Bill Text: NJ AR52 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Department of Defense to reinstate the POW/MIA designation.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-2)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-23 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR52 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-AR52-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman JACK CONNERS
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman GILBERT "WHIP" L. WILSON
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman CLEOPATRA G. TUCKER
District 28 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Moriarty, Assemblywoman McHose and Assemblyman O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Urges Department of Defense to reinstate the POW/MIA designation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Department of Defense to reinstate the POW/MIA designation.
Whereas, In December of 2000, the United States Department of Defense, eliminated the POW/MIA, prisoner of war/missing in action, designation for soldiers presumed captured by the enemy; and
Whereas, The department replaced the designation with Missing/Captured (MIA-C) status; and
Whereas, POW/MIA is a designation for wars recognized by the Geneva Convention and includes certain rights and protections; and
Whereas, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom are conflicts not recognized by the Geneva Convention; and
Whereas, The status "Missing/Captured" does not confer the same recognition of the sacrifice borne by the men and women in combat; and
Whereas, The words used to describe the actions and status of the brave men and women in our military should reflect the danger they face every day and POW/MIA is meaningful and important terminology for those who have made sacrifices to our country; and
Whereas, In this situation, this domestic policy should reflect the same POW/MIA designation as provided in the Geneva Convention; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The General Assembly of New Jersey urges the United States Department of Defense to review the change in designation and reinstate the use of the POW/MIA, prisoner of war/missing in action, designation.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the Governor of this State, the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and to each member of New Jersey's Congressional delegation.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Department of Defense to review the change in designation and reinstate the use of the POW/MIA, prisoner of war, designation.
In December of 2000, the department eliminated the designation and replaced it with Missing/Captured (MIA-C) status. The revised designation does not confer the same recognition of the sacrifice borne by the men and women in combat, and of the peril facing those who do not return home or confer the same rights and protections as the POW/MIA designation. In this situation, domestic policy should reflect the same POW/MIA designation as provided in the Geneva Convention.
