[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4458-H4465]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CONDEMNING THE BOMBING IN OKLAHOMA CITY
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on
the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of the
resolution (H. Res. 135) condemning the bombing in Oklahoma City, and
ask for its immediate consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the resolution.
The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:
H. Res. 135
Whereas on Wednesday, April 19, 1995, a car bomb exploded
outside the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City,
Oklahoma, collapsing the north face of this 9-story concrete
building, killing and injuring innocent and defenseless
children and adults;
Whereas authorities are calling this the ``deadliest
terrorist attack ever on United States soil'';
Whereas Federal law provides for the imposition of the
death penalty for terrorist murder; and
Whereas additional antiterrorism measures are now pending
for consideration in the United States House of
Representatives: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the heinous
bombing attack against innocent children and adults at the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City;
(2) sends its heartfelt condolences to the families,
friends, and loved ones of those whose lives were taken away
by this abhorrent and cowardly act; and expresses its hopes
for the rapid and complete recovery of those wounded in the
bombing;
(3) applauds all those courageous rescue and volunteer
workers who are giving unselfishly of themselves, and
commends all law enforcement officials who are working
determinedly to bring the perpetrators to justice;
(4) supports the President's and the United States Attorney
General's position that Federal prosecutors will seek the
maximum penalty allowed by law, including the death penalty,
for those responsible;
(5) commends the rapid actions taken by the President to
provide assistance to the victims of the explosion and for
promptly beginning an investigation to find the perpetrators
of this crime, and it urges the President to use all
necessary means to continue this effort until the
perpetrators and their accomplices are found and
appropriately punished; and
(6) will expeditiously approve legislation to strengthen
the authority and resources of all Federal agencies involved
in combating such acts of terrorism.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas] is
recognized for 1 hour.
general leave
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on
House Resolution 135.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, for the purposes of debate only, I yield 30
minutes to my friend and colleague, the senior member of the Oklahoma
House delegation, the gentleman from Oklahoma, [Mr. Brewster], pending
which I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I truly wish the first bill that I had managed on the
House floor would have been anything other than the resolution that we
have before us today. I would like to thank the leadership on both
sides of the aisle for allowing the House to consider this measure in
such an expeditious manner. Over the next hour we will talk of lost
innocence, tragedy, death, resilience, human spirit, and rebuilding. I
thank my colleagues for taking part in this debate.
Mr. SPEAKER, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
(Mr. BREWSTER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that we have this
resolution before the House today. I wish we were not here. I wish the
tragic disaster that happened last April 19, had not happened. The
deadliest terrorist attack that ever happened on America's soil
happened in Oklahoma city.
This cowardly act killed more than 138 people, including 15 children.
Over 40, including 4 children are still missing. Over 465 people were
injured in the blast.
Mr. Speaker, it becomes very personal when you see and know the
individuals affected. I have lost friends, and many of my friends have
lost loved ones. I have attended memorial services and seen the pain--
undescribable pain--on these innocent faces. Children who have lost a
parent; parents who have lost their children. Families torn apart from
the senseless act of terrorism.
The healing process will be long and difficult. Just today, Mr.
Speaker, I read a letter written by one of the victims of the bombing.
Susan Farrell, a 37-year-old attorney for HUD who grew up in Chandler,
OK, was in the building during the explosion. She had written me only 2
days before the bombing asking for support for the Legal Services
Corporation.
The shock waves from this cowardly act will long be felt in the heart
of Oklahomans, and in the heart of Americans. April 19 has been burned
into our history books as a day to remember the lives lost, the
children who never saw another birthday, the families who felt the
pain, and the innocence left behind in Oklahoma.
Mr. Speaker, today I stand proud to be an Oklahoman. Countless
volunteers and workers have donated much of their time to help those
suffering and help in the relief effort. I recall listening to those
early news reports that continued to praise Oklahomans for being so
kind, and reporting with shock that these citizens reached out with
everything they had to help the victims. I was not surprised at the
outpouring of love and support. Oklahomans are a proud and honorable
people.
I want to also recognize the outpouring of all Americans. Relief
groups traveled from all over the country to help Oklahomans in their
time of need. Those people, and their efforts will not be forgotten.
It has been additionally heartwarming to hear the remarks by
President Clinton, Rev. Billy Graham, Gov. Frank Keating and his wife
Cathy, and Mayor Ron Norick throughout this tragedy. All have reached
out to comfort and console those families and let them know this evil
act will not be forgotten.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution today expresses our condolences,
sympathies, and prayer for the families of the victims, to the injured
and also for the deceased. We pray for them and we want them to know of
our outrage for the crime and our compassion for those individuals as
well.
The resolution states our strong support for the President and the
law enforcement officials who are doing everything within their power
to apprehend and try and punish those people who are responsible, and
it states that we support the President and the Attorney General as
they say this is certainly a case in which the death penalty is
appropriate.
This resolution also goes further to thank the volunteers and the
countless people who have put so much into easing the pain.
In the aftermath of this terrible tragedy, we must be very careful
not to go too far as we respond legislatively. We cannot be too careful
when considering legislation which impacts every American--balancing
constitutional rights with protections needed to prevent this
[[Page H4459]] event from happening again should be weighed very
carefully
Mr. Speaker, I urge this House to first focus on finding those people
responsible and punish them as swiftly as possible. I also urge this
House to show compassion and assistance for the families whose lives
have been shattered by this blast, and for those families who still
have loved ones missing in the wreckage. And, finally I urge this House
to thank and support the law enforcement officers, rescue workers, fire
officials, volunteers, political leaders and so many other tireless
efforts by all Americans.
We want them to know we support them and appreciate their efforts. We
appreciate the sacrifices they made to show that good can overcome
evil. I think we have seen that in my State. I am very proud of
Oklahoma, and our country, as a result.
{time} 1300
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5\1/2\ minutes to my colleague, the
gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Istook].
Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, everyone who was in this country in 1941
knows where they were on Pearl Harbor day. Everyone knows where they
were when the Challenger blew up as it was launched from Cape
Canaveral. And everyone in Oklahoma will always know where they were at
9:02 in the morning on April 19, 1995.
The shock from that blast was felt as far as 55 miles away. I myself
was in a building 8 miles away and people were afraid from the shaking
of it that it was going to come down as well.
We have all seen the depictions on TV, in the newspapers and in
magazines about what happened there, but it does not capture it. If
anyone on this floor has not seen some of the pictures, I have brought
a collection. But nothing can convey what really occurred and to how
many people it happened.
But if you see someone from Oklahoma with tears in their eyes right
now, you cannot tell when it is tears of sorrow and when it is tears of
pride. For our State, our city, our community has united like I believe
no one has ever seen before in the face of a common disaster.
When the workers came in, and we are so grateful they did, from
nearby Maryland here, from Virginia, from California, from Arizona,
from Minnesota, from Texas, from all over this country, they came
together with help, and we say thank you. To the brave workers who were
there on the scene, people passing by on the street that rendered
immediate aid, that did not worry about danger to themselves, that
rushed into the building that was still in the process of collapsing,
and while there were fires still burning from cars that had exploded in
the chain reaction of the blast, we say thank you.
A plane full of doctors on their way to a meeting in Texas turned
around and came back to help with the disaster victims. Medical
personnel were called all over.
Mr. Speaker, the sad thing was, after the first rush of over 400
injured people to the hospitals, they kept waiting. They kept waiting
in the emergency rooms, they kept waiting in the downtown area. They
kept waiting for more victims of about 200 people still known to be
missing and, Mr. Speaker, the other injured never came, because they
were the ones whose bodies were left shattered and torn in the rubble.
Our city has responded with outreach to the families, to the ones
left behind. People could not all be rescue workers, could not all go
down and dig through the rubble, could not all be part of the
investigation. So they said, what do you need? Do you need people to go
out and comfort the families? We'll do it. Do you need to take care of
the rescue workers? We'll do it. Not out of Government response but
just from private citizens.
About 100,000 meals were donated, from all over the community. If the
rescue workers needed something to pick through the rubble, whether it
be shovels, whether it be leather gloves, knee pads because they had to
crawl through, flashlight batteries to try to dig through the cavern
underneath, they just mentioned it, and it materialized downtown. No
procurement process, no worry about payback. Just private citizens
trying to do everything they could to help.
This is the spirit of brotherly love that we believe in in Oklahoma.
We are grateful that all political differences were set aside. When we
held a memorial service a week ago Sunday, the President and First Lady
came in, half of the Cabinet came in, and they were received out of the
respect of their concern for us and the dignity that is due their
office.
About 20,000 Oklahomans came together, only 11,000 could fit in the
building, the rest had to wait outside, to honor the dead, their
families, our State, our city, and our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, it was not just the Federal building. We have probably
19 buildings in downtown Oklahoma City that are going to have to be
razed because of the structural damage. We have hundreds of others with
degrees of damage because that was how tremendous the blast was.
One of the saddest things may be that a church immediately across the
street to the east of the Federal building, in the midst of the
shattered stained glass windows and the crumbling brick, they have had
to take a church, a house of God, a house of worship, a house of
prayer, and use it as the morgue to take care of the victims.
Mr. Speaker, I wear a ribbon and all true Oklahoma people are wearing
ribbons in honor of the things that are being done. We want to say
thank you.
We want to say thank you for everything everyone has done. If you
come to Oklahoma City, and I hope and pray that you will have an
occasion to do so, to meet the people that fit the title of being in
the heartland of America, you will find that in addition to all the
ribbons flying, there are signs all over our town, and they say God
bless Oklahoma City.
Mr. Speaker, I know He does. It says above you there and above the
flag, in God we trust. Mr. Speaker, there is no other way we could have
made it. We want to thank the Lord, as well as the people of this
country, for the blessings that He has given us to make it through.
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
California [Ms. Harman].
Ms. HARMAN. Mr. Speaker, I join all my colleagues, particularly those
from Oklahoma, in condemning of the bombing of the Federal office
building in Oklahoma City and in support of this resolution.
To the families and friends of the victims, I extend my heartfelt
sympathies and those of every resident from California's South Bay. To
the thousands of rescue workers who combed through the destruction
looking for trapped individuals, I extend deepest thanks and
appreciation for a job well done.
The gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. istook] has eloquently acknowledged
and thanked many States for sending help. Among the rescue workers
descending on Oklahoma City were two Torrance, CA fire fighters, Mark
Andersen and Ian Burnett. Like hundreds of others, both men put their
lives and safety at risk searching the devastation for victims of the
bombing.
But while other workers exhausted themselves cutting re-bar with bolt
cutters in their search for survivors, Andersen and Burnett easily
sliced through the re-bar using Life Shears, a cutting tool developed
by Hi-Shear Technology Corp., also of Torrance. The 20-pound, 18-inch
long tool originally was designed for the military to cut
communications cables. Andersen worked with Hi-Shear to adapt it to
fire and rescue work. It uses a bullet-like propellant to shoot a sharp
blade through the re-bar.
Rescue workers from other agencies were dazzled by the tool, so much
so that the Federal Emergency Management Agency requested 40 additional
Life Shears be sent to the bombing site. FEMA also advised other fire
departments nationwide to buy the tool.
Funding for the development of Life Shears came from the Technology
Reinvestment Program [TRP]. It is one of the many examples of the
application of defense technology to civilian use.
Out of this tragedy came stories of heroism, selflessness, and
compassion. It also became the venue for demonstrating technologies
that can save lives.
Mr. Speaker, let's hope we can prevent incidents of this enormity,
but let's also pledge to be prepared in the event of any future natural
or human-made devastation. In doing so, we can
[[Page H4460]] save lives and ease the difficult burden of rescue
workers.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. Watts].
Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, the tragedy in Oklahoma City is
the most horrific act of terrorism and violence ever to have occurred
within the borders of our great Nation. I have been at the site several
times and I have seen the destruction firsthand.
Yesterday afternoon I made a few remarks at the funeral of a dear
friend, Clarence Wilson, who was the general counsel for HUD there in
Oklahoma City. We lost more than two dozen residents in my district,
including an 18-month-old child in Chickasha, OK.
My heart goes out to all the victims and all the people that are
involved in this tragedy. Nothing can replace the loss, and only a lot
of time, love, and prayers can begin to heal the wounds.
As the father of five healthy, vibrant children, I cannot imagine
anything worse than losing a child. The sight of the fireman carrying
Baylee Almon will be forever etched in the minds of Americans.
In the face of tragedy, once again the heart of this great Nation is
shown to be strong and compassionate. The whole country has unified to
support us, and the relief efforts have been tremendous. The support
for our emergency service people, police, the fire, EMSA, Red Cross,
the FBI, has been overwhelming. This has to be one of the most
unifying, coordinated efforts we have ever seen.
I saw America firsthand from a bird's-eye view. I saw America respond
not as Republicans or Democrats, not as rich or poor, not as black or
white, not as man or woman, but I saw this country respond in a
difficult time as Americans.
I want to say thank you, America, from the bottom of our collective
hearts. If the perpetrators of this crime meant to send us a message,
we have one for them: We will seek you out, and make sure you pay for
the senseless tragedy.
As a member of the Committee on National Security, I will work to
make sure our security is strong within this country as well as strong
outside of this country.
However, one note of caution. During a senseless tragedy such as
this, we must avoid recklessly affixing blame on people or groups who
might be convenient targets for finger-pointing. This crime is being
investigated by the appropriate law enforcement authorities and they
will bring the perpetrators to justice.
{time} 1315
We cannot allow the insanity of a few to become a justification for
watering down the Bill of Rights. In short, we need to ensure that
Washington-based elitists don't use this situation as a pretext for
declaring open season on those with opposing views or God forbid--
establishing a police state.
If we succumb to the fear, the bomber will have won. If we politicize
the situation, the bomber will have won. If we abrogate our civil
liberties and trample the Constitution, the bomber will have won. If we
live with constant second-guessing and paranoia, the bomber will have
won. If we allow people to label those with opposing views as
hatemongers, the bomber wins. If we can't declare with resounding
unanimity that this is still the greatest place in the world to live,
the bomber will have won. We cannot allow the bomber to win.
Mr. Speaker, I've never been more proud to be an Oklahoman and an
American and I ask God with a prayerful heart, to give this Congress
and the President the wisdom and understanding to act responsibly and
decisively in the coming weeks to do our best to try and ensure that
this will never happen again. I urge support for this resolution.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. Coburn].
Mr. COBURN. Mr. Speaker, I have sat and listened to my colleagues say
the things that need to be said, and to recognize both the tragedy as
well as the compassion that came about through this land as a result of
the bombing in Oklahoma City.
I would reinforce what has been said in terms of our reaction, that
it should be measured and based on facts and not on emotion.
But I think most of all what we should recognize is what has happened
to us with this bombing. One of the things we have done is we have
devalued life in this country and we have brought it to a point where
we no longer will value the lives of the very people that worked to
make this country great.
Those that brought about this tragedy will be found and punished. But
we should all reflect and have some introspection on what has happened
to us as a society as we have devalued life both at the beginning and
at the end.
Oklahoma will recover. Hearts will be scared and lives will be lived
out in the memory of these individuals. But let it not be for naught.
Let this be a turning point where we recognize that these people are no
longer with us because of the loss of respect for human life.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Pennsylvania [Mr. Weldon].
(Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WELDON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, first I want to thank our
colleague from Oklahoma, Mr. Lucas, for offering this resolution. I
rise in strong support.
Mr. Speaker, for the last 9 years in this Congress I have worked the
issues of fire and life safety and emergency response and have been on
every major disaster the country has had, from the Loma Prieta
earthquake, the wildland fires, Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew, the World
Trade Center bombing, but perhaps none has been more outrageous than
the recent disaster in Oklahoma City. It is the worst from the
standpoint of the outrage, Mr. Speaker, because of the way it was done,
because of the victims upon whom this disaster was perpetrated.
But the thing in each of these incidents and every major incident
that the country faces every day is the same, and that is the
dedication and tenacity of the emergency response officials in this
country. One and one-half million men and women across America from
Chief Morris from the Oklahoma fire department and Assistant Chief John
Hansen were there to answer the question.
Last Wednesday evening, as we have done for the last 7 years, we
honored the national fire emergency responders, with 2,000 leaders from
across the country at the Hilton here in Washington. We did a live
video linkage with the mayor and the chief emergency response officials
from Oklahoma City as we gave them our highest award, paying
recognition for the work that they have done. They are typical of the
emergency response community in this country and we need to recognize
them.
But, Mr. Speaker, there are lessons that we need to learn from these
incidents. Following the World Trade Center bombing, Mr. Speaker, I
wrote to President Clinton and asked him to convene a special task
force on disasters in America, especially those that are caused by
terrorism.
The House responded. We convened a bipartisan task force that met for
5 months last year and came up with specific recommendations.
The day after the Oklahoma City disaster I again wrote to President
Clinton. Mr. Speaker, I include that letter in the Record at this
point.
The letter referred to follows:
Congress of the United States,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, April 20, 1995.
President William Clinton,
The White House,
Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. President: In light of the tragic bombing in
Oklahoma City, I write to urge that you convene a White House
Conference on Disaster Preparedness and Response and appoint
a Presidential Task Force to follow up with recommendations
for legislative and administrative action.
As founder of the Congressional Fire and Emergency Services
Caucus, I have long advocated the improvement of federal
disaster mitigation and response. I believe we must look at
the situations which we have faced in past disaster
scenarios--from the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City to
the California earthquake and the Midwest floods--and apply
the ``lessons learned'' to future planning and response
efforts.
Following the bombing of the World Trade Center, I called
for the creation of Disaster Task Force and laid out several
recommendations of my own. You may recall
[[Page H4461]] that Governor Mario Cuomo endorsed those
proposals. I also urged federal action on disaster response
after the California Earthquakes, Florida hurricanes and
Midwest floods. Congress responded by establishing a
bipartisan Disaster Task Force on which I served. The Task
Force produced numerous recommendations for improving
national disaster mitigation and response.
As a result of these past efforts, FEMA is today far better
organized and prepared to deal with crises than it has been
in the past. I appreciate the Administration's support for
reform, and applaud you for the accomplishments to date.
However, as recent events indicate, much remains to be done.
We must build on the progress we have made and undertake a
broader, more comprehensive review to address a full range of
disasters.
We now need to bring together top disaster planning experts
from across the nation with policy makers from all levels of
government so that we can craft recommendations for
increasing coordination of federal, state and local efforts
in mitigating and responding to natural and manmade
disasters, including those provoked by terrorists. I look
forward to your leadership and support in this regard.
Sincerely,
Curt Weldon,
Member of Congress.
In that letter I asked the President to convene a White House
Conference on Disasters, with a special focus on terrorism, to be
followed by a White House executive committee that would work to
implement legislative and administrative changes to allow us to better
respond to disasters like this around the country.
Mr. Speaker, FEMA has improved, and the Federal Government has
improved, in the way that we assist local officials, but much more has
to be done, much more can be learned, and I would hope that the best
tribute that we could pay to all of those who fell victim to this
terrorist act in Oklahoma City would be to put into place a process
through which we can improve the ability for emergency responders to
deal with similar situations in the future.
Because, Mr. Speaker, we know there is going to be another time, we
know there is going to be another disaster, we know there is going to
be another bombing, and we have to be prepared to mitigate, to deal
with, respond to, and pay for those disasters, and the best way to do
that is to conduct an ongoing review and make comprehensive
recommendations about that response process.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for yielding me the time.
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Maryland [Mr. Hoyer].
Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for
yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I join in the sadness and sorrow of the gentleman from
Oklahoma, and I rise to express my strong support for this resolution
that condemns the bombing attack on the men, women, and the children of
the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City.
This resolution sends a message that the Congress joins with the
administration, no resolution can send it as strongly as every Member
feels it or as every American feels it, but support for using all
necessary means to find and bring to justice all those responsible for
this unspeakable act.
As a member of the Committee on Appropriations I want to express my
commitment to providing whatever resources are necessary to bring all
those responsible to justice. And let no one be uncertain that
punishment for anyone else who might try such as act in the future will
also be swift and as severe as the law allows.
My prayers and the prayers of everybody in this Chamber and
throughout this country are with the victims in Oklahoma, with their
families, and with their friends and with their colleagues.
As a longtime supporter of our Nation's civil service, I am
especially saddened, Mr. Speaker, by the horrific impact that this
tragedy has had on the more than 500 Federal employees who worked at
that building, and almost 2 million more who work around this country
on behalf of their fellow citizens.
In my view, Mr. Speaker, Federal workers are one of our Nation's
greatest assets. This ironically is Public Service Recognition Week,
that special week each year when we recognize the enormous contribution
that public employees at all levels of government make to the national
well-being.
Like the Federal buildings scattered throughout the Nation, the
Murrah Building was a microcosm of government. The jobs there reflect
the broad spectrum of services that Americans expect from the Federal
Government:
One hundred twenty-five workers at a Housing and Urban Development
office to help citizens realize the greatest of Americans dreams--home
ownership and affordable housing.
Sixty-one Social Security Administration employees getting benefits
out and resolving questions and problems for the citizens of Oklahoma.
At least 11 of those employees are dead, along with many of the
estimated 35 members of the general public who were in the Social
Security Administration office at the time of the blast.
Twenty-five Federal Highway Administration employees keeping
transportation projects so critical to our economy and to our citizens
on track.
Twenty-two Department of Agriculture employees giving aid and
information out to farmers so that all Americans can have affordable,
healthy food.
Seventeen Marine Corps employees who I am confident never thought
that their little Oklahoma recruiting office would be blown up as if it
were in a war zone. I understand that a group of New York firemen who
had joined in the rescue effort, who are also Marine reservists,
saluted as they carried one of their own from beneath the crushed
concrete.
And perhaps, Mr. Speaker, most disturbing, the law enforcement
officials who were stationed in the Murrah Building from the Secret
Service, the Customs Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and,
yes, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. ATF employees
stationed in the building not only assisted
in the rescue efforts but have worked with ATF's two national response
teams that were deployed to Oklahoma City immediately after the
bombing.
These are not nameless, faceless bureaucrats as some would project to
the American public or folks that are just the enemy who we want to get
who are what we want to undermine, get ride of them. America relies on
these heads of families, these mothers of children, these children of
others.
Their desire, Mr. Speaker, is to serve and is exemplified by an
incredible news clip shared with me by the Department of the Army.
Written by Tonya Riley-Rodriguez, it reads:
He stood beneath a tree which survived the blast and took a
long drink of bottled water.
I'm going to be here until they all--come home, ``said
Staff Sgt. Don M. Majors, a U.S. Army nurse recruiter.
I have worked in this building for 5\1/2\ years, and I knew
everybody.''
He slipped a surgical mask back up to his sweat-and-dirt-
covered face, ineffectually wiped at a streak of plaster on
his forehead, and turned to go under the collapsed building
again. He wasn't sure how long he had been searching that
day. ``Maybe 13 or 14 hours,'' he offered.
Mr. Speaker, this is the type of dedication we have seen from so many
people in Oklahoma City since April 19. It is the spirit that so many
Federal workers bring to their job day after day.
As we pass this resolution condemning this horrible act in Oklahoma
City, I hope that all Members of this body will join with me in
recognizing the tremendous commitment of Federal employees in Oklahoma
City and across this Nation. And, yes, remember the brave citizens of
Oklahoma and Oklahoma City. They are our brothers and they are our
sisters, and if they are attacked, we are attacked. They are fellow
Americans.
Let them know in Oklahoma that we are with them, let them know in
Oklahoma, my friends who represent that great State, that we will march
with you side by side to ensure their safety and to ensure that
whatever is within our ability to make them whole, and only God can do
that, of course, we will do.
I thank the gentleman for his time.
{time} 1330
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Missouri [Mr. Gephardt], the distinguished minority
floor leader.
[[Page H4462]] (Mr. GEPHARDT asked and was given permission to revise
and extend his remarks.)
Mr. GEPHARDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to urge my colleagues to
support this resolution, to express the profound sadness and anger of
this House at the bombing which shook Oklahoma City on April 19.
Mr. Speaker, none of us in this Chamber can fully comprehend the pain
and sorrow of those who lost friends, loved ones, and even precious
young babies at the hands of the terrorists. To them, our words mean
little, if anything. But hopefully our deeds will not, and we must
pledge every measure of support and justice of which we are capable.
But the fact is for all that was taken from us in Oklahoma City 13
days ago, there were many things that can never be taken away, the
courage of those who risked their lives to come to the aid of the
victims, the fierce determination of the Government workers and
rescuers who showed us by their service that there is something more
meaningful in all of this than the poison of the violence and the
destruction.
Mr. Speaker, the attack on Oklahoma City may have been un-American,
but the outpouring of support and help and prayer was uniquely
American. It showed a strength of spirit that cannot be dulled by any
injustice or any evil intent.
But make no mistake, what happened in Oklahoma was an unforgivable
act of cold-blooded cowardice. There is no posture or principle which
justifies the ruthless killing of innocent people and innocent
children. There is no cause or commitment which excuses random death
and destruction.
This is why we have to do more than just convict those responsible
for this act of violence and bringing them to swift and certain severe
punishment. We must serve warning to all who would use extremist means
to advance their extremist thoughts and ideas: We will use the full
force of our laws to find them, to punish them and rid our society of
their hateful acts, and when those laws are not enough, we will write
tough new laws to rein in their wanton bloodshed and terrorism.
So I urge all of our Members to stand together to voice our outrage
at this hateful action, and then with the U.S. Congress truly united in
spirit, with our hands joined and our commitment clear, we can get down
to the real business at hand, providing the relief that the victims of
Oklahoma City deserve, and then passing the laws that will help make
such atrocities a closed chapter in our Nation's history.
As the father of three children, I cannot imagine, I cannot imagine
the sorrow of the parents and the relatives of those children. This has
to be the worst act of violence in the history of our country.
It must not stand. We must find the good in this evil act, and I will
work tirelessly with all of our Members on both sides of the aisle to
make good of this great evil.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Oklahoma [Mr. Largent].
Mr. LARGENT. Mr. Speaker, I have always been proud to call myself an
Oklahoman, and Okie born and bred, but I do not think I have ever been
prouder than since the time of the bombing, to see the outpouring of
love and compassion not only for the families who lost loved ones in
the Murrah Federal Building, but also for the compassion, love, and
concern that has been shown by Oklahomans for rescuers that have come
in to risk their lives in a rescue effort to find those that still
might be found under the crumbling concrete and twisted steel, willing
to risk life and limb to go in there, and the compassion that has been
shown not only by Oklahomans but for Americans all across the country
has reinstilled my faith in the things that have made this country
great.
In fact, I think that it has proven once again that it is oftentimes
in tragedy like this that the American spirit is galvanized once again.
Mr. Speaker, I would just like to say that my prayer for Oklahoma, in
fact, for this entire country is that in reaction to the bombing that
took place on April 19 that we would not recoil in fear, a desperate
reaction to a desperate act, that we would not recoil in fear but, in
fact, we would step out in faith as a
reaction to this tragic occurrence, that we would reaffirm our faith
in a free and open society, that we would recognize that the price of
our freedom is also responsibility, that there is no greater country,
no freer country, no more prosperous country in the history of this
world than the United States.
In closing I would say that our prayers are with those families who
lost loved ones April 19, that they, too, would be surrounded by the
peace that passes all understanding.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am a proud fifth generation Oklahoman. My family has
tilled and toiled in the soil of western Oklahoma for over 90 years.
When you come to Oklahoma, you will encounter big-hearted folks who
will meet you with a smile and a warm greeting on a downtown sidewalk.
We Oklahomans are known for our perseverance, fortitude, and our
compassion.
We have weathered great droughts, the Great Depression, feast and
famine, business boom and bust. Our mettle has been tested, our
endurance challenged in good times as well as the bad. Never have these
attributes been more evident on a local or international stage than in
the past 13 days.
On Wednesday morning, April 19, at 2 minutes after 9 o'clock,
America's heartland lost its innocence. The bombing in downtown
Oklahoma City was a cowardly act of tragic proportions with no
justification.
Mr. Speaker, I come here today to ask all of my colleagues to join me
in expressing outrage at and condemnation of the bombing of the Alfred
P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City.
I pray for the hundreds of injured and their families, friends, and
loved ones. I pray for the rescue teams, the doctors, the nurses,
firefighters, police officers, and other volunteers from all across the
Nation who came at their own expense and who continue to work
tirelessly to this very hour. These are truly God's chosen people for
Oklahoma at this time.
And, yes, I pray for our Nation that we might be able to heal.
So now, Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in sending a
message of heartfelt condolences to the families of the 140 that have
been confirmed lost and the dozens still missing among the rubble.
I, like you and the Nation as a whole, will never forget that scene
of devastation, the death, the suffering, and, most of all, the
innocent children. I cannot begin to express the heartbreak and sense
of helplessness one feels when faced with such a gruesome scene.
Many mothers, fathers, grandparents, spouses, and some children are
still missing, making it difficult, if not impossible, for our families
and communities as a whole to bring this disaster to a close.
So many wonderful, productive lives were destroyed. Although we know
the children who thought they were safe in the haven of that day care
center on the site are in God's arms now, I pray for their families.
These were vibrant lives, some of considerable accomplishment, others
with so much potential yet to be realized, senselessly and needlessly
snuffed out for no just or conceivable reason.
Let us express our hopes for a rapid and complete healing of the
wounded.
Let us join in commending the rapid response taken by the President
to provide assistance to the victims and aid to our battered city. We
commend his resolve and prompt action in the investigation, to seek,
find, and apprehend the perpetrators of this act.
Let us join together and send a strong and unambiguous message to any
individual or group who may contemplate another such massacre in your
city or town, such evil acts will not be tolerated, and to those
involved in this horrendous act, your actions will result in your swift
and certain punishment. We must allow no mercy to those who allowed no
mercy to others.
Mr. Speaker, I will close by citing a spontaneous tribute to the
victims of this massacre which is formed along the perimeter around the
largest crime scene in American history. A mound of wreathes and
flowers and teddy bears and tear-stained poems have been laid
[[Page H4463]] with origins literally from around the world paying
tribute to the hundreds of perished and wounded.
One particular offering which speaks, I believe, so simply, yet so
eloquently, for all Oklahomans consists of a teddy bear with a paper
heart attached bearing in crayon an inscription that reads as follows:
``Oklahoma, broken-hearted, yes; broken spirit, never.''
Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my most profound sympathy
for the victims of the tragic bombing in Oklahoma City during the
congressional work period.
I can think of no more hateful, cowardly act than to ruthlessly bomb
a Federal building while hundreds of hard-working Americans are doing
their jobs.
I cannot imagine the grief, or express in words, how difficult a
period this must be for those who knew and loved the victims of this
terrible attack. Losing a loved one is hard no matter what the
circumstances. The evil which led to the loss of life in Oklahoma would
only make the grieving process more difficult.
I am hopeful that the Federal Government will continue its swift,
aggressive action to locate the suspects in this horrifying case. I
join with the millions of Americans who are encouraged by the Justice
Department's urgent efforts to see justice served. We can only hope
that the case is solved and those who are responsible for this heinous
crime are severely punished.
The most important issue facing America today is the need to stop the
violence which is tearing society apart. Violence begets violence. The
thought that an American citizen would kill other American citizens
defies reason and sanity. But the thought that the State, in response,
would kill the perpetrator of this crime troubles me deeply as well.
My thoughts are with all of those whose lives have been touched by
this terrible tragedy.
Mr. QUINN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Joint
Resolution 135, which condemns the bombing in Oklahoma City.
This resolution condemns the terrorist-fashioned bombing of a
downtown Federal office building in Oklahoma City, denouncing it as an
``abhorrent act of cowardice.'' Also, the resolution expresses
congressional support for the President's and Attorney General's
efforts to pursue all possible means of apprehending and punishing the
responsible parties.
Today, I met with Congressman Bill McCollum, chairman of the House
Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, to discuss antiterrorism legislation.
Specifically, we conferred about my pending legislation, the Restricted
Explosives Control Act, which I introduced in an effort to diminish the
incidence of domestic terrorism.
I join all of my fellow colleagues in the House of Representatives
and extend my deepest sympathies to all of the families in Oklahoma
City. Our prayers and thoughts will be with you all in the days and
weeks to come.
Mr. HYDE. Mr. Speaker, this resolution is an expression of this
body's outrage at the manifestation of unmitigated evil that was
visited upon Oklahoma City, its people, and our Nation on April 19.
It also provides us with an opportunity to recognize the real spirit
of America and the underlying greatness of this Nation. Exhibited in
the aftermath of that horrific event was the friendship and fraternity
of our citizens, which, sad to say, is only typically publicized in
situations of national crisis. We need to remind ourselves that such
acts of personal and national virtue and heroism occur daily in this
country as Americans fulfill their obligations of citizenship, through
voluntarism, sacrifice, and charity. When catastrophe strikes, however,
we are refreshed by the benevolence of those acts, undertaken with
spontaneous enthusiasm and profound grace.
The Oklahoma City bombing has reached the heart and soul of America,
evinced by the generous outpouring of love and prayers for the people
of Oklahoma City and the families burdened by the scars of injury and
death. Almost immediately hundreds of rescue workers from across
America voluntarily flocked to that city to provide many unselfish
hands in rescue efforts. Hundreds of Americans gather quietly near the
Murrah building trying to do their part, however they might: through
prayers, deeds, or both. Americans throughout this land are expressing
their sorrow and solidarity with the people of Oklahoma City in ways
that are at once poetic and meaningful.
Many have sought to find an explanation for the causes for that awful
act of cowardice, but there is really only one explanation for it:
diabolical individuals intent on damaging society by hurting hundreds
of innocent lives. The depraved events of Oklahoma City are a humbling
reminder of our own vulnerability. We should abide by what Lincoln
called the ``better angels of our nature'' and defeat the attempts to
define ourselves by the ravings and actions of evildoers and fanatics.
We bring this resolution to the floor to pay our respect to the
victims of this disaster and their grieving families. The magnitude of
their personal losses, and the violence felt by so many, dwarfs our
effort to put emotions and empathy into words.
Later this month, the Judiciary Committee will consider comprehensive
legislation directed at combating terrorism from whatever source. Lest
our people be concerned, strengthening our law enforcement capabilities
in this regard does not require a restriction of our civil liberties
and constitutional protections. Congress is quite capable of striking
the delicate and necessary balance between our constitutional
guarantees and the Government's need to secure the safety of its
citizenry. The legislation will not work a forfeiture of our citizens'
cherished liberties. It will honor the victims of Oklahoma City and
will attempt to diminish the possibility of repeated terrorist attacks
in the future.
Mr. TEJEDA. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues today in supporting
House Resolution 135, a resolution expressing this House's condemnation
of the recent atrocity in Oklahoma City. We cannot begin to measure the
damage from this senseless act of cowardice, but we can see the pain on
the faces of survivors and the families of those who perished on the
morning of April 19, 1995.
We in the U.S. Congress express our outrage, our horror, that anyone
could even conceive of this plan, let alone carry it out. This was not
an attack on a building, on a faceless Government, but on its people,
on all of us. The bombers deliberately and cruelly decided to detonate
the bomb at a time calculated to maximize the loss of life. And that
loss has been real and tragic.
Our hearts go out to the people of Oklahoma who have endured the
brunt of this tragedy. But one of the all too many who lost their lives
that morning was a native of San Diego, TX, a small, closely-knit town
in south Texas. Antonio C. Reyes, who was 55 years old, was identified
this past Saturday as a victim of the bombing. Mr. Reyes served the
U.S. Navy for more than 20 years before joining the Small Business
Administration and then the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development. Mr. Reyes was at work on the eighth floor of the Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building at the time of the explosion. He gave of
himself, not only to his country, but also to his community by
supporting tutoring programs, local children's and music festivals,
scholarships for Hispanic students, and community development. He was a
leader, expressing concern for the Hispanic community through positive
action.
Shortly before learning that Mr. Reyes was confirmed among the dead,
his family gathered this past Saturday night at St. Francis De Paula
Catholic Church for a Rosario de Ragacion, praying for mercy and
strength. His sister, Elma Garcia, still lives in San Diego, and his
other siblings live in Corpus Christi and Alice in Texas, Phoenix, AZ,
and Pensacola, FL. He leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Dora Reyes, a
son and daughter, and two grandchildren. I am sure that I speak for all
men and women of good will in this country in wishing the family our
condolences at this terrible time.
We cannot know the depth of pain or loss experienced by the Reyes
family and the scores of other families who now mourn for lost parents,
siblings, and children. But we can send a message today, to those who
perpetrated this cruelty, and to those who might contemplate future
similar acts of violence: We reject this terror, we will not let it
stand, and we will take appropriate action to find you and convict you.
This tragedy has exposed within the fabric of our body politic a
dangerous element, a cancer, that must be countered not just with
effective law enforcement, but also the best of the American spirit--
our shared vision of a democratic republic, a pluralistic society where
rights are balanced with responsibilities. From this dark hour, let us
join hands and commit ourselves to renewing our communal spirit.
Mr. FOGLIETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to speak in favor of this
resolution.
We all mourn for the mothers, the fathers, the sons, the daughters,
the children, who were lost, or who lost loved ones in this tragedy.
When we condemn the Oklahoma bombing, we also must condemn the way
speech has become so mean and provocative in America. I agree with
President Clinton when he says that words matter. When talk radio show
hosts tell their listeners where to aim when shooting a Federal agent.
When political consultants advise their clients to call their opponents
traitors. When Members rise on this floor and call our President--and
he is ``our'' President--a turncoat who gives aid and comfort to the
enemy. These mean words have consequences.
Without violating the Constitution, we must give law enforcement the
weapons they need
[[Page H4464]] to stop domestic terrorism--but we must disarm and
condemn another weapon--angry, venomous, incendiary, rhetoric.
Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my outrage, my
sorrow, and my sincere condolences to the victims of the Oklahoma City
bombing and their families. The bombing 2 weeks ago was a heinous act
of cowardice which will hopefully never be repeated.
We are all shocked, as we should be, any time innocent lives are
taken. Yet the magnitude of the devastation in Oklahoma City, as well
as the massive number of innocent lives that were lost, has left many
of us shaken to the core.
The fact that the target of the bombing appears to be Federal
employees makes this act even more reprehensive and repulsive to me. As
many of my colleagues know, I represent roughly 35,000 Federal
employees, many of whom are not just my constituents, but also my
neighbors and my friends.
It is my experience that Federal employees deserve our gratitude,
they deserve our admiration, and they deserve our respect. They do not
deserve to be terrorized.
As most Americans know, Federal employees play an integral, albeit
often invisible, role in our daily lives. Federal employees make sure
that our senior citizens get their monthly Social Security checks and
that our veterans get the care and treatment they need. Federal
employees are responsible for printing out money and insuring it when
we make deposits at a bank. Federal employees protect our borders and
make sure the food we eat is safe. In short, Federal employees spend
their days and often their nights making sure that our Government
performs its duties.
Furthermore, the American civil servant is perhaps the best Federal
employee in the world. All one needs to do is travel abroad to see that
American Federal employees are second to none in terms of their
devotion to the job, their initiative, and their belief that they are
serving their communities as well as their Nation.
I am glad that we are taking the time today to discuss this tragedy
and to let the American people know that the abhorrent behavior of a
few irrational people in Oklahoma City is repulsive to us as well as
our constituents. I am also glad that the American public, if they are
following this debate, is aware that every Member of Congress,
regardless of their ideology or party affiliation, condemns this act of
terrorism.
The irony of the attack on Oklahoma City is that according to the
reports we have been receiving, the primary suspects refer to
themselves as ``American patriots.'' This is offensive, not only to the
American public, but especially to the people who, since the bombing,
have proven themselves to be the true American patriots.
I submit to you that the true American patriots are the men, women,
and children who gave their lives in Oklahoma City, as well as their
families whose loss we can only imagine; they are those who ministered
to the lucky few who survived; and they are the people who are still
trying to dig through the rubble to find any remaining victims. It is a
true American patriot who, in the last 2 weeks, has made it clear that
this act of terrorism is not acceptable and will not be tolerated.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BREWSTER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I
yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore [Mr. Combest]. Without objection, the
previous question is ordered on the resolution.
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution offered by
the gentleman from Oklahoma [Mr. Lucas].
The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that
the ayes appeared to have it.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a
quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not
present.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Evidently a quorum is not present.
The Sergeant at Arms will notify absent Members.
The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 409,
nays 0, answered ``present'' 3, not voting 22, as follows:
[Roll No. 305]
YEAS--409
Abercrombie
Ackerman
Allard
Andrews
Archer
Armey
Bachus
Baker (CA)
Baker (LA)
Ballenger
Barcia
Barr
Barrett (NE)
Barrett (WI)
Bartlett
Barton
Bass
Bateman
Beilenson
Bentsen
Bereuter
Berman
Bevill
Bilbray
Bishop
Bliley
Blute
Boehlert
Boehner
Bonilla
Bonior
Bono
Borski
Boucher
Brewster
Browder
Brown (CA)
Brown (FL)
Brown (OH)
Brownback
Bryant (TN)
Bryant (TX)
Bunn
Bunning
Burr
Burton
Buyer
Callahan
Calvert
Camp
Canady
Cardin
Castle
Chabot
Chambliss
Chapman
Chenoweth
Christensen
Chrysler
Clayton
Clement
Clinger
Clyburn
Coble
Coburn
Coleman
Collins (GA)
Collins (IL)
Collins (MI)
Combest
Condit
Costello
Cox
Coyne
Cramer
Crane
Crapo
Cremeans
Cubin
Cunningham
Danner
Davis
de la Garza
Deal
DeFazio
DeLauro
DeLay
Dellums
Deutsch
Diaz-Balart
Dickey
Dicks
Dingell
Dixon
Doggett
Dooley
Doolittle
Dornan
Doyle
Dreier
Duncan
Dunn
Durbin
Edwards
Ehlers
Ehrlich
Emerson
Engel
English
Ensign
Eshoo
Evans
Everett
Ewing
Farr
Fattah
Fawell
Fazio
Fields (LA)
Fields (TX)
Filner
Flake
Flanagan
Foglietta
Foley
Forbes
Ford
Fowler
Fox
Frank (MA)
Franks (CT)
Franks (NJ)
Frelinghuysen
Frisa
Frost
Funderburk
Furse
Ganske
Gejdenson
Gekas
Gephardt
Geren
Gibbons
Gilchrest
Gillmor
Gilman
Gonzalez
Goodlatte
Goodling
Gordon
Goss
Graham
Green
Greenwood
Gunderson
Gutierrez
Gutknecht
Hall (OH)
Hall (TX)
Hamilton
Hancock
Hansen
Harman
Hastert
Hastings (FL)
Hastings (WA)
Hayes
Hayworth
Hefley
Hefner
Heineman
Herger
Hilleary
Hinchey
Hobson
Hoekstra
Hoke
Holden
Horn
Hostettler
Houghton
Hoyer
Hunter
Hutchinson
Hyde
Inglis
Istook
Jackson-Lee
Jacobs
Jefferson
Johnson (CT)
Johnson (SD)
Johnson, E. B.
Johnson, Sam
Johnston
Jones
Kanjorski
Kaptur
Kasich
Kelly
Kennedy (MA)
Kennedy (RI)
Kennelly
Kildee
Kim
King
Kingston
Kleczka
Klink
Klug
Knollenberg
Kolbe
LaFalce
LaHood
Lantos
Largent
Latham
LaTourette
Laughlin
Lazio
Leach
Levin
Lewis (CA)
Lewis (GA)
Lewis (KY)
Lightfoot
Lincoln
Linder
Lipinski
Livingston
LoBiondo
Lofgren
Longley
Lowey
Lucas
Luther
Maloney
Manton
Manzullo
Markey
Martinez
Martini
Mascara
Matsui
McCarthy
McCollum
McCrery
McDade
McDermott
McHale
McHugh
McInnis
McIntosh
McKeon
McKinney
McNulty
Meehan
Meek
Metcalf
Meyers
Mfume
Mica
Miller (CA)
Miller (FL)
Mineta
Minge
Mink
Molinari
Mollohan
Montgomery
Moorhead
Moran
Morella
Murtha
Myers
Myrick
Nadler
Neal
Nethercutt
Neumann
Ney
Norwood
Nussle
Oberstar
Obey
Olver
Ortiz
Orton
Owens
Oxley
Packard
Pallone
Pastor
Paxon
Payne (NJ)
Payne (VA)
Pelosi
Peterson (FL)
Petri
Pickett
Pombo
Pomeroy
Porter
Portman
Poshard
Pryce
Quillen
Radanovich
Rahall
Ramstad
Rangel
Reed
Regula
Reynolds
Richardson
Riggs
Rivers
Roberts
Roemer
Rohrabacher
Rose
Roth
Roukema
Roybal-Allard
Royce
Rush
Sabo
Salmon
Sanders
Sanford
Sawyer
Schaefer
Schiff
Schroeder
Schumer
Seastrand
Sensenbrenner
Serrano
Shadegg
Shaw
Shays
Shuster
Sisisky
Skaggs
Skeen
Skelton
Slaughter
Smith (MI)
Smith (NJ)
Smith (TX)
Smith (WA)
Solomon
Souder
Spence
Spratt
Stark
Stearns
Stenholm
Stockman
Stokes
Studds
Stump
Stupak
Talent
Tanner
Tate
Tauzin
Taylor (MS)
Taylor (NC)
Tejeda
Thomas
Thornberry
Thornton
Thurman
Tiahrt
Torkildsen
Torres
Torricelli
Towns
Traficant
Tucker
Upton
Velazquez
Vento
Visclosky
Volkmer
Vucanovich
Waldholtz
Walker
Walsh
Wamp
Ward
Watts (OK)
Weldon (FL)
Weldon (PA)
Weller
White
Whitfield
Wicker
Williams
Wolf
Woolsey
Wyden
Wynn
Yates
Young (AK)
Young (FL)
Zeliff
Zimmer
ANSWERED ``PRESENT''--3
Scott
Waters
Watt (NC)
NOT VOTING--22
Baesler
Baldacci
Becerra
Bilirakis
Clay
Conyers
Cooley
Gallegly
Hilliard
Menendez
Moakley
Parker
Peterson (MN)
Quinn
Rogers
Ros-Lehtinen
Saxton
Scarborough
Thompson
Waxman
Wilson
Wise
{time} 1400
Mr. OXLEY and Mrs. SEASTRAND changed their vote from ``nay'' to
``yea.''
[[Page H4465]] Mr. WATT of North Carolina changed his vote from
``yea'' to ``present.''
So the resolution was agreed to.
The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________