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

Virginia Senate Resolution 12 (Prior Session Legislation)

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-Enrolled.html

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 12 Commending the continuing efforts to secure the release of Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Army, from the Haqqani network in Pakistan. Agreed to by the Senate, March 5, 2014

WHEREAS, on June 30, 2009, now 27-year-old U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl of Hailey, Idaho, disappeared in 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 Barack Obama on May 23, 2013, for the transfer of detainees at Guantanamo to Yemen, and 90 detainees had 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, 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 continuing efforts to secure the release of Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Army, from the Haqqani network in Pakistan hereby be commended; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Sergeant Bowe R. Bergdahl, U.S. Army; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the United States Secretary of Defense and the United States Secretary of State so that they may be apprised of the sense of the Senate of Virginia in this matter.