IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 156
Commending the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. on securing the release
of Specialist Steven Gonzales of Huntsville, Texas, Staff Sergeant An-
drew Ramirez of Los Angeles, California, and Staff Sergeant Christopher
Stone of Smiths Creek, Michigan, from captivity in Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MAY 3, 1999
Mrs. MEEK of Florida submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Commending the Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. on securing
the release of Specialist Steven Gonzales of Huntsville,
Texas, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez of Los Angeles,
California, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone of
Smiths Creek, Michigan, from captivity in Belgrade,
Yugoslavia.
Whereas, on March 31, 1999, Specialist Steven Gonzales,
Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, and Staff Sergeant
Christopher Stone were captured while on patrol along
the border of Kosovo and Macedonia;
Whereas all diplomatic efforts to secure their release were un-
successful;
Whereas Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., on April 29, 1999,
led a delegation of religious and civic leaders from the
United 
States, 
including 
Representative 
Rod 
R.
Blagojevich, in a faith-based effort to secure the release
of Specialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ra-
mirez, and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone;
Whereas against great odds and in the face of grave personal
risks, Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. and his party entered
a war zone and successfully secured the release of Spe-
cialist Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez,
and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone;
Whereas Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. has successfully secured
the release of prisoners in other countries on several pre-
vious occasions—in 1984 he secured the release of
United States Navy flyer, Lieutenant Robert O. Good-
man, Jr. from Syria, in June 1984, he secured the re-
lease of 22 United States citizens and 26 Cubans from
Cuba, and in 1990 he secured the release of 700 women
and children who were being detained in Iraq;
Whereas Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. is recognized around the
world as a humanitarian, an advocate for civil and
human rights, and an ambassador of freedom; and
Whereas, as a highly respected world leader, Rev. Jesse L.
Jackson, Sr. has acted many times as an international
diplomat in sensitive situations and in October 1997, he
was appointed by President Clinton and Secretary of
State Albright as Special Envoy of the President and
Secretary of State for the Promotion of Democracy in Af-
rica: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives—
(1) commends Reverend Jesse L. Jackson, Sr.
for securing the release of Specialist Steven
Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, and Staff
Sergeant Christopher Stone from captivity in Bel-
grade, Yugoslavia;
(2) expresses its gratitude to Rev. Jesse L.
Jackson, Sr. and his delegation for securing the re-
lease and safe return of Specialist Steven Gonzales,
Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez, and Staff Sergeant
Christopher Stone; and
(3) joins with the people of the United States
in celebrating the return to freedom of Specialist
Steven Gonzales, Staff Sergeant Andrew Ramirez,
and Staff Sergeant Christopher Stone.
Æ