Current Status Introducing Body:House Bill Number:3428 Primary Sponsor:Baxley Type of Legislation:CR Subject:Prisoners of War Date Bill Passed both Bodies:Jun 04, 1991 Computer Document Number:3428 Introduced Date:Feb 05, 1991 Last History Body:House Last History Date:Jun 04, 1991 Last History Type:Received from Senate Scope of Legislation:Statewide All Sponsors:Baxley Type of Legislation:Concurrent Resolution
Bill Body Date Action Description CMN ---- ------ ------------ ------------------------------ --- 3428 House Jun 04, 1991 Received from Senate 3428 Senate Jun 04, 1991 Adopted, returned with concurrence 3428 Senate May 29, 1991 Recalled from Committee 11 3428 Senate Mar 12, 1991 Introduced, referred to 11 Committee 3428 House Mar 07, 1991 Adopted, sent to Senate 3428 House Mar 06, 1991 Committee Report: Favorable 24 3428 House Feb 05, 1991 Introduced, referred to 24 CommitteeView additional legislative information at the LPITS web site.
RECALLED
May 29, 1991
H. 3428
S. Printed 5/29/91--S.
Read the first time March 12, 1991.
URGING THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO DENY PRISONER OF WAR STATUS TO MANUEL NORIEGA.
Whereas, America is free because of her Armed Forces' veterans, and the citizenry of this country has historically shown their gratitude to those valiant men and women of our armed services who have died while protecting our freedom; and
Whereas, the courage, the endurance of adversities, and physical and mental torturing by enemy captors, and the sacrifices made by America's brave service members must always be honored; and
Whereas, many thousands of South Carolinians have given their lives for their country in World War I, World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam War, and over 685,000 United States citizens have given their lives nationally during these hostilities; and
Whereas, there were over 8,500 service members left behind somewhere in North Korea -- either as Prisoners of War or Missing in Action; and, the Vietnam War ended in 1973 and today there are still more than 2,300 POW/MIA's unaccounted for from that war; and
Whereas, there are even civilian POW's who served in the Philippines who are not eligible for POW status; and
Whereas, our service members and former Prisoners of War, who have given their lives for this country, are laid to rest in places known and unknown throughout this country and around the world; and
Whereas, tribute must continue to be paid to those POW's who served the cause of freedom and lost their freedom -- for they know, the price of freedom is never free; and
Whereas, to grant Manuel Noriega Prisoner of War status and the resultant benefits is a travesty and makes a mockery of the sacrifices of our Armed Forces members; and
Whereas, there has not been a recent state of war declaration between the United States and the country of Panama; and
Whereas, Manuel Noriega was not brought to this country as a military prisoner or state official, but rather under federal criminal indictment as a fugitive from the American justice system; and
Whereas, at the present time, American heroes are being held as prisoners of war on foreign soil; and
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, would also like to demonstrate their unwavering support for the members of our Armed Services, especially the POW's and MIA's. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina urges the United States Department of Justice to reexamine its preliminary agreement with Manuel Noriega's attorneys and to deny the Prisoner of War status and any and all related entitlement to Manuel Noriega.
Be it further resolved that the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina urges the United States Department of Justice to treat Mr. Noriega as a suspected criminal, in violation of U. S. Federal drug-trafficking charges.
Be it further resolved that the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina also urges the U.S. Department of Justice to continue to work with the government of Panama to arrive at a waiver to any and all entitlements, benefits, or any type of renumeration, which might result from the granting of Prisoner of War status under the terms of the Geneva Convention of 1949, should that be determined.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Security staff, the presiding officers and the majority and minority leaders of both Houses of the Congress of the United States, to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, to the South Carolina members of the U.S. Congress, and to Mr. John Northrup, Legislative Chairman, South Carolina Department of American Ex-Prisoners of War.