Bill Text: VA SR12 | 2014 | Regular Session | Prefiled

Virginia Senate Resolution 12 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl; commending efforts to secure release from Haqqani network in Pakistan.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-03-05 - Bill text as passed Senate (SR12ER) [SR12 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2014-SR12-Prefiled.html

14100398D
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 12 Offered January 8, 2014 Prefiled January 7, 2014 Recognizing efforts to secure the release of Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Army, POW, from the Haqqani Network in Pakistan. ---------- Patron-- Reeves ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2009, now 27-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, disappeared in the Paktika province in eastern Afghanistan while traveling alone; and

WHEREAS, it is believed that Sergeant Bergdahl has been held as a prisoner of war for four years by the Taliban-affiliated Haqqani Network in Pakistan; and

WHEREAS, the Taliban demanded the release of five Guantanamo detainees in exchange for Sergeant Bergdahl, and an offer was made by the United States government to unilaterally release the five detainees in March 2012; however, negotiations ended after 16 Afghan civilians were killed by a United States serviceman in Kandahar; and

WHEREAS, although a moratorium was lifted by President Barak Obama on May 23, 2013, for the transfer of detainees at Guantanamo to Yemen and 90 detainees have been cleared for release, none have been transferred due to failed talks and opposition to a prisoner exchange agreement in the United States Senate; and

WHEREAS, although POW/MIA Recognition Day was declared on September 20, 2013, by the Obama Administration to honor service members held as prisoners of war or missing in action and to support their families, many supporters of prisoners of war and their families believe the declaration was insufficient and that stalled action on prisoner exchange in the United States Senate should be resumed; and

WHEREAS, according to the Huffington Post article, "It's Time to Bring Bowe Bergdahl Home," published on July 1, 2013, the long-accepted practice of prisoner exchange is a part of the process of ending a war, and the reticence of the Administration undermines the process, prolongs the war, and jeopardizes many more lives; and

WHEREAS, many Americans are united in securing the immediate release of Sergeant Bergdahl and other United States service members held as prisoners of war and finding those who are missing in action; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate of Virginia, That the efforts to secure the release of Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Army, POW, from the Haqqani Network in Pakistan be recognized; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, and the Virginia Congressional delegation so that they may be apprised of the sense of the Senate of Virginia in this matter.