Date: 2010-04-13
Speaker: JACKSON LEE (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Speaker. I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1206. "Remembering the victims of the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma. and supporting the goals and ideals of the National Week of Hope." Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative MARY FALLIN for introducing this important piece of legislation into the House of Representatives as it is important that we always remember the men. women and children who lost their lives in the tragic bombing of the Oklahoma City Federal Building. I would also like to recognize Congresswoman FALLIN for her bravery and leadership in the aftermath of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. Just four months after taking her initial oath of office as Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma. Representative FALLIN was faced with this horrible attack. Through her courage and dedication to the people of Oklahoma however. Representative FALLIN successfully worked toward the recovery and reconstruction of groundzero and also formed a task force to rebuild the childcare center lost in the disaster. In one of the most shocking and horrifying terrorist attacks ever directed against the United States homeland. the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma was bombed by homegrown terrorist Timothy McVeigh. leading to the deaths of over onehundred citizens and Federal employees. Timothy McVeigh detonated his homemade bomb in front of the Federal building on the morning of April 19. 1995. just as employees and citizens were arriving at work for the day. The large explosion took the lives of 168 people and injured more than 850 others in the area around groundzero. I deplore in the strongest terms possible this cowardly act of terrorism against the men. women and children in a Federal building. This type of senseless violence is not welcome in our democratic society and we must work to see that this type of action is never allowed to take place again. I would especially like to recognize the fine men and women of the police. fire department and other first responders who provided immediate assistance in the aftermath of the bombing. Because of their courageous actions that day. many lives were able to be saved. As the Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure protection I have consistently worked towards increasing the security in and around Federal buildings most notably through my sponsorship of H.R. 3225. I introduced H.R. 3225 right after 9/11 and pushed for the implementation of a uniform Federal alert standard that would go into effect in the event of an emergency or threat against a Federal or private facility. We must always ensure that the safety of the American people remains our top priority. Furthermore it is vitally important that we continue to work together to protect Federal infrastructure from future attack. Through the passage of this bill. we will help to ensure that the horrible bombing on the Oklahoma City Federal building. and those lost in the attack are never forgotten. We will also ensure that a strong emphasis is put on the protection of Federal infrastructure across the nation and across the globe. I would like to again thank my colleague Representative MARY FALLIN for introducing H. Res. 1206. I ask my colleagues for their support of this legislation as well as their continued support for the families of those lost in the Oklahoma City Bombing and other acts of terrorism. Mr. Speaker. I strongly support H. Res.