[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 153 (Wednesday, November 3, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FEMA AND CIVIL DEFENSE MONUMENT ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, November 1, 1999

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this bill 
authorizing the construction of a monument honoring those hard-working 
individuals who have served the nation's civil defense and emergency 
management programs.
  I personally understand their sacrifice and the sacrifice of the 
thousands of similar individuals who rise to the occasion when called 
upon by disaster. In my family, there are 16 firefighters. My cousins, 
uncles, and in-laws who have dedicated their lives to responding to 
emergencies have set a standard not met by many today.
  FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has played a key role 
in assisting Americans in their time of need. Many of us can hardly 
imagine the emotional and physical devastation a natural disaster reaps 
upon a community. When we see a news story on television or in the 
paper, we might pause and feel sorry for the unknown victims who have 
had their lives ripped apart. But then we move on with our daily lives, 
never giving a second thought to what these poor individuals and 
families must go through after we have moved on. There are notable 
exceptions, of course: the most recent and continuing efforts to help 
North Carolina flood victims; the outpouring of assistance for the 
victims of the F-5 tornado that ripped through a small town in central 
Texas called Jarrell in 1997.
  We have memorials that honor a host of wars and conflicts and those 
men and women who sacrificed their lives for these world-changing 
events. But there are other individuals, our civil defense and 
emergency personnel, who make an equally large contribution. These 
honorable citizens deserve to be recognized, too, for the day-to-day 
``battles'' for which they risk their lives.
  H.R. 348 proposes such a monument to be situated upon land owned by 
FEMA. I think it is appropriate and timely that we authorize this 
monument as we head into the 21st century. I therefore urge all my 
colleagues to support this bill.

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