[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 66 (Monday, May 13, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S4969]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   OBSERVANCE OF 1 MINUTE OF SILENCE

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, on behalf of, I know, public officials 
throughout the country, but particularly those from Georgia where 
ValuJet is headquartered, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate fall 
into silence for 1 minute in acknowledgment of the deaths of the people 
from across our land as a result of this very tragic airplane crash in 
the Everglades coming out of Miami.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The 
Senate will observe 1 minute of silence in accordance with the wishes 
of the Senator from Georgia.
  [A minute of silence was observed.]
  Mr. COVERDELL addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Georgia.
  Mr. COVERDELL. As with all of these occurrences, you never really can 
appreciate the far reach that it has. My young press assistant's 
fiancee, in Atlanta, is an honor graduate at Emory University. Her 
grandparents were on the flight, on their way to attend her graduation. 
I am sure, of course, that story is repeated 109 times, multiplied to 
all the families of these 104 passengers and 5 crewmembers.
  Atlanta is an airline town. Any time anything like this happens, it 
is a grief felt very widely throughout our city and State. I, on behalf 
of all in our State, extend our condolences to the families wherever 
they are that were affected by this tragic crash.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be given up to 5 
minutes to speak to an issue that has occurred on the borders between 
our country and Mexico with regard to drug smuggling.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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