[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 106 (Thursday, July 18, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7992-H7993]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             TWA FLIGHT 800

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas [Ms. Jackson-Lee] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today has been clearly a day 
that will cause many of us to reflect, one, on the goodness of America, 
but as well the sadness of some of what has occurred today.
  Let me first of all start my remarks by acknowledging the tragic loss 
of life of TWA Flight 800, gratified of certainly the astounding and 
outstanding search-and-rescue effort of the Coast Guard and others and 
as well recognizing the many individuals that will be needed to be able 
to determine the cause of this great tragedy.
  I know personally that the people of Houston, the State of Texas and 
this Nation will be saddened by one who was a member of our community, 
Pam Lynchner, a co-founder of the victims' rights organization, 
Criminal Justice Reform. She and her 10-year-old daughter Shannon and 
her 8-year-old daughter Katie were on this flight. Many times we have 
seen such tragedies occur in America. I can only be grateful to God 
that Americans will always rise to the goodness of what we represent. 
We will join in and embrace each other. We will give comfort to

[[Page H7993]]

those who have lost loved ones, and we will seek information and 
determine to find justice without a punitive, despotic and dictatorial 
type of government. I am grateful for that.
  I can only hope to that we will find a solution to the pain that has 
been given to these family members.
  I would offer to say that we should not stop until we determine the 
cause. We should not prejudge, but if in any way this matter has 
criminal and terrorist overtones, we must move swiftly. We must also 
respond with the appropriate government agencies that must ensure the 
future safety of Americans.
  I started with that, because as we proceeded today on the House 
floor, I knew many of my fellow colleagues were overwhelmed with this 
morning's news, and I simply wanted to say to Americans, I wanted to 
thank them for the kind of people that they are when tragedy strikes, 
when people are in need. And to the family of Pam Lynchner, let me 
simply say that we hope to have remembered by you the fact that Pam did 
serve this Nation and, in fact, was someone who cared about others.
  Mr. Speaker, as the specter of the tragedy of the crash of TWA flight 
800 settles over us, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the 
surviving families and friends of the 229 passengers who were on board 
the flight. We empathize with your loss and will grieve as a Nation for 
your loved ones who have perished.
  State and Federal officials, including the National Transportation 
Safety Board and the FBI are now on the scene and as speculative 
scenarios are flying everywhere, let's let cooler heads prevail. As a 
former member of the Houston Aviation Committee, I have learned that 
the experts will tell us soon enough how this mishap occurred. 
Experience has taught us that premature judgments can often be wrong. 
However, as a member of the House Judiciary Committee. I will certainly 
monitor this situation closely.
  The people of Houston, the State of Texas, and this Nation has lost 
one of our most dedicated citizens in the crash. Pam Lynchner was the 
cofounder of the victim's rights organization, Criminal Justice Reform. 
She and her 10-year-old daughter Shannon and her 8-year-old daughter 
Katie were on their way to Paris. Shannon had drawn a copy of a 
painting by the famous French artist Claude Monet and they had planned 
to see the original together in Paris. Pam was not only a devoted 
mother but was a tireless advocate and worker for the victims of crime. 
She would come to the aid of whomever called her--day or night. She was 
an inspiration for us all and our condolences go out to her husband 
Joe.
  I call on people of good will and members of the community to 
remember Pam in their prayers. She will not be soon forgotten.


                             welfare reform

   Mr. Speaker, this day was historic in the U.S. Congress, for in fact 
we, too, as Members of Congress were responsible for changing the 
course of history. I am gratified in this debate on welfare reform 
again that Americans who cared about people rose up and supported 
legislation of which I supported, the Tanner-Castle welfare reform bill 
that in fact will do the job, the job that the legislation by the 
Republican majority that passed will not do, and, that is, of course to 
ensure that there is a bridge for those who have joined together to 
change this welfare system so that we do not create a scenario where 
people remain on welfare against their will; for the constituents in 
the 18th district in Texas have always told me, we want to work, we 
want our children to be proud of us, but we must have work, we must 
have child care, we must have health care.
  The Tanner-Castle bill requires States to provide vouchers for the 
needs of the child, for families that are eventually cut off. That 
means it cares about children. I cannot imagine that in this debate it 
could get so ruckus that those who were listening would not understand 
that sometimes you have to stand up for what is right. You have got to 
understand that you will provide unfunded mandates to local communities 
when you cut off Medicaid, health care, for those who do not have any 
other resources. You will increase childhood diseases if you diminish 
the opportunities for those who are indigent to have immunization and 
to have health care. At the same time, many people are casting 
accusations against immigrants. We are all a country of immigrants. 
Some of us came here in the bottom of a belly of a slave boat.
  I heard one of my colleagues compare welfare recipients to slaves. I 
might venture to say that no one can compare what happened in slavery 
to anyone's status now. But I do know that Americans want welfare 
reform that is caring and responsible and responds to people in need 
but provides them with an opportunity, not a hand-out but a bridge to 
independence.

                          ____________________