SF 2348

2nd Engrossment - 81st Legislature (1999 - 2000) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

  1.1                             A resolution
  1.2             memorializing the President and Congress of the United 
  1.3             States to take whatever action is necessary to obtain 
  1.4             the release of Americans who may be held against their 
  1.5             will in North Korea, China, Russia, and Vietnam. 
  1.6      
  1.7      WHEREAS, United States satellite and spy plane photos show 
  1.8   names and rescue codes of missing servicemen spelled out on the 
  1.9   ground in Vietnam and Laos; and 
  1.10     WHEREAS, such rescue codes are constructed exactly as the 
  1.11  missing men were taught should they ever be captured; and 
  1.12     WHEREAS, the executive branch of the United States 
  1.13  government has declined to follow the unanimous recommendation 
  1.14  of the Senate Select POW/MIA committee to make a by-name request 
  1.15  of the government of Vietnam regarding the fate of an individual 
  1.16  associated with a June 5, 1992, symbol at a Vietnamese prison; 
  1.17  and 
  1.18     WHEREAS, the executive branch has steadfastly refused a 
  1.19  unanimous recommendation from the same committee to create an 
  1.20  imagery review task force to look for other symbols from 
  1.21  prisoners; and 
  1.22     WHEREAS, intelligence indicates a group of live American 
  1.23  prisoners held in North Korea; and 
  1.24     WHEREAS, intelligence reports indicate the presence of 
  1.25  American POWs held in North Korea, China, Russia, and Vietnam; 
  2.1   and 
  2.2      WHEREAS, the United States government has rebuffed 
  2.3   overtures from Vietnam and North Korea regarding the release of 
  2.4   live American POWs; NOW, THEREFORE, 
  2.5      BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota 
  2.6   that it urges the President and the Congress of the United 
  2.7   States to take whatever action is necessary to obtain the 
  2.8   release of Americans who may be held against their will in North 
  2.9   Korea, China, Russia, and Vietnam. 
  2.10     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the 
  2.11  State of Minnesota is directed to prepare copies of this 
  2.12  memorial and transmit them to the President of the United 
  2.13  States, the President and the Secretary of the United States 
  2.14  Senate, the Speaker and the Clerk of the United States House of 
  2.15  Representatives, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in 
  2.16  Congress.