[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4486-H4487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  TRIBUTE TO ALL CIVIL SERVANTS INVOLVED IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY TRAGEDY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Maryland [Mr. Hoyer] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here with my colleagues to 
pay tribute to all of the civil servants involved in the Oklahoma City 
tragedy.
  I had an opportunity of speaking earlier today as we passed the 
resolution expressing our outrage and our deep sympathy for that which 
happened in Oklahoma City during the last 2 weeks.

                              {time}  1715

  More than 550 Federal workers worked in the Alfred P. Murrah Federal 
building in Oklahoma City which, like Federal buildings across our 
Nation, provided an array of services to citizens in the region 
surrounding Oklahoma City.
  It has long been my view that Federal workers are one of our Nation's 
greatest assets.
  As President Lyndon Johnson once noted:

       So very much of what we are as a Nation--and what we are to 
     achieve as a people--depends upon the calibre and character 
     of the Federal career people. In no other endeavor can you 
     more directly serve our country's cause--or the values on 
     which we stand--than in the public service.

  We lost many of these fine men and women last month and I want to 
extend my heartfelt sympathies to all of their families, friends, their 
coworkers, their neighbors, and those they serve.
  I had hoped to be speaking this week in celebration of public service 
recognition week, that special week each year when we recognize the 
enormous contributions made by public employees not just the Federal 
level, but at all levels of Government.
  On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the mall will be filled with 
displays 
[[Page H4487]] that show all that is right with our government. 
Members, their staffs, and the general public will have an opportunity 
to see demonstrations and displays from virtually every agency.
  Typically, this is a happy week, one in which we celebrate the many 
things that are right with our civil service which, regretfully, so 
many are so quick to criticize.
  This year, however, there is a heavy cloud over the celebration. As 
we wander through the exhibits our thoughts will turn frequently to 
those we lost in Oklahoma City:
  Like Julie Welch, a 23-year-old graduate of Marquette University in 
Milwaukee who was preparing to marry an Air Force lieutenant. She 
helped Spanish-speaking clients at the Social Security Administration's 
Office.
  Or like Rick Tomlin, a special agent with the Department of 
Transportation, who had celebrated his silver wedding anniversary in 
February. He and his wife, Tina, have two sons.
  Or Kenneth McCullough, an Army veteran who worked for the Drug 
Enforcement Agency. He won't be with us to see his son and daughter 
grow up.
  Or Randolph Guzman, a 28-year-old proud member of the U.S. Marines.
  Mr. Speaker, these are just a few of the fine people whose lives were 
senselessly wiped out by the act of a deranged, demented, evil person, 
or perhaps persons. These are not nameless, faceless bureaucrats, and, 
Mr. Speaker, let me be very blunt. I get angry, angry at those who 
denigrate our civil servants. Every time we need budget savings, we go 
after the civil servants. Every time we need a scapegoat for the 
failure of this body to address important issues, we blame the civil 
service. That is not fair.
  Yes, there are nonperformers, just like there are at corporations and 
factories across our country.
  But, Mr. Speaker, the great majority of these men and women are 
Americans with a deep love for their Nation who oftentimes have 
bypassed more lucrative careers to serve their fellow citizens.
  So it is my hope that the politicians and the reporters and the 
televisions folks and all the other self-proclaimed critics will 
revisit their attitude about the civil service.
  We will never forget this terrible tragedy in Oklahoma. If any good 
can come of this most disturbing situation, I hope that it will be a 
new found respect for public servants.
  We owe it to those who perished in the explosion, to those incredible 
FBI and ATF agents whose expertise has led to early successes in the 
investigation, and to every Federal, State, and local official who has 
worked tirelessly on the scene to aid their fellow Americans.
  Mr. Speaker, I think the Federal Times said it well in their special 
issue released this morning. In dedicating the issue to those who gave 
their lives in Oklahoma City, the editors note:

       Many survivors of the blast became heroes as we learned of 
     their extraordinary efforts to rescue others.
       Many of the dead and missing are heroes, too, though we may 
     never learn their stories. They are heroes of everyday life: 
     good parents, co-workers you could count on, people willing 
     to go the extra mile.

  Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week, let us 
all remember that our Nation is blessed with heroes in the Federal 
office building not only in Oklahoma City but in Federal buildings 
across this great land, and, yes, I would urge my friends and 
colleagues: ``Yes, you get angry at the IRS; yes, you may get angry at 
law enforcement offices, but do not allow that anger to be directed at 
individuals. Let it be directed at policy. Let us be a civil society.''
  Mr. MFUME. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Hoyer for taking 
the time today to call this special order to discuss Federal employees. 
In light of the recent bombing in Oklahoma City, I feel it is important 
that we take the time to reassure the Federal employees in Oklahoma, as 
well as throughout this Nation, that the vast majority of Americans 
recognize their contribution to this Nation and respect them for their 
efforts.
  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 our 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.
  In light of the Oklahoma City bombing, security at many Federal 
buildings across the Nation has been tightened. While this may prove to 
be a minor
 inconvenience to some employees as well as other Americans who may be 
visiting the buildings, it is worth it even if it only provides peace 
of mind.

  As I said earlier in my statement, Federal employees often perform 
thankless tasks that many of us take for granted. Despite their 
consistent performances, however, there are some in Congress who have 
insisted on using Federal employees as tools to try to balance the 
budget.
  In the past few years we have seen attacks on Federal employees' 
cost-of-living adjustments, their thrift savings plans, and their 
retirement age. Just recently the Republican Members of the House led a 
successful attack on the Federal employee pension system. As I said at 
that time, and I will say it again, they deserve better.
  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.
  To any Federal employees who may be listening to this special order, 
I hope that you will listen to what we have been saying: the majority 
of Americans appreciate what you do for us, and we respect you.
  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.


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