of Captain Phillips by United States Navy SEALs and the crews of the USS Bainbridge, USS Boxer, USS Halyburton and Patrol Squadron (VP) 8, and for other purposes.''

I believe that Congressional recognition is due to the crews of the USS Bainbridge and other ships on the scene, and especially the incredible skill of the Navy SEALs who rescued Capt. Phillips. Somali pirates boarded the container ship Maersk Alabama about 500 kilometers off the coast of Somalia. The 20 man crew regained control of the Danish-owned, American-operated ship. But the ship's captain--Richard Phillips--was taken hostage as the pirates escaped aboard a lifeboat.

I would like to acknowledge the profound bravery and selflessness that Captain Phillips displayed throughout the entire ordeal. At the time of the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama, Captain Phillips placed himself in harm's way to protect his crew. Phillips offered himself as a hostage after the pirates stormed the U.S.-flagged Alabama. He is a hero, he rose to the occasion and--thankfully--lived to tell about it.

I commend the Navy SEAL snipers on the destroyer USS Bainbridge who killed Captain Phillips's three captors. I applaud President Obama and his administration who gave standing orders for the military to take decisive action if the Captain was in imminent danger.

This is the first time in modern history that the United States has in custody a pirate who carried out an attack on a U.S. citizen. The events that have been taking place off the coast of Somalia are intolerable and I feel that the United States must put an end to piracy.

I am pleased that Captain Phillips is home with his family: his wife, Andrea, and his two children, Daniel and Mariah, in Underhill, Vermont. I wish them all the best as their lives get back to normal.

However, this piracy has not ceased even after the U.S. Navy fatally shot three pirates, who were armed with AK-47 rifles. They are continuing to hijack ships in the Gulf of Aden. More than 200 mariners still remain captives at sea in the hands of pirates. Adm. Rick Gurnon has publicly said, ``The pirates have a great business model that works for them: See ships, take ransom, make millions'' and that is exactly what they are doing. The pirates from Somalia often launch one or two speed boats with about four or five men aboard. Armed with automatic weapons and in some cases rocket-propelled grenades, they approach unarmed ships, force them to slow down and then board them in order to gain ransom money.

Analysts blame Somalia's nearly 20 years of lawlessness for fueling piracy's rise. Years ago, foreign trawlers began taking advantage of Somalia's civil war to fish its waters illegally and dump toxic waste there. Vigilante Somali fishermen tried to defend their shores, and later morphed into full-blown pirates. Piracy has been a problem in Somali waters for at least 10 years--when Somali fishermen began losing their livelihoods. Their traditional fishing methods were no match for the illegal trawlers that were raiding their waters. Piracy initially started along Somalia's southern coast but began shifting north in 2007--and as a result, the pirate gangs in the Gulf of Aden are now multi-clan operations.

Attacks have risen markedly in recent weeks, and brigands hold at least 17 other ships and around 300 crew. Meanwhile, Somalia called for international help to rebuild its military to combat piracy and train security forces to track down pirates.

I urge the United States to take swift and immediate action against these Somali pirates. It is unacceptable that unarmed Americans or any persons should be attacked and taken hostage on the high seas, with all the resources available to us in this day and age. This is not an American problem, but an international problem, that must be dealt with on a multilateral level. We can not eradicate piracy alone.

I am relieved that Secretary Clinton said the United States wanted to ``seek more effective ways to hold these pirates criminally responsible for their actions, which threaten not only the lives of merchant seamen, but the security of critical maritime routes.'' I believe the meeting which will take place next month in New York with representatives of 24 nations, in order to look at legal measures in the fight against piracy off Somalia is a large first step in ending this madness.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 339, and I thank my friends, Congressmen Langevin and Welch, for introducing this bill and their leadership on this subject.

Captain Phillips' brave leadership in the defense of his crew and ship, along with the outstanding service of the men and women of the United States Navy, allowed for the safe return of the crew of the motor vessel Maersk Alabama. Both Captain Phillips and his crew's actions clearly demonstrate the bravery that is present in our American Merchant Marines. I commend the sailors on the USS Bainbridge and Halyburton, as well as the Navy SEALs who were involved in the lengthy standoff with the Somali pirates.

On Easter Sunday, every American could be proud and thankful for the commitment and excellence of our servicemembers. The actions of our men and women in uniform highlight the dedication and professionalism present in our Navy servicemembers. This also demonstrates the critical need for the high level of training these sailors have been given which allows them to successfully conduct such a high-risk and complicated operation.

I have long warned of the dangers associated with international piracy. Just last month, I called for and chaired a full Armed Services Committee hearing on international piracy on the high seas. The inherent danger in allowing these types of criminal activities to go unchecked is evident throughout our history. We see prime examples of this when we look as far back as the days of the Barbary pirates, where the pirates were eventually defeated ashore in Algiers; or the recent example of the Straits of Malacca, where it took the combined forces of Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore working together to secure their waters.

In both of these instances, the international community was dealing with criminals whose sole objective was monetary gain; and when faced with superior forces, they retreated. The pirates off the coast of Somalia are no different. However, like the pirates of the past, they will only retreat as far as they are pushed.

Establishing a working government in Somalia is a solution, but this is a long-term solution. In the short term, it is imperative that the international coalition, already operating in the area, uses its superior force to continue to pursue these pirates into the safe havens where they are operating. This will be the only way to convince these criminals that the risks now outweigh the rewards. The authorities needed to conduct such operations have already been provided in United Nations Security Council Regulations 1846 and 1851.

I applaud the commitment of the international community to solve the problem, but additional work must be done to advance the current international coalitions operating in the region. Just this weekend we were reminded of the imminence of the ongoing problem. Hostages were freed by Dutch forces, but the gang of pirates responsible were subsequently released due to the lack of a detainment policy within the NATO task force.

The United States must encourage all of our coalition partners to adopt a single set of rules of engagement and authorities. I am encouraged by Secretary Clinton's call on the international community to hold these criminals accountable and agree with her comments about pursuing the pirate sanctuaries along the Somalia coast. Denying the ability of the pirates to operate ashore is the best solution for stopping these attacks in the short term.

Until the international community decides that it will no longer tolerate piracy in any way, we will continue to see history repeat itself, and the merchants operating in the surrounding waters of Somalia will continue to be at risk.

Mr. Speaker, we will not forget the heroic actions of our United States Navy, the United States Navy SEALs, and the brave men aboard the Maersk Alabama.

We sent a clear signal to the pirates that such a brazen attack on American people will not be tolerated. I look forward to working with my colleagues and friends in the administration to find a short-term solution to the ongoing piracy problem, and I am hopeful that we can work with our international partners to find a permanent solution to this issue.

I thank the gentlemen, Mr. Langevin and Mr. Welch, for their foresight in offering this resolution.