CLINTON, LAUTENBERG, MENENDEZ, SCHUMER HONOR THE
VICTIMS OF PAN AM FLIGHT 103 ON 20th ANNIVERSARY OF TRAGEDY Senate Passes Resolution Honoring Victims of
Lockerbie, Scotland Bombing WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate recently approved a
resolution Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ),
Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sponsored to honor the victims
of Pan Am Flight 103. The measure, the Twentieth Anniversary of Remembrance for
the Victims of the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 Day, passed unanimously. "The passing years have not diminished the
sorrow or the pain of this great tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the
families and friends of the Pan Am 103 victims today, as they have been for two
decades. The bombing over Lockerbie cut short the lives of so many, including
35 Syracuse University students, and we honor their memory with this
resolution," Sen. Clinton said. "Twenty years ago, tragedy struck over Lockerbie,
Scotland. Hundreds of families from New Jersey, across the country, and around
the world lost a loved one that awful day. Today, we honor their memory and vow
to continue to do everything in our power to bring all who commit terrorist
acts against innocent Americans to justice," said Sen. Lautenberg. Sen. Menendez said: "Twenty years have passed
since terrorists took hundreds of innocent lives aboard Pan Am Flight 103, but
their families in New Jersey and across the country will never forget, and neither
will we. We have stood up for the families to make sure that there is some
measure of justice. The victims' memories must be honored both in tribute and
in action against those who have done our nation harm and would do our nation
harm in the future." "On December 21, 1988, a tragedy took place over
Scotland that claimed the lives of many New Yorkers and Americans across the
country," Sen. Schumer said. "This measure will ensure that we
continue to honor the memory of the 270 lost during this heinous terrorist act
and that we continue to focus on preventing attacks in the future." On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 was destroyed
over Lockerbie, Scotland by a bomb placed by Libyan terrorists, killing 270.
December 21, 2008 will mark the twentieth anniversary of this tragedy. In 2003, Libya accepted responsibility for the Pan Am
attack and reached an agreement with the victims' families. However, Libya
failed to complete its obligation to the families under that agreement. On October 31, 2008, Libya deposited into a United
States account the final amounts it owed to settle the Pan Am 103 case. Libya's
satisfaction of these obligations was facilitated by the Libyan Claims
Resolution Act, which was passed by Congress and signed into law in August 2008.
Honoring
the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on the twentieth anniversary of
the tragedy. (Agreed to by Senate) SRES
727 ATS 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S.
RES. 727 Honoring
the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on the twentieth anniversary of
the tragedy. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December
9, 2008 Mrs.
CLINTON (for herself, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. SCHUMER, and Mr. MENENDEZ) submitted
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to T RESOLUTION Honoring
the victims of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 on the twentieth anniversary of
the tragedy. Whereas,
on December 21, 1988, 259 passengers and crew members on board Pan American
Airways flight 103, and 11 people on the ground in Lockerbie, Scotland, were
killed by a terrorist's bomb; Whereas
189 people of the United States and nationals from 20 other countries were
victims of this heinous attack; Whereas
the families and friends of the victims of this tragedy have suffered
immeasurable losses; Whereas
people around the world actively have worked to diminish the possibility of
future terrorist attacks; Whereas
in 2003, Libya accepted responsibility for Libyan officials' involvement in the
bombing of Pan Am flight 103, denounced terrorism, and vowed to abandon its
weapons program; Whereas,
on October 31, 2008, almost 20 years after the terrorist attack, Libya
completed delivery of long-awaited compensation to the families of the victims
of the bombing of Pan Am flight 103; and Whereas
nothing can replace the loved ones lost in the attack, and the United States
must never forget the victims of this crime: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates
December 21, 2008, as `Twentieth Anniversary of Remembrance for the Victims of
the Bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 Day'; and (2) conveys the
most sincere condolences to the families, friends, and communities of the
victims of the attack on Flight 103. |