Remembering the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola and commemorating those who lost their lives, and those who were injured, in the line of duty.

Remembering the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola and commemorating those who lost their lives, and those who were injured, in the line of duty. Whereas December 6, 2023, the 4-year anniversary of the terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola (referred to in this preamble as the terrorist attack (1) Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson of Enterprise, Alabama; (2) Petty Officer Third Class Mohammed Sameh Haitham of St. Petersburg, Florida; and (3) Petty Officer Third Class Cameron Scott Walters of Richmond Hill, Georgia; Whereas the 3 servicemembers who died in the terrorist attack were posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and the Purple Heart; Whereas the terrorist who committed the terrorist attack was a Saudi Arabian foreign military student who had been radicalized and established contacts with Al Qaeda operatives prior to attending flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola; Whereas Naval Air Station Pensacola security forces and Escambia County, Florida, law enforcement officers took decisive action to end the terrorist attack and have rightly earned the praises and awards bestowed upon them; Whereas 2 civilians were awarded the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Medal for Valor for their heroic actions during the terrorist attack; Whereas 8 individuals were awarded the Purple Heart, or the law enforcement equivalent, for injuries sustained during the terrorist attack; Whereas 9 military personnel were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for their heroic actions during the terrorist attack; Whereas 8 military personnel were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for their heroic actions during the terrorist attack; Whereas 8 law enforcement officers were awarded the Medal of Valor for their actions taken during the terrorist attack; and Whereas December 6, 2023, marks 4 years since the lives of 3 military personnel were tragically cut short by the egregious act of terrorism at Naval Air Station Pensacola: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate (1) condemns the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola (referred to in this resolution as the terrorist attack (2) commemorates in sorrow the servicemembers and civilians who lost their lives, or who were injured, and the harm caused to the surrounding community, as a result of the terrorist attack; (3) remembers Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Petty Officer Third Class Mohammed Sameh Haitham, and Petty Officer Third Class Cameron Scott Walters, who were killed in the terrorist attack; (4) expresses gratitude for the heroic actions that the civilians, uniformed personnel, and law enforcement performed during and in the aftermath of the terrorist attack; (5) lauds the decision to give medals and awards to the law enforcement officers, uniformed servicemembers, and civilians who responded heroically on the morning of December 6, 2019; and (6) commends the efforts undertaken by the Department of Defense to enhance security at military installations to ensure that the tragedy represented by the terrorist attack is never repeated.

Summary: This resolution condemns the December 6, 2019, terrorist attack at Naval Air Station Pensacola and commemorates the service members and civilians who lost their lives or were injured in the attack. Additionally, the resolution remembers Ensign Joshua Kaleb Watson, Petty Officer Third Class Mohammed Sameh Haitham, and Petty Officer Third Class Cameron Scott Walters, who were killed in the attack. Finally, the resolution commends (1) the decision to give medals and awards to the law enforcement officers, uniformed service members, and civilians who responded to the attack; and (2) the efforts undertaken by the Department of Defense to enhance security at military installations.