SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1991-8644

By Senators Thorsness, Nelson, Rasmussen and Oke

     WHEREAS, H.R. 3603, introduced in the United States House of Representatives last year, would have required that United States government agencies disclose information concerning United States prisoners of war and United States military personnel missing in action from World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict; and

     WHEREAS, Although H.R. 3603 was not passed by the United States Congress last year, similar praiseworthy legislation has been introduced this year in the United States House of Representatives (H.R. 1147); and

     WHEREAS, During the last state legislative session, with Senate Joint Memorial 8020, the legislature of the State of Washington was the first state legislature to urge congressional passage of H.R. 3603; thus our state initiated the building trend of over a dozen states that have now officially supported a POW\MIA disclosure law; and

     WHEREAS, Now that the United States and Coalition forces have prosecuted the War to Liberate Kuwait to a highly successful finish; and now that the President of the United States with the constitutional authority of congress conducted the war effort with the highest clarity of goals, and, as such, with the overwhelming support of the American people; and

     WHEREAS, Among the president's goals included a post-war goal of stated primacy:  Achieving the earliest possible release of United States prisoners of war; and

     WHEREAS, While the public reflects upon its recently held concern for war prisoners and its joy upon their return, the time is now to require disclosure of information concerning POW's and MIA's of prior wars, who fought for ideals no less high than those fought for in the Persian Gulf;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That with increased urgency, the Senate of the State of Washington hereby renews its support for legislation requiring the disclosure of information held by United States government agencies concerning United States prisoners of war and military personnel missing in action from World War II, the Korean Conflict, and the Vietnam Conflict; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution and Senate Joint Memorial 8020 (1990) be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.

I, Gordon A. Golob, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1991-8644,

adopted by the Senate April 16, 1991.

GORDON A. GOLOB

Secretary of the Senate