Bring Captain Paul Lorence home!

RESOLUTION

Demanding that Libya return Air Force Captain Paul Lorences remains to the United States so that he may be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery.

Whereas in 1986 the United States was presented with solid proof of Libyan involvement in state sponsored terrorism;

Whereas on April 14, 1986, President Ronald Reagan gave the order to launch Operation El Dorado Canyon in exercise of our right to self-defense under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter;

Whereas Captain Paul Lorence and Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci engaged in a preemptive strike designed to deter future acts of international terrorism and died during one of our countrys most courageous military operations;

Whereas Captain Paul Lorence and Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci delivered a message to radical supporters in the Islamic world that the United States was capable of striking those responsible for conducting terrorist operations while hiding behind state sponsored shields of protection;

Whereas President Ronald Reagan stated during a press conference on May 7, 1986, We were out to damage and destroy those facilities that were making it possible for that particular State under his guidance to back up and support terrorism.

Whereas Libya denied for years the existence of the wreckage of Karma-52 and the remains of Captain Paul Lorence and Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci;
Whereas Pope John Paul II successfully intervened and persuaded Libya to return the remains of Captain Fernando L. Ribas-Dominicci;

Whereas Captain Paul Lorences family and friends have been unsuccessful in persuading Libya to return his remains;

Whereas the family and friends of Captain Paul Lorence have waited almost 20 years to lay him to rest and pay their final respects: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House--

(1) demand that Libya return Air Force Captain Paul Lorences remains to the United States so that he may be laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery; and

(2) direct the Speaker of the House to transmit copies of this resolution to the President, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of State.