South Carolina General Assembly
117th Session, 2007-2008

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Bill 415

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AS ADOPTED BY THE SENATE

March 22, 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 3/22/07--S.    [SEC 3/23/07 3:02 PM]

Read the first time February 7, 2007.

            

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO URGE THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TO DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT AND EXPEDITIOUS SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES SOLDIERS WHO ARE CAPTURED BY ANY OPPOSING FORCE WITH AN APPROPRIATE AND UNIFORM DESIGNATION, ENSURES THAT ALL NECESSARY ACTIONS ARE TAKEN TO ADVOCATE THEIR FAIR AND HUMANE TREATMENT WHILE CAPTURED, AND PROVIDES CARE AND COMPASSION TO THE SOLDIERS' FAMILIES AND ENSURES CONTINUITY OF ENTITLED BENEFITS.

Whereas, our fighting men and women of the armed services are one of our country's most valuable assets, and when placed in harm's way, they face a multitude of dangers, including, but not limited to, being captured by an enemy force; and

Whereas, in the Global War on Terrorism, the enemies that our soldiers face are less likely to be comprised of soldiers of sovereign governments that are signatories to the Geneva Convention that are required to bestow Prisoner of War status and provide the treatment obligated by that status; and

Whereas, in response to a soldier being captured, the Department of Defense should do everything in its power to ensure that the soldier receives fair and humane treatment from any enemy force, and ensure that every action is taken in an efficient and expeditious manner to provide care and comfort to the soldier's family; and

Whereas, captured soldiers' families are often confused by the bureaucratic process by which soldiers are designated as Missing/Captured, and what if any difference this designation has with a designation of Prisoner of War by a foreign government; and

Whereas, Congress should require the Department of Defense to develop an efficient and expeditious system that avoids the use of confusing and conflicting terms, eliminates unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, and provides soldiers who are captured by any opposing force with an appropriate and uniform designation, ensures that all necessary actions are taken to advocate their fair and humane treatment while captured, and provides care and compassion to the soldiers' families and ensures continuity of entitled benefits. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the General Assembly urge the United States Congress to require the Department of Defense to develop an efficient and expeditious system that provides soldiers who are captured by any opposing force with an appropriate and uniform designation, ensures that all necessary actions are taken to advocate their fair and humane treatment while captured, and provides care and compassion to the soldiers' families and ensures continuity of entitled benefits.

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