SENATE RESOLUTION 681--RELATING TO THE LIFE AND DEATH OF CHUCK NORRIS

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Record: Senate Floor
Section type: Floor speeches
Chamber: Senate
Date: April 20, 2026
Congress: 119th Congress
Why this source matters: This section came from the Senate floor portion of the record.

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Bills and resolutions: S.Res. 681 (119th Congress)

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Mr. LANKFORD (for himself and Mr. Armstrong) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

S. Res. 681

Whereas Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris was born in Ryan,

Oklahoma, on March 10, 1940, and passed at the age of 86 on

March 19, 2026, in Hawaii;

Whereas, at age 12, Norris moved to Torrance, California;

Whereas, in 1958, Norris enlisted in the United States Air

Force and was given the occupational specialty of air police,

now called Air Force Security Forces;

Whereas Norris spent 1 year at an Air Force base in Arizona

and then deployed to Osan Air Base in South Korea;

Whereas, while stationed in South Korea, Norris learned the

disciplines of Judo and Tang Soo Do, eventually earning a

black belt in Karate;

Whereas, in 1962, Norris was honorably discharged from the

military and resumed Judo training;

Whereas, in 1968, Norris won his first Professional

Middleweight Karate Champion title;

Whereas, in 1968, Norris made his acting debut in “The

Wrecking Crew”;

Whereas, in 1972, Norris starred in his first major film,

“The Way of the Dragon,” alongside Bruce Lee;

Whereas, in 1974, Norris decided to retire from martial

arts after winning his sixth consecutive Professional

Middleweight Karate Championship;

Whereas Norris continued to act in more than 20 movies,

including “Missing in Action,” “The Delta Force,” and

“Sidekicks”;

Whereas, in 1993, Norris made his television debut in the

series “Walker, Texas Ranger” and starred in the series for

9 seasons;

Whereas, in 2005, Norris reprised his role as Ranger

Cordell Walker, starring in “Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by

Fire”;

Whereas Norris started a charitable organization called

“Kickstart” to provide martial arts training to middle-

school students, teach them respect and discipline, and

improve their self-esteem;

Whereas, in 1990, Norris created a new martial arts style

called “Chun Kuk Do”;

Whereas, in 2001, Norris received the Veteran of the Year

Award from the United States Air Force;

Whereas Norris paid his respects to veterans, oftentimes

visiting troops overseas;

Whereas, in 2007, Norris was made an honorary marine by

Marine Corps Commandant General James T. Conway;

Whereas, in 2010, former Texas Governor Rick Perry named

Norris an honorary Texas Ranger, and in 2017, the Texas

Senate named Norris an honorary Texan for his role in

“Walker, Texas Ranger”;

Whereas Norris was known for both his inspirational and

humorous quotes, including—

(1) “When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior, it changed

my life forever.”;

(2) “There is no substitute for hard work. Always be

humble & hungry.”; and

(3) “When the boogeyman goes to sleep he checks the closet

for me.”; and

Whereas Norris leaves behind his wife, Gena, children, and

grandchildren: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate—

(1) has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the

announcement of the death of Chuck Norris; and

(2) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate

communicate this resolution to the House of Representatives.

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