HR 27 - AS INTRODUCED
2026 SESSION
26-2364
06/08
HOUSE RESOLUTION 27
SPONSORS: Rep. Tom Mannion, Hills. 1; Rep. Barton, Graf. 1; Rep. Gagne, Hills. 16; Rep. Granger, Straf. 2; Rep. Moffett, Merr. 4; Rep. Wheeler, Hills. 33; Rep. Harvey-Bolia, Belk. 3; Rep. Kuttab, Rock. 17; Rep. Noble, Hills. 2
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
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ANALYSIS
This resolution urges New Hampshire's congressional delegation to open an investigation in the United States' response to the USS Liberty incident.
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26-2364
06/08
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty-Six
Whereas, on June 8, 1967, the USS Liberty, a United States Navy technical research ship, was attacked by Israeli jet fighter aircraft and motor torpedo boats in international waters off the northern coast of the Sinai Peninsula during the Six-Day War; and
Whereas, the attack killed 34 American crew members, including naval officers, seamen, 2 Marines, and one civilian NSA employee, and wounded 171 others, representing a casualty rate of approximately 70 percent of the crew; and
Whereas, the USS Liberty was clearly marked with American identification, including a 5-by-8-foot American flag, large white letters and numerals on its hull, and the designation “GTR-5” on its bow and stern, all of which were visible under clear weather conditions on the day of the attack; and
Whereas, the attack, which involved multiple Israeli aircraft conducting strafing runs with rockets, cannon fire, and napalm, followed by torpedo boat attacks, lasted approximately an hour, a duration that is inconsistent with claims of mistaken identity; and
Whereas, survivors of the USS Liberty, including Captain William McGonagle, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the attack, have testified that they were pressured by United States authorities, including threats of court-martial, imprisonment, or worse, to remain silent about the details of the incident; and
Whereas, the United States Naval Court of Inquiry, conducted in 1967, has been described by survivors and some officials, including Captain Ward Boston, counsel to the inquiry, as “shallow” and “perfunctory,” with allegations that it was directed by President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to conclude the attack was a case of mistaken identity despite evidence to the contrary; and
Whereas, the June 28, 1967, Defense Department public summary of proceedings of the Navy Court of Inquiry into the attack stated: "It was not the responsibility of the Court to rule on the culpability of the attackers and no evidence was heard from the attacking nation"; and,
Whereas, in 2005, the Navy's Office of the Judge Advocate General stated: "The Court of Inquiry was the only United States Government investigation into the attack"; and,
Whereas, the New Hampshire house of representatives received testimony from USS Liberty survivors, including but not limited to, before the state-federal relations and veterans affairs committee, detailing their experiences of the attack, the pressure to remain silent, and their belief that the incident was not adequately investigated; and
Whereas, the New Hampshire house of representatives recognizes the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing incidents involving the loss of American lives and the integrity of United States foreign relations; and
Whereas, more than 58 years after the attack, significant documentation remains classified, and the survivors’ calls for a comprehensive congressional investigation have gone unheeded; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the New Hampshire house of representatives urges the United States Congress to conduct a full, transparent, and independent investigation into the attack on the USS Liberty on June 8, 1967, and the subsequent response by the United States government, specifically addressing:
I. The allegations by USS Liberty survivors that they were pressured by United States authorities, through threats of court-martial, imprisonment, or worse, to remain silent about the details of the attack;
II. The claim that the duration of the attack, involving multiple aircraft and torpedo boats over approximately 42 to 60 minutes, was too prolonged to be consistent with mistaken identity;
III. The assertions by multiple crew members that the USS Liberty was clearly marked with American colors, including a visible American flag and hull markings, during the attack;
IV. The declassification and public release of all relevant documents pertaining to the USS Liberty incident to ensure transparency and accountability; and
Let it be further resolved that the New Hampshire house of representatives encourages the Congress to hold public hearings, including testimony from surviving crew members, to address these concerns and provide closure to the families of those killed and wounded; and that copies of this resolution be transmitted by the house clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, and each member of the New Hampshire congressional delegation.
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Jan. 23, 2026 | House | Hearing |
| Jan. 23, 2026 | House | Exec Session |
| Jan. 23, 2026 | House | Floor Vote |
Feb. 5, 2026: Ought to Pass: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3
Jan. 28, 2026: Committee Report: Ought to Pass 01/23/2026 (Vote 13-0; CC) HC 5 P. 17
Jan. 26, 2026: Executive Session: 01/23/2026 10:00 am GP 228
Jan. 14, 2026: Public Hearing: 01/23/2026 10:00 am GP 228
Dec. 1, 2025: Introduced 01/07/2026 and referred to State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs