Bill Text: IL HR0809 | 2009-2010 | 96th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizes the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women in the United States military and urges all relevant United States military officials to reconsider the charges brought against U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe, and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-2)

Status: (Passed) 2010-01-13 - Added Co-Sponsor Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia [HR0809 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2009-HR0809-Introduced.html

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HR0809 LRB096 17136 GRL 32461 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Since the commission in 1962 of the United States
Navy Sea, Air and Land Forces, commonly known as the Navy
SEALs, the organization's members have distinguished
themselves as a highly-skilled and disciplined maritime force
and have played a significant role in U.S. military operations
around the world, including the current wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Among the members of the Navy SEALs are 3
courageous men who have honorably served our nation in a time
of war, including tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan; Petty
Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe, originally of Perrysburg,
Ohio, served on the amphibious assault ship Belleau Wood before
training in special warfare; Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan
Keefe, originally from Yorktown, Virginia, enlisted in 2006 and
began his SEAL training that same year; and Petty Officer 1st
Class Julio Huertas, originally from Blue Island, Illinois, who
enlisted in 1999 and has served in special warfare units since
2002; and
WHEREAS, Recently, these 3 Navy SEALs were arraigned and
are facing court martial after a detainee complained to Iraqi
authorities that he suffered a "bloody lip" while in the
custody of Americans; and

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WHEREAS, After the 3 SEALs refused to accept non-judicial
sentences, they were charged with dereliction of duty and
making a false statement; in addition, Petty Officer McCabe was
charged with one count of assault on a detainee and Petty
Officer Huertas was charged with impeding an investigation; and
WHEREAS, The charges stem from an incident in early
September of 2009 after the 3 Navy SEALs captured and allegedly
punched in the stomach Ahmed Hashim Abed, a man believed to be
the mastermind behind the killing and mutilation of 4 United
States contractors in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004; and
WHEREAS, In light of the widespread belief that these
charges are the result of an overly sensitive reaction by
military officials to allegations of detainee abuse, there has
been a great outpouring of support for the 3 SEALs, including a
campaign led by several members of the United States Congress
urging U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to intervene in
this matter; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
recognize the sacrifices made by our brave servicemen and women
in the United States military and the extraordinary
circumstances they encounter in combat environments every day;

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and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge all relevant United States military
officials to reconsider the charges brought against U.S. Navy
Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe, Petty Officer 2nd Class
Jonathan Keefe, and Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
presented to U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and the
members of the Illinois congressional delegation.