IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 117

Expressing sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers of Veronica

‘‘Roni’’ Bowers and Charity Bowers.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MAY 1, 2001

Mr. HOEKSTRA (for himself, Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania, Mr. GEKAS, Ms.

PELOSI, Mr. EHLERS, Mr. UPTON, Ms. KILPATRICK, Ms. RIVERS, Mrs.

JO ANN DAVIS of Virginia, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. FLAKE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr.

BALLENGER, Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. SMITH of Michigan, Mr.

BLUMENAUER, Mr. KNOLLENBERG, Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma, Mr. PITTS,

Mr. CAMP, Mr. OSE, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. MICA, Mr. DAVIS of Florida, Mr.

BEREUTER, Mr. TANCREDO, and Mr. CANTOR) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

MAY 1, 2001

The Committee on International Relations discharged; considered and agreed

to

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing sympathy to the family, friends, and co-workers

of Veronica ‘‘Roni’’ Bowers and Charity Bowers.

Whereas James and Veronica ‘‘Roni’’ Bowers of Muskegon,

Michigan, served as missionaries affiliated with the Calvary Church of Fruitport, Michigan, and the Association

of Baptists for World Evangelism;
2

•HCON 117 IH

Whereas the Bowerses conducted their Christian mission

work with their children, Cory and Charity, serving the

native tribes along the Amazon River in Peru since 1995;

Whereas on Friday, April 20, 2001, the Bowerses were flying

in an Association of Baptists for World Evangelism plane

piloted by Kevin Donaldson, traveling from the PeruBrazil border to the city of Iquitos, Peru, after attempting to secure necessary visa documents for their adopted

daughter, Charity;

Whereas the plane was mistakenly attacked by a fighter jet

of the Peruvian Air Force in an apparent attempted antidrug interdiction effort that may have also involved personnel of the United States;

Whereas Roni and Charity Bowers were killed, and pilot

Kevin Donaldson was severely injured in the attack;

Whereas Kevin Donaldson, despite his injuries, was able to

safely land his plane on the Amazon River, saving the

lives of his other passengers; and

Whereas the family, friends, and co-workers of Roni and

Charity Bowers have displayed a shining example of their

faith and grace in the face of this terrible tragedy: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) expresses and conveys its deepest and most

3 heartfelt sympathies to Jim and Cory Bowers and to

4 their extended families, friends, co-workers, and fel5 low missionaries at the Association of Baptists for

6 World Evangelism, for the loss of Veronica ‘‘Roni’’

7 Bowers and Charity Bowers in an attack by a fight-
3

•HCON 117 IH

1 er jet of the Peruvian Air Force on the plane in

2 which they were traveling;

3 (2) commends Kevin Donaldson for his heroic

4 actions in safely landing the plane and wishes Mr.

5 Donaldson a speedy and complete recovery from his

6 injuries; and

7 (3) strongly encourages the Governments of the

8 United States and Peru to work together as expedi9 tiously as possible to determine all the circumstances

10 that led to this unfortunate and regrettable incident

11 and to ensure that an incident of this kind never oc12 curs again.

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