III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 381 

Honoring the memory and legacy of Michael James Riddering and condemning the terrorist attacks in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on January 

15, 2016. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 1, 2016 

Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. KIRK) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the memory and legacy of Michael James 

Riddering and condemning the terrorist attacks in 

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso on January 15, 2016. 

Whereas, on January 15, 2016, terrorists perpetrated heinous attacks at the Splendid Hotel, the Cappuccino Cafe ́, 

and the Yibi Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, killing 30 innocent civilians from 18 countries, including 

Burkina Faso, Canada, France, Libya, Switzerland, the 

Netherlands, Portugal, Ukraine, and the United States; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering was the only citizen of the 

United States killed in the terrorist attacks on January 

15, 2016; 

Whereas first responders, including Burkinabe forces, and 

French and United States security personnel, including 


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•SRES 381 IS 

personnel of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and of 

the United States Armed Forces, valiantly and quickly 

assisted with evacuating civilians trapped in the Splendid 

Hotel, transporting civilians to safe locations, and supporting the military of Burkina Faso in securing the area 

around the Splendid Hotel; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering resided in Yako, Burkina 

Faso, was born in Chicago, Illinois, and was raised in 

Fort Lauderdale, Florida; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering was a graduate of Fort 

Lauderdale Christian High School; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering was a businessman, a boat 

builder, and a missionary who led an orphanage, a school, 

and a women’s crisis center in Burkina Faso, and was 

a father, son, husband, brother, and friend; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering and his wife, Amy, worked 

as a part of a team that cared for over 400 orphaned 

children and provided direct assistance to disenfranchised 

widows in Burkina Faso; 

Whereas Michael James Riddering was in the capital, 

Ouagadougou, of Burkina Faso on January 15, 2016, to 

meet a group of missionaries who had arrived from Florida to volunteer for 10 days at the compound that he and 

his wife, Amy, ran in the city of Yako; and 

Whereas the people of the United States stand united with 

the family, friends, and colleagues of Michael James 

Riddering to support the individuals touched by his life 

or affected by his death and to pray for healing, understanding, and peace: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 


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1 (1) strongly condemns the terrorist attacks in 

2 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on January 15, 2016; 

3 (2) honors the memory of Michael James 

4 Riddering, the United States citizen who was killed 

5 in the terrorist attack on the Cappuccino Cafe ́ on 

6 January 15, 2016, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; 

7 (3) recognizes and honors the dedication of Mi8 chael James Riddering, who moved halfway across 

9 the world to work with orphans and widows in order 

10 to help them improve their lives and to contribute to 

11 their communities; 

12 (4) extends sincere condolences and prayers 

13 to— 

14 (A) the family, friends, and colleagues of 

15 Michael James Riddering, particularly his wife, 

16 Amy, and their children, Haley, Delaney, Biba, 

17 and Moise; and 

18 (B) the individuals touched by the life of 

19 Michael James Riddering, including the dedi20 cated aid workers, missionaries, and volunteers 

21 that continue to selflessly engage in important 

22 humanitarian and development efforts; and 

23 (5) pledges to continue to work to counter vio24 lent extremism, including through education and 


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1 community development, in the United States and 

2 abroad. 

Æ 


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