Bob Dole: “today I rise, with my colleagues, Senator Simpson, Senator Lautenberg, and Senator Lieberman, to introduce the Missing…”

“today I rise, with my colleagues, Senator Simpson, Senator Lautenberg, and Senator Lieberman, to introduce the Missing Service Personnel Act of 1995. This legislation is similar to that which was introduced last year but which the Congress was unable to consider before adjournment. The legislation would reform the Department of Defense's procedures for determining whether members of the Armed Forces should be listed as missing or presumed dead. Legislation pertaining to those missing in action has not changed in the past 50 years. Since the Vietnam war, the Department of Defense and the U.S. Government have been criticized for their handling of the POW/ MIA issue. Some of that criticism is legitimate. Some of it has been brought upon the Government by its own actions or inactions. This bill attempts to correct most of those problems and establish a fair and equitable procedure for determining the exact status of such personnel. At the same time, it is my hope that we might restore some of the Department's credibility on this issue and rebuild faith and trust between the public and our Federal Government. This bill attempts to ensure that missing members of the Armed Forces or civilian employees accompanying them are fully accounted for by the Government and that they are not declared dead solely because of the passage of time. The legislation would establish new procedures for determining the whereabouts and status of missing persons.”