IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 423 
Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Congressman Leo J. Ryan 35 
years after his tragic death. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 19, 2013 
Ms. WILSON of Florida (for herself, Ms. SPEIER, Ms. CHU, Mr. HONDA, Mr. 
FARR, Ms. ESHOO, Ms. LEE of California, Mr. WAXMAN, Mrs. CAPPS, 
Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. SWALWELL of California, Mrs. 
NAPOLITANO, Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. 
CROWLEY, Mr. MORAN, Mr. BARROW of Georgia, Mr. HASTINGS of Flor-
ida, Mr. DELANEY, and Mrs. LOWEY) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in 
addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subse-
quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Congressman Leo 
J. Ryan 35 years after his tragic death. 
Whereas the Honorable Leo J. Ryan served in the House of 
Representatives from 1972 to 1978 and championed 
causes related to equality, freedom, and human rights; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan, as presiding chairman of the 
California Assembly committee overseeing prison reform, 
entered Folsom Prison in 1970 under a pseudonym in an 
effort to uncover alleged abuses against convicts in Cali-
fornia’s prisons; 
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•HRES 423 IH 
Whereas Congressman Ryan, while serving in the California 
Assembly, chose to serve as a substitute teacher in the 
Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles in order to inves-
tigate the conditions following the Watts Riots; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan, after hearing reports of United 
States citizens being held against their will in a prison 
camp atmosphere within the Guyana settlement of the 
People’s Temple organization, went on a fact finding mis-
sion to Jonestown, Guyana; 
Whereas on November 14, 1978, Congressman Ryan flew to 
Georgetown, Guyana along with a delegation of 18 peo-
ple, including now-Congresswoman Jackie Speier of Cali-
fornia as his legal advisor; 
Whereas on November 18, 1978, Congressman Ryan, 3 jour-
nalists, and a defecting member of the People’s Temple 
were killed by gunfire, which wounded 9 others, including 
Congresswoman Speier; 
Whereas 909 members of the People’s Temple committed sui-
cide shortly after the murders on the airstrip; 
Whereas Congresswoman Jackie Speier had to endure the 
pain of 5 gunshot wounds for more than 22 hours before 
help arrived; 
Whereas Congressman Ryan is one of a small number of 
Members of Congress who have been killed in the line of 
duty; and 
Whereas Congressman Ryan dedicated his life to the cause of 
democracy, freedom, and human rights for the people of 
California, the United States, and the world: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 423 IH 
(1) honors the legacy of Congressman Leo J. 
Ryan for his lifelong commitment to objective fact- 
finding and for his extraordinary commitment to ad-
vancing freedom and basic human rights at home 
and abroad; 
(2) honors the bravery of Congressman Ryan 
and his team members, including now-Congress-
woman Jackie Speier, for undertaking a dangerous 
yet essential fact-finding mission in Guyana; 
(3) extends its condolences to all those affected 
by the Jonestown tragedy; 
(4) reiterates its continued support for the safe-
ty of all government officials traveling on behalf of 
the United States on fact-finding missions; and 
(5) calls upon the Speaker of the House of Rep-
resentatives to establish protocols for memorializing 
Members who die in the line of duty. 
Æ 
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