[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S3313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE WORST INDUSTRIAL DISASTER IN THE HISTORY OF 
                                AMERICA

  Mrs. HUTCHISON. Mr. President, I want to say that I had quite an 
experience yesterday. I went back to my home territory near Texas City, 
TX, and helped commemorate the 50th anniversary of the worst industrial 
disaster in the history of America. That was the explosions in Texas 
City on April 16, 1947.
  I remember the incident personally because I was there as a 4-year-
old. I remember the tremendous jolt that occurred at that time. I put a 
statement in the Record yesterday that talks about the incredible 
impact this had on the people of the area of Texas City.
  Just to put it in perspective, this was a town of 17,000 that lost 
600 of its citizens in one 24-hour period. It lost the entire fire 
department that was on duty at the time. It lost people who were trying 
to help victims. It was an incredible impact. But the impact that I 
witnessed yesterday on the faces of the residents of Texas City 
highlighted for me the rejuvenation of this city, now of 50,000 people.
  Thanks to the leadership of its mayor, Chuck Doyle, there is a 3-day 
commemoration of this event, and it is having a strong, positive impact 
on the city. It is a city that has put itself back together and made 
itself stronger from the adversity.
  I am very proud of Texas City, TX, and the sister city of La Marque 
where I grew up for healing this devastating event in its history and 
for emerging stronger than ever. The area is today one of the 
petrochemical centers of the world and a place that I am proud to have 
grown up in and to have known the wonderful people who live there and 
who have made this city what it is.

  So I commend Mayor Doyle, the survivors of the Texas City explosion, 
the residents of Texas City, and the many other people who worked to 
make the commemoration of that disaster such a positive event for Texas 
City and for this Nation.

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