A resolution calling on the Department of Defense, other elements of the Federal Government, and foreign governments to intensify efforts to investigate, recover, and identify all missing and unaccounted-for personnel of the United States.

Bill: 115-sres-61
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. McCain, John [R-AZ]
Introduced: 2017-02-15
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Conflicts and wars

Government studies and investigations

International organizations and cooperation

Military personnel and dependents
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-15
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1220-1221)

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-02-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Calls upon: (1) the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, other elements of the Department of Defense and the federal government, and all foreign governments to intensify efforts to investigate, recover, identify and account for all missing and unaccounted-for U.S. personnel; and (2) all foreign governments with information on missing U.S. personnel, or with missing U.S. personnel within their territories, to cooperate fully with the U.S. government to provide the fullest possible accounting for all missing U.S. personnel.</p>

tv_txt: III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 61 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 15, 2017 Mr. McCain submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION Calling on the Department of Defense, other elements of the Federal Government, and foreign governments to intensify efforts to investigate, recover, and identify all missing and unaccounted-for personnel of the United States.

Whereas more than 83,000 personnel of the United States are still unaccounted-for around the world from past wars and conflicts; Whereas, though recognizing that an estimated 50,000 of these World War II personnel, were lost deep at sea and are unlikely ever to be recovered, thousands of families and friends have waited decades for the accounting of their loved ones and comrades in arms; Whereas the families of these brave Americans deserve our Nation’s best efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting for their missing loved ones; Whereas the National League of POW/MIA Families, and their iconic POW/MIA flag, pioneered the accounting effort since 1970 and has been joined in this humanitarian quest for answers by the Korean War, Cold War and World War II families, fully supported by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, Jewish War Veterans, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Special Forces Association, Special Operations Association, Rolling Thunder, and other more recently formed groups, and thousands of families are yearning and advocating for answers concerning the fates of their loved ones and comrades in arms; Whereas the mission of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency of the Department of Defense is to provide the fullest possible accounting for missing members of the Armed Forces of the United States, designated civilians of the Department, and other designated personnel; and Whereas the recovery and investigation teams of the Department of Defense deploy to countries around the world to account as fully as possible for these missing and otherwise unaccounted-for personnel of the United States: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) calls upon the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency and other elements of the Department of Defense, other elements of the Federal Government, and all foreign governments to intensify efforts to investigate, recover, identify and account as fully as possible for all missing and unaccounted-for personnel of the United States around the world; and (2) calls upon all foreign governments with information on missing personnel of the United States, or with missing personnel of the United States within their territories, to cooperate fully with the Government of the United States to provide the fullest possible accounting for all missing personnel of the United States.