Lugar, Kerry Resolution Honoring Ambassador Stevens, Other Victims and Condemning Libya Violence Passes Senate Tonight

Lugar, Kerry Resolution Honoring Ambassador Stevens, Other Victims and Condemning Libya Violence Passes Senate Tonight

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Contact: Jodi Seth (Kerry) 202-487-1431, Jodi_Seth@kerry.senate.gov
Andy Fisher (Lugar) (202) 224-2079, Andy_Fisher@lugar.senate.gov

WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate tonight passed a resolution by Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Richard Lugar (R-Ind.),  Chairman and Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, commending the four American public servants who died in Benghazi, Libya, including U.S. Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the American people. The resolution, S.Res.551, also condemned the violent attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi.
“The deaths of Ambassador Stevens and his team are heartbreaking. It's easy for a lot of people to forget that our diplomats are on the frontlines of the world's most dangerous places and they're there trying to make the world a safer and better place at great risk to themselves and their families,” said Sen. Kerry today. “The violence in Cairo and Benghazi is unacceptable and unjustifiable. The stupidity of one filmmaker, no matter how offensive, is not now, and never, a rationale for violence. A despicable act like this hurts us all –Americans and peaceful people who aspire to build their own democracy.  President Obama has appropriately committed the United States to bringing the perpetrators of this attack to justice, and I am confident that this is precisely what the United States Government will do.”
The full text of the Resolution is below:

112TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
S. RES.551
Commending the 4 American public servants who died in Benghazi, Libya, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the American people and condemning the violent attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Mr. LUGAR (for himself and Mr. KERRY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
RESOLUTION
Commending the 4 American public servants who died in Benghazi, Libya, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, for their tireless efforts on behalf of the American people and condemning the violent attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi.
Whereas on September 11, 2012, 4 American public servants, including United States Ambassador to Libya, John Christopher Stevens, and Sean Smith, were killed in a reprehensible and vicious attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya;
Whereas Ambassador Stevens—
(1) was a courageous and exemplary representative of the United States;
(2) had spent 21 years in the Foreign Service;
(3) was deeply passionate about representing the United States through his diplomatic service; and
(4) was an ardent friend of the Libyan people;
Whereas Ambassador Stevens served as Special Envoy to the Libyan Transitional National Council in Benghazi during the 2011 Libyan revolution;
Whereas Ambassador Stevens was a dear friend of the Senate, having served on the staff of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate in 2006 and 2007 as a distinguished Pearson Fellow;
Whereas Foreign Service Information Management Officer
Sean Smith—
(1) was a husband and a father of 2 children;
(2) joined the Department of State 10 years ago; and
(3) had served in the Foreign Service, before arriving in Benghazi, in Baghdad, Pretoria, Montreal, and The Hague;
Whereas the 2 other individuals from Ambassador Stevens’ team who perished in the attack made great sacrifices and showed bravery in taking on a difficult post in Libya;
Whereas the violence in Benghazi coincided with an attack on the United States Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, which was also swarmed by an angry mob of protesters on September 11, 2012;
Whereas on a daily basis, United States diplomats, military personnel, and other public servants risk their lives to serve the American people; and
Whereas throughout this Nation’s history, thousands of Americans have sacrificed their lives for the ideals of freedom, democracy, and partnership with nations and people around the globe.
Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) recognizes the dedicated service and deep commitment of the 4 American public servants, inlcluding Ambassador John Christopher Stevens and Sean Smith, in assisting the Libyan people as they navigate the complex currents of democratic transition marked in this case by profound instability;
(2) praises Ambassador Stevens, who represented the highest tradition of American public service, for his extraordinary record of dedication to the United States’ interests in some of the most difficult and dangerous posts around the globe;
(3) sends its deepest condolences to the families 14 of those American public servants killed in Benghazi;
(4) commends the bravery of Foreign Service17 Officers, United States Armed Forces, and public servants serving in harm’s way around the globe and recognizes the deep sacrifices made by their families; and
(5) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the despicable attacks on American diplomats and public servants in Benghazi and calls for the perpetrators of such attacks to be brought to justice.