[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Texas [Mr. Green] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on a note of 
sadness because this is our first full day of being in session, but on 
April 19, Oklahoma City was awakened by a bomb blast which killed both 
children and people either working or doing business in the Murrah 
Federal Building.
  Oklahoma City along with the Nation rushed to the help of a neighbor, 
including some of my constituents from Texas.
  The terrorist bomb ripped at the foundation of the Federal building 
and ripped at the fabric of our society.
  The Federal building was targeted for what are now unknown reasons, 
but at this point there is all sorts of conjecture, but whatever the 
reason is, some people were killed and injured.
  At times, the rhetoric of hate and distrust paints a picture of 
faceless bureaucrats, but the people in that building were hardworking 
people and children playing in that day-care center, and there were 
people literally waiting there for Federal Government services.
  Many Americans, not just in Oklahoma but now all over America, do not 
feel it is safe that we should allow any terrorists to rip our Nation 
apart.
  The terrorists did not affect the way Americans rush to help other 
Americans when times are tough, though.

                              {time}  1700

  When there is an earthquake or flood or any other natural disaster, 
we have volunteers running to help. This disaster was not natural, but 
neighbors still were providing a helping hand. Houston firefighters, 
along with firefighters from around the Nation, flew to Oklahoma City 
to assist in the rescue and recovery of victims from the blast. 
Southwestern Bell provided telecommunications and donation of cash 
assistance. Petrochemical companies from the Houston area provided 
assistance.
  Providing a helping hand in times of need shows that when times are 
hard for America, we come together. We come together to show that any 
terrorist group inside or outside America, that Americans will stand 
together and there is nothing that can stop them.
  If that message has done nothing else than to go forth from these 
halls of Congress, I would hope that the perpetrator and whoever is 
found guilty, that they recognize that Americans, we do come together, 
and we stand together on this tragedy.

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