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Rep. McDermott Leads House Congressional Action on India Resolution
House
Co-Chair of India Caucus Pledges Strong U.S. Support for India
December 11, 2008
At the urging of Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), co-chair of the
Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, and other House leaders, the U.S. House of
Representatives last night passed a resolution condemning the recent attacks in
Mumbai.
The House passed H. Res. 1532 by unanimous consent and Rep.
McDermott said the vote demonstrated America’s
strong and unwavering support for India,
especially in this time of crisis: “We
spoke with one voice, as one Democratic nation to another Democratic nation,
making clear our support for India
and our condemnation of this unprovoked attack,” Rep. McDermott said. “I said at the time and I say again, today we
are all Indian, and we stand by your side just as you stood by America on
9/11.”
The resolution condemns the attacks in the strongest
possible language, expresses condolences to India and the people directly affected, pledges all appropriate U.S. support and assistance to aid India in pursuing the people responsible, and
recognizes Pakistan’s statements and pledge to conduct a thorough investigation. The full text of the resolution appears
below.
Immediately after the attacks, Rep. McDermott personally
wrote to Indian Prime Minister Singh to personally express his dismay over the
attacks, and to ensure that he and all of India knew the U.S. would be a strong and faithful friend, and render any and all assistance.
H.RES.1532
Condemning the
November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and expressing sympathy to the innocent
victims from India and around the world. (Introduced in House)
HRES 1532 IH
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1532
Condemning the
November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and expressing sympathy to the innocent
victims from India and around the world.
IN THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
December 9, 2008
Mrs. MCCARTHY of New
York (for herself, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. ROYCE, Mr.
WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. COHEN, Mr. PASCRELL,
Mr. WEINER, Mr. DICKS, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. HIGGINS, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. MATHESON, Ms.
MCCOLLUM of Minnesota, Mr. CARDOZA, Ms. LEE, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. BURTON
of Indiana, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. KIRK, Mr. WU, Mr. KENNEDY, Ms. HARMAN,
Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. CUMMINGS,
Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. NADLER, Mr. MOORE of Kansas, Mr. HOLT, Mr. CARNEY,
Mrs. MILLER of Michigan, Mr. MURPHY of Connecticut, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON
of Texas, Mr. HODES, Mr. LANGEVIN, Ms. SUTTON, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. GUTIERREZ,
Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. SHIMKUS, Mr. ROTHMAN, Mr. LINDER, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr.
PALLONE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. MCNERNEY, and Mr. PASTOR) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Condemning the
November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and expressing sympathy to the innocent
victims from India and around the world.
Whereas, on November
26, 2008, coordinated and cowardly acts of violence were carried out throughout Mumbai, India, the country's financial
capital and largest city;
Whereas teams of
gunmen stormed various locations throughout Mumbai, including two prominent
hotels, a local cafe, a Jewish outreach center, a hospital, a railroad station,
and a cinema, shooting and torturing their victims and setting off grenades and
explosives along the way;
Whereas after 60
hours of terror, these attacks were successfully brought to an end on November
29, 2008, by the Indian government;
Whereas media
outlets are currently reporting hundreds of injured victims and 172 fatalities,
including 6 Americans;
Whereas President
George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama immediately condemned the
Mumbai attacks and extended their condolences and the support of the American
people to all Indians;
Whereas this is the
second large-scale terrorist attack in Mumbai since the July 2006 train
bombings;
Whereas India has
long been ravaged by similar attacks over the past few years in other large
Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad, as well as
by attacks abroad, most recently at the Indian Embassy in Kabul;
Whereas India has
been a strong partner of the United States in combating violent extremism and
offered immediate support to the United States after the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001; and
Whereas the United States> and India are both multicultural,
multiethnic, multi-religious democracies that oppose terrorism in all its forms
and will continue to work steadfastly to overcome terrorist ideologies and to
promote international peace and security: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the
House of Representatives--
(1) condemns in
strongest terms the senseless and barbaric November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks
in Mumbai, India;
(2) expresses its
condolences to the families and friends of those individuals from India and
abroad who were killed in the attacks and expresses its deepest sympathies to
those individuals who have been injured;
(3) joins with
President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama in expressing the
solidarity of the people and Government of the United States with the people and
Government of India at this difficult time;
(4) vows its support
and readiness to provide all appropriate assistance and resources to the
Government of India as it works to bring the terrorists responsible for the
November 26, 2008, attacks to justice;
(5) expresses its
desire for improved coordination between the United
States and India, with the goal of combating
terrorism and advancing international peace and security;
(6) rejects any
effort to confuse or associate the horrific attacks on Mumbai with a particular
people or faith as a whole;
(7) notes the
Government of Pakistan's condemnation of the attacks and welcomes that government's
call for a thorough investigation;
(8) calls upon the
Government of Pakistan to--
(A) work in full
cooperation with the Government of India to ensure all those responsible are
brought to justice; and
(B) prevent its
territory from serving as a safe-haven and training ground for terrorists; and
(9) calls upon
nations around the world to renew and strengthen efforts to--
(A) defeat
terrorists by dismantling terrorist networks, restricting the financing of such
networks, and exposing the violent and intolerant ideology of terrorism;
(B) increase
international cooperation to advance personal and religious freedoms, ethnic
and racial tolerance, political liberty and pluralism, and economic prosperity;
(C) combat extremist
ideology and the social injustice, oppression, and poverty that breeds
terrorism; and
(D) make all
appropriate international law enforcement, intelligence, and other resources
available to the Government of India to support a full investigation of the
horrific terror attacks according to international legal standards.
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