On October 21, the United States Senate passed a bipartisan resolution in memory of the crew of the El Faro, which disappeared off the Bahamas during Hurricane Joaquin around October 1.
A crew of 33 was lost at sea. Seventeen were members of the Seafarers Union, 11 belonged to the American Maritime Officers, and five of the missing were Polish nationals.
The text of the resolution follows:
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE SPEECHES AND INSERTS
PAGE S7425
Oct. 21, 2015
HONORING THE LIVES OF THE 33 CREW MEMBERS ABOARD THE “EL FARO”
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 291, submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The bill clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 291) honoring the lives of the 33 crew members aboard the El Faro.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the resolution.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The resolution (S. Res. 291) was agreed to.
The preamble was agreed to.
(The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in today’s Record under “Submitted Resolutions.”)
_________________________________________
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD
SENATE SPEECHES AND INSERTS
PAGE S7414
Oct. 21, 2015
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS: SENATE RESOLUTION 291 —HONORING THE LIVES OF THE 33 CREW MEMBERS ABOARD THE “EL FARO”
Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. NELSON, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. KING, Mr. KAINE, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. CARPER, Mr. COONS, Mr. WARNER, Mr. PERDUE, Ms. WARREN, andMrs. GILLIBRAND) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. RES. 291
Whereas the El Faro departed Jacksonville, Florida for Puerto Rico on September 29, 2015, with 33 crew members aboard; |
Whereas the crew of the El Faro on September 29, 2015, consisted of 28 citizens of the United States and 5 Polish nationals; |
Whereas the El Faro sent distress alerts on October 1, 2015; | |
Whereas members of the Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force valiantly searched for the crew members of the El Faro; and |
Whereas the people of the United States mourn the loss of the 33 seamen aboard the El Faro: Now, therefore, be it |
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) recognizes and honors the lives of the 33 crew members aboard the El Faro who were lost after the El Faro departed on September 29, 2015; |
(2) recognizes the valiant search efforts of the members of the Coast Guard, Navy, and Air Force who searched for the crew members of the El Faro; and |
(3) offers heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and loved ones of the crew members of theEl Faro. |