A resolution commemorating the 30th anniversary of the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 174
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2552; text: CR S2571-2572)
- Last Updated
- 2025-05-23T14:53:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 174) commemorates the 30th anniversary of the April 19, 1995, terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It honors the 168 victims (including 19 children), over 850 injured, and the community's response, while highlighting themes of resilience, remembrance, and the "Oklahoma Standard" of kindness and service.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses providing historical context and recognition, followed by 13 specific actions resolved by the Senate:
- Sends condolences, respect, and prayers to families, friends, and neighbors of the victims.
- Recognizes the courage and selflessness of individuals and organizations that provided aid, embodying the "Oklahoma Standard."
- Thanks first responders, rescue workers, medical personnel, volunteers, and others who assisted, including those previously underappreciated.
- Offers thoughts and prayers to survivors with ongoing mental or physical injuries and expresses gratitude for those who recovered.
- Commits to promoting the goals of the Oklahoma City National Memorial, including its inscription on violence's impact and values like comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity.
- Encourages Americans to emulate the bravery, unity, and compassion shown in the response.
- Affirms the importance of memorializing the event to shape national approaches to combating violence, supporting affected individuals, and inspiring hope.
- Congratulates Oklahoma City on 30 years of progress and resilience.
- Applauds the community as a global example of goodness overcoming evil.
- Directs the Secretary of the Senate to send an enrolled copy to the Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation as a token of appreciation.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding commemorative resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws, statutes, or policies. It serves solely as an expression of Senate sentiment and remembrance.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: Encourages reflection on tragedy, promotes values of resilience and compassion, and may foster community events or education around the memorial, potentially aiding survivors' networks and annual commemorations like the memorial marathon.
- On government agencies: Minimal direct impact, but reinforces federal support for national memorials and could indirectly influence funding or awareness for disaster response training.
- On international relations: Symbolic, as the memorial attracts global visitors; it highlights U.S. resilience to inspire worldwide audiences, with no formal diplomatic effects.
Overall, the impacts are primarily cultural and inspirational, strengthening national unity without enforceable obligations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Victims' families, survivors, and injured individuals: Receive formal condolences and recognition of their ongoing struggles.
- Oklahoma City community and residents: Honored for their recovery efforts and the "Oklahoma Standard," with the resolution supporting local institutions like the Survivor's Network.
- First responders, volunteers, and aid organizations: Acknowledged for their heroism, including local, state, tribal, federal, nonprofit, faith-based, and civic groups.
- Oklahoma City National Memorial Foundation: Directly benefits from the Senate's transmission of the resolution and commitment to its mission.
- Broader U.S. public: Encouraged to adopt lessons of unity and anti-violence efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: None, as this resolution has no legal force and does not amend laws or allocate resources.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express sentiments (Article I), with no conflicts; it underscores free expression and remembrance without infringing on rights.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan Senate support (introduced by Senators Lankford and Mullin from Oklahoma), potentially boosting morale in the state and reinforcing anti-terrorism themes in national discourse. It may politically symbolize federal solidarity with domestic tragedy responses, influencing public policy discussions on resilience and memorials.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S2552; text: CR S2571-2572)
- 2025-04-10: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Commemorating the 30th anniversary of the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (7 pages)