# Plain Language Summary: USS Pueblo Resolution

This resolution is about a Navy ship called the USS Pueblo that North Korea captured over 50 years ago and still has today. On January 23, 1968, North Korean forces attacked and seized the ship in international waters without any provocation. During the attack, one American sailor named Petty Officer Duane Hodges was killed, and the other 82 crew members were imprisoned under brutal conditions for nearly a year before being released. The ship itself has remained in North Korean hands ever since, where it's been put on display in cities as a trophy and propaganda tool.

The resolution does two main things. First, it officially declares that the USS Pueblo still belongs to the United States Government and that North Korea's seizure of the ship, the murder of the sailor, and the mistreatment of the crew violated international law. Second, it urges the President and Secretary of State to make getting the ship back a priority whenever they negotiate with North Korea.

It's important to understand what this resolution actually does and doesn't do. It's not a law that forces any action—it's essentially Congress expressing its position and asking the President to push for the ship's return during diplomatic talks. There's no enforcement mechanism, no funding attached, and no military action authorized. The practical impact depends entirely on whether the President decides to prioritize this issue in negotiations with North Korea. For most Americans, this won't directly affect their daily lives, but it represents a symbolic effort to recover a piece of American military history and honor the crew members who suffered during the capture.

Seeking the return of the USS Pueblo to the United States Navy.

Boebert, Lauren

This resolution declares that the USS Pueblo is the property of the U.S. government and that the murder of Petty Officer Duane Hodges and the inhumane captivity of American troops were in violation of international law. The resolution also urges the President to make the return of the USS Pueblo essential in discussions with North Korea. (North Korea captured the USS Pueblo on January 23, 1968.)