H. Res. 184

In the House of Representatives, U.S.,

April 20, 2005.

Whereas on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. central daylight

time in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, America was attacked

in one of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil,

killing 168 and injuring more than 850 Americans;

Whereas this dastardly act of domestic terrorism affected

thousands of families and horrified millions of people

across the State of Oklahoma and the United States;

Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States responded to this tragedy through the remarkable efforts of

local, State, and Federal law enforcement, fire, and emergency services, search and rescue teams from across the

United States, public and private medical personnel, and

thousands of volunteers from the community who saved

lives, assisted the injured, comforted the bereaved, and

provided meals and support to those who came to Oklahoma City to help those endangered or otherwise affected

by this terrorist act;

Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States

pledged themselves to create, build, and maintain a permanent national memorial to remember those who were

killed, those who survived, and those changed forever;
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Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial draws hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world

every year to the site of this tragic event in American

history;

Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial brings comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity to the many visitors who come to the memorial and museum each year

to remember and to learn about this tragic event;

Whereas the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of the

Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City,

Oklahoma, is on April 19, 2005; and

Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial will commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist bombing by

recognizing the week of April 17–24, 2005, as the National Week of Hope, which will include a day of faith,

a day of understanding, a day of remembrance, a day of

sharing, a day of tolerance, a day of caring, and a day

of inspiration, and the annual Oklahoma City Memorial

Marathon, A Run to Remember: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) joins with all Americans to send best wishes and

prayers to the families, friends, and neighbors of the 168

people killed in the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P.

Murrah Federal Building;

(2) thanks the thousands of first responders, rescue

workers, medical personnel, and volunteers from the

Oklahoma City community and from communities

around the Nation who answered the call for help that

April morning and in the days and weeks that followed;
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(3) sends best wishes and thoughts to those injured

in the bombing, and expresses gratitude for their recovery;

(4) resolves to stand with all Americans to promote

the goals and mission established by the Oklahoma City

National Memorial as stated in the following mission

statement of the memorial: ‘‘We come here to remember

those who were killed, those who survived, and those

changed forever. May all who leave here know the impact

of violence. May this memorial offer comfort, strength,

peace, hope, and serenity.’’;

(5) encourages Americans to observe a National

Week of Hope—

(A) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of

the Oklahoma City bombing; and

(B) to allow each American to participate in an

event each day of that week to teach a lesson

that—

(i) hope can exist in the midst of political

violence;

(ii) good endures in the world even among

those who commit bad acts; and

(iii) there is a way to resolve differences

other than by resorting to terrorism or violence;
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(6) congratulates the people of Oklahoma City for

making tremendous progress over the past decade and

for demonstrating their steadfast commitment to such

lessons; and

(7) applauds the people of Oklahoma City as they

continue to persevere and to stand as a beacon to the

rest of the Nation and the world attesting to the

strength of goodness in overcoming evil wherever it

arises.

Attest:

Clerk.