Senate approves bin Laden resolution honoring Obama, Bush

The Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution hailing those responsible for killing Osama bin Laden. 

The resolution hashed out by leaders in both parties names both President Obama and former President George W. Bush, as well as members of the civilian government, military and intelligence community for their work in finding bin Laden, who was killed by U.S. special operations forces on Sunday. 

The resolution declares "the death of Osama bin Laden represents a measure of justice and relief for the families and friends of the nearly 3,000 men and women who lost their lives on September 11, 2001."

To reflect the symbolic importance of the vote, senators each individually rose and cast their vote in favor of the resolution when they were called, a formality the Senate rarely uses. 

The vote was 97-0 with only Sens. Daniel Akaka (D-Ha.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) missing the vote. Former Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) resigned from the Senate on Monday and has not yet been replaced.