Expressing the sense of Congress that all trade agreements the United States enters into, should provide reasonable access and collaboration of each nation involved in such an agreement, for the purpose of search and recovery activities relating to members of the United States Armed Forces still missing and unaccounted for from prior wars or military conflicts.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Memorial Day. Our Nation's greatness was earned by the sacrifices of a few so that freedom and liberty would come to all. This weekend, we remember their sacrifices and service.

We are very proud that the tradition of Memorial Day originated in a Pennsylvania community located in my district, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania.

Dating back to 1864 in Boalsburg, Pennsylvania, the birthplace of Memorial Day, three ladies decorated the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers. They met in the graveyard and promised to come back the following year to do the same thing. From that simple beginning act of love and remembrance came the observance of Memorial Day.

Now, every year, on the last Monday of May, the people across this Nation gather in town squares, at memorials, and in the cemeteries of fallen heroes to pay tribute to those who gave their all. This includes our servicemembers who are missing in action or are prisoners of war.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 80,000 American citizens who served in the Vietnam war, Korean war, and World War II are still missing in action.

That is why I am proud to have introduced H. Con. Res. 64, which urges our mutually beneficial trade agreements to include a commitment from trading partners to continue search and recovery efforts of our Nation's missing servicemembers.

In August 2023, I was notified by the POW/MIA Accounting Agency that two MIAs from my district were identified and returning home. Army Corporal Francis James Jury of Clearfield, Pennsylvania, and Army Sergeant Richard M. Sharrow of Marienville, Pennsylvania, were deemed missing in action during the Korean war. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the POW/MIA Accounting Agency, these two heroes were able to be returned home and receive the proper burial that they deserved.

This Nation is united by our liberties and freedoms that our men and women in uniform take an oath to protect and defend. We will always honor our brothers and sisters who fought in battle to uphold our way of life.

May God carry them in the palm of His hand and all of our servicemembers in the palm of His hand.

This Memorial Day, as we raise the Stars and Stripes, as we lay wreaths at monuments, memorials, and cemeteries, let us remember that our freedom is thanks to those who served and died in sacrifice.