Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter
COMMITTEE REPORT
March 20, 2007
S. 415
Introduced by Senators Cleary, Ryberg, Ritchie, Knotts, Leventis, O'Dell, Malloy, Mescher, Cromer, Lourie, Patterson, Matthews, Vaughn, Pinckney and Thomas
S. Printed 3/20/07--S.
Read the first time February 7, 2007.
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (S. 415) to urge the United States Congress to require the Department of Defense to reinstate the terminology of "Prisoner of War" or "POW" into the casualty status and category, etc., respectfully
That they have duly and carefully considered the same and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:
Amend the concurrent resolution, as and if amended, page 2, by striking line 7 and inserting:
/ "Prisoner of War" or "POW-MIA" into the casualty status and category /
Renumber sections to conform.
Amend title to conform.
THOMAS C. ALEXANDER for Committee.
TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO REINSTATE THE TERMINOLOGY OF "PRISONER OF WAR" OR "POW" INTO THE CASUALTY STATUS AND CATEGORY CLASSIFICATION OF MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Whereas, for many years the Department of Defense used the terminology of "Prisoner of War" to describe military personnel's casualty status and category for reporting purposes; and
Whereas, the Department of Defense's current verbiage of "Missing/Captured" dramatically reduces the impact of reports and alters the responses from national and international organizations which have historically interceded in such cases; and
Whereas, the nature of war has changed markedly and permanently, and rather than change accordingly to provide maximum protection of all we send in harm's way, our government has established requirements that are too specific to be workable, too vague to be applicable, or too confusing to achieve understanding; and
Whereas, the protection which should be automatically afforded to those in harm's way is seriously eroded with the "Missing/Captured" classification; and
Whereas, American service men and women are not disposable items, and their security and well being are more significant than the concerns, goals, sensitivities, and idiosyncrasies of our enemies, or of any other nation. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, by this resolution, urge the United States Congress to require the Department of Defense to reinstate the terminology of "Prisoner of War" or "POW" into the casualty status and category classification of military personnel.
This web page was last updated on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 2:49 P.M.