[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 120 (Friday, September 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 14, 2001

  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, due to the horrific and 
incredible attack on the World Trade Center, I traveled to my district 
to offer assistance and comfort to my constituents in this time of 
great tragedy. Because of my absence from the House on September 13th, 
I missed rollcall votes numbered 338, 339 and 340. Had I been present, 
I would have wholeheartedly voted in favor of the resolution condemning 
the terrorists attacks against the United States and extending 
Congress' deepest condolences to the victims of these heinous and 
cowardly actions; I would have voted in favor of H.R. 2882, the measure 
that expedites payments of benefits for the public safety officers 
killed or injured; and H.R. 2884, the legislation that extending tax 
benefits for the September 11th victims. In addition, I would have 
voted ``yea'' on the resolution urging people to fly the U.S. flag.
  My thoughts these past days and in the coming weeks are with all 
those in my beloved city whose lives have been affected by the tragedy 
in lower Manhattan. I join everyone in our city in praying for our many 
friends who are missing and injured and for their loved ones.
  It is an honor everyday to serve in the House of Representatives as a 
representative of the greatest city in the world. As soon as I learned 
of the attacks on the Trade Center, I drove to Manhattan to be with my 
family and offer assistance to my friends and neighbors. My heart is 
warmed by the response of our city--the rescue workers, the medical 
response teams, the orderly evacuation of lower Manhattan by the people 
who work and live there and the thousands who have gone to blood donor 
centers.
  All New Yorkers will forever remember the bravery of the rescue 
workers who rushed into lower Manhattan as the Trade Center towers 
burned. It is apparent that many hundreds of these firefighters, cops 
and medical personnel may be among the thousands now unaccounted for. 
We in the city witness countless selfless acts by these heroes on a 
daily basis. Today we are awed by their response to the tragedy and 
heartbroken by their fate.
  The victims at the Pentagon and of the air highjackings are also in 
our thoughts and prayers.
  We are the most diverse city in the world but today we are united as 
one. We stand squarely with the President, our Governor and Mayor and 
pledge to bring the perpetrators of these tremendously cruel acts to 
justice.

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