Senate Bill 0132

    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                       SM 132

    By Senator Latvala





    19-56A-00

  1                     Senate Memorial No.     

  2         A memorial to the Congress of the United

  3         States, urging Congress to provide the Florida

  4         Department of Veterans' Affairs with

  5         information available to the United States

  6         Government regarding any Florida resident who

  7         is classified as a United States POW/MIA.

  8

  9         WHEREAS, the men and women of the United States Armed

10  Forces are trained and dedicated to protect the security of

11  our nation, and

12         WHEREAS, these men and women have devoted themselves to

13  the task of protecting our lives and liberty as United States

14  citizens, and

15         WHEREAS, all Americans derive inspiration from the

16  sacrifices that members of the Armed Services have endured

17  during captivity as prisoners of war, and

18         WHEREAS, the courage of the families of those members

19  of the Armed Services who still remain missing or unaccounted

20  for is also a great source of inspiration and admiration for

21  all Americans, and

22         WHEREAS, Americans recognize the special debt of

23  gratitude owed to those who have sacrificed their freedom in

24  the service of our country, and

25         WHEREAS, as a reaffirmation of our commitment to the

26  courageous families of these military personnel, the State of

27  Florida pledges to officially inquire as to the identity of

28  any Florida resident whom the United States Government

29  classifies as a POW/MIA, and

30         WHEREAS, the State of Florida, upon official

31  notification that a Florida resident is classified as a United

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2000        (NP)                       SM 132
    19-56A-00




  1  States POW/MIA, vows to officially act to ascertain

  2  information regarding the POW/MIA's well-being, and to do all

  3  that is within the power of the State of Florida to ensure his

  4  or her safe return, NOW, THEREFORE,

  5

  6  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  7

  8         That the Congress of the United States is requested to

  9  provide the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs with any

10  information available to the United States Government

11  regarding any Florida resident who is classified as a United

12  States POW/MIA in order that the Florida Department of

13  Veterans' Affairs, upon notification that a Florida resident

14  is so classified, may commence official action to ascertain

15  information regarding the POW/MIA's well-being and endeavor to

16  bring about his or her safe return to the United States.

17         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that any information made

18  available to the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs

19  either by the United States Congress or ascertained by the

20  Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs, under the provisions

21  of this memorial shall be accessible to members of the

22  immediate family of the POW/MIA. "Immediate family" is defined

23  as a parent, child, spouse, or any other relative by blood,

24  marriage, or adoption.

25         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

26  sent to the President of the United States, the President of

27  the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States

28  House of Representatives, and to each member of the Florida

29  delegation to the United States Congress.

30

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