[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3819]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING BOYD CLINES, LARRY ROGERS, AND MATT MOSELEY FOR THEIR 
                          BRAVERY AND COURAGE

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate resolution 80 
submitted earlier today by myself and Senator Cleland.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 80) congratulating Boyd Clines, Larry 
     Rogers, and Matt Moseley for their bravery and courage in the 
     April 12, 1999, rescue mission of Mr. Ivers Sims.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. COVERDELL. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed 
to, the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and any statements relating to this resolution be printed at 
the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 80) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 80

       Whereas on April 12, 1999, a treacherous fire erupted in a 
     historic cotton mill in Atlanta, Georgia, and Mr. Ivers Sims, 
     a construction worker, found himself suspended 180 feet in 
     the air trapped by raging flames surrounding him;
       Whereas Boyd Clines, a Georgia Department of Natural 
     Resources pilot, and his navigator, Larry Rogers, arrived on 
     the scene and negotiated a helicopter through the menacing 
     wind, smoke, and fire which emanated from the cotton mill, 
     while an Atlanta firefighter, Matt Moseley, dangled from a 
     rope near the flames, all in an attempt to save Mr. Sims;
       Whereas Boyd Clines, Larry Rogers, and Matt Moseley, in the 
     true spirit of heroism, demonstrated amazing courage and 
     valor in risking their lives in order to save the life of Mr. 
     Sims;
       Whereas the teamwork, dedication, and bravery that Boyd 
     Clines, Larry Rogers, and Matt Moseley displayed during the 
     rescue mission enabled the mission to be successful;
       Whereas Atlanta firefighters, police officers, Sheriffs 
     deputies, and residents diligently worked together in order 
     to fight the massive fire that engulfed the historic cotton 
     mill;
       Whereas Atlanta residents at home during the fire helped 
     during the crisis by rescuing pets and using garden hoses to 
     extinguish the flames emanating from burning debris;
       Whereas the Atlanta firefighters, facing shortages of 
     equipment and personnel, heroically contained a fire that 
     could have spread beyond the cotton mill and enveloped a 
     historic neighborhood now being revitalized;
       Whereas the fire crisis of April 12, 1999, shall be 
     remembered not for the tragic loss of the historic cotton 
     mill, but instead for the heroism and bravery displayed by 
     Boyd Clines, Larry Rogers, and Matt Moseley; and
       Whereas it should be recognized that Boyd Clines, Larry 
     Rogers, and Matt Moseley have brought pride and honor to the 
     State of Georgia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates Boyd Clines, Larry Rogers, and Matt 
     Moseley for the bravery and heroism that they displayed 
     during the April 12, 1999, rescue mission of Mr. Ivers Sims; 
     and
       (2) commends Atlanta firefighters, police officers, 
     Sheriffs deputies, and residents for the outstanding teamwork 
     that they displayed in fighting the fire of the cotton mill.

  Mr. COVERDELL. Mr. President, to digress for just a moment, this is a 
resolution acknowledging the heroism of Boyd Clines, Larry Rogers, and 
Matt Moseley. I doubt that there is hardly an American alive who did 
not watch that stunning and chilling event when these three men 
exemplified all the virtues of American heroism. It is a stark reminder 
of what Americans, who work for our fire departments, our rescue units, 
our law enforcement agencies all across the country, are capable of 
doing, and their total dedication where they will often set all their 
own personal safety aside in the name of helping another citizen.
  It was all embodied in this enormous event that occurred in Atlanta, 
GA several days ago. It was an incredible sight and witness of American 
heroism. I am particularly pleased to be able to join with my 
colleague, Senator Cleland, in the authorship of that resolution which 
has just been approved.

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