[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)]
[House]
[Pages H10193-H10197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRUE AMERICAN HEROES ACT

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3054) to award congressional gold medals on behalf of the 
officers, emergency workers, and other employees of the Federal 
Government and any State or local government, including any interstate 
governmental entity, who responded to the attacks on the World Trade 
Center in New York City and perished in the tragic events of September 
11, 2001, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3054

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``True American Heroes Act''.

     SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR GOVERNMENT WORKERS WHO 
                   RESPONDED TO THE ATTACKS ON THE WORLD TRADE 
                   CENTER AND PERISHED.

       (a) Presentation Authorized.--In recognition of the bravery 
     and self-sacrifice of officers, emergency workers, and other 
     employees of State and local government agencies, including 
     the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and of the 
     United States Government, who responded to the attacks on the 
     World Trade Center in New York City, and perished in the 
     tragic events of September 11, 2001 (including those who are 
     missing and presumed dead), the President is authorized to 
     present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of 
     appropriate design for each such officer, emergency worker, 
     or employee to the next of kin or other representative of 
     each such officer, emergency worker, or employee.
       (b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation 
     referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury 
     shall strike gold medals with suitable emblems, devices, and 
     inscriptions to be determined by the Secretary to be 
     emblematic of the valor and heroism of the men and women 
     honored.
       (c) Determination of Recipients.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall determine the number of medals to be presented 
     under this section and the appropriate recipients of the 
     medals after consulting with appropriate representatives of 
     Federal, State, and local officers and agencies and the Port 
     Authority of New York and New Jersey.
       (d) Presentment Ceremony.--The President shall consult with 
     the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President 
     Pro Tempore of the Senate, the majority leader and the 
     minority leader of the House of Representatives, and the 
     majority leader and the minority leader of the Senate with 
     regard to the ceremony for presenting the gold medals under 
     subsection (a).
       (e) Duplicative Gold Medals For Departments and Duty 
     Stations.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall strike 
     duplicates in gold of the gold medals struck pursuant to 
     subsection (a) for presentation to each of the following:
       (A) The Governor of the State of New York.
       (B) The Mayor of the City of New York.
       (C) The Commissioner of the New York Police Department, the 
     Commissioner of the New York Fire Department, the head of 
     emergency medical services for the City of New York, and the 
     Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Port Authority of 
     New York and New Jersey.
       (D) Each precinct house, fire house, emergency response 
     station, or other duty station or place of employment to 
     which each person referred to in subsection (a) was assigned 
     on September 11, 2001, for display in each such place in a 
     manner befitting the memory of such persons.
       (f) Determination of Recipients.--The Secretary of the 
     Treasury shall determine the number of medals to be presented 
     under subsection (e) and the appropriate recipients of the 
     medals after consulting with appropriate representatives of 
     Federal, State, and local officers and agencies and the Port 
     Authority of New York and New Jersey.
       (g) Duplicate Bronze Medals.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medal 
     struck pursuant to subsection (a) under such regulations as 
     the Secretary may prescribe, at a price of $50 per medal.
       (h) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sales of 
     duplicate bronze medals under subsection (g) shall be 
     deposited in a fund to be used to erect a memorial for the 
     fallen emergency responders.
       (i) Use of the United States Mint at West Point, New 
     York.--It is the sense of the Congress that the medals 
     authorized under this section should--
       (1) be designed, struck, and presented not more than 90 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (2) be struck at the United States Mint at West Point, New 
     York, to the greatest extent possible.

     SEC. 3. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALS FOR PEOPLE ABOARD UNITED 
                   AIRLINES FLIGHT 93 WHO HELPED RESIST THE 
                   HIJACKERS AND CAUSED THE PLANE TO CRASH.

       (a) Congressional Findings.--The Congress finds as follows:
       (1) On September 11, 2001, United Airlines Flight 93, 
     piloted by Captain James Dahl, departed from Newark 
     International Airport at 8:01 a.m. on its scheduled route to 
     San Francisco, California, with 7 crew members and 38 
     passengers on board.
       (2) Shortly after departure, United Airlines Flight 93 was 
     hijacked by terrorists.
       (3) At 10:37 a.m. United Airlines Flight 93 crashed near 
     Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
       (4) Evidence indicates that people aboard United Airlines 
     Flight 93 learned that other hijacked planes had been used to 
     attack the World Trade Center in New York City and resisted 
     the actions of the hijackers on board.
       (5) The effort to resist the hijackers aboard United 
     Airlines Flight 93 appears to have caused the plane to crash 
     prematurely, potentially saving hundreds or thousands of 
     lives and preventing the destruction of the White House, the 
     Capitol, or another important symbol of freedom and 
     democracy.
       (6) The leaders of the resistance aboard United Airlines 
     Flight 93 demonstrated exceptional bravery, valor, and 
     patriotism, and are worthy of the appreciation of the people 
     of the United States.
       (b) Presentation of Congressional Gold Medals Authorized.--
     The President is authorized to award posthumously, on behalf 
     of Congress and in recognition of heroic service to the 
     Nation, gold medals of appropriate design to any passengers 
     or crew members on board United Airlines Flight 93 who are 
     identified by the Attorney General as having aided in the 
     effort to resist the hijackers on board the plane.
       (c) Design and Striking.--For the purpose of the 
     presentation referred to in subsection (b), the Secretary of 
     the Treasury shall strike gold medals of a single design with 
     suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions, to be determined 
     by the Secretary.
       (d) Duplicate Medals.--Under such regulations as the 
     Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, the Secretary may 
     strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the gold medals 
     struck under subsection (b) at a price sufficient to cover 
     the cost of the bronze medals (including labor, materials, 
     dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses) and the cost 
     of the gold medals.

     SEC. 4. NATIONAL MEDALS.

       The medals struck under this Act are national medals for 
     purposes of chapter 51 of title 31, United States Code.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. King) and the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York (Mr. King).


                             General Leave

  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 3054, and to include extraneous material on the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

[[Page H10194]]

  Mr. Speaker, today's legislation will award the Congressional Gold 
Medal to the brave heroes of September 11, 2001. These are the brave 
men and women who entered the World Trade Center in New York, and also 
those brave people on United Airlines Flight 93 who brought down the 
plane and saved countless lives.
  Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. 
Maloney), the ranking member, for the tremendous cooperation the 
gentlewoman has given me on this bill, and also for the incredible 
amount of time and effort she has put into it. The gentlewoman must 
have taken 20 years off her life going around and getting signatures 
and making phone calls. It is an example of her dedication to the men 
and women who laid down their lives on September 11. I also thank the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo), who is responsible for the 
language that is going in as an amendment regarding United Airlines 
Flight 93; and I thank the gentleman for his efforts.
  Mr. Speaker, today's bill commemorates and honors in the most 
significant way that Congress can those men and women who laid down 
their lives on September 11. In New York at the World Trade Center, we 
had more than 300 New York City firefighters, New York City police 
officers, Port Authority police officers, we had emergency service 
workers, we had court officers, numerous government employees who went 
into that building that day and were responsible for the greatest, most 
significant rescue operation in the history of this country. Estimates 
are that 25,000 people were saved that day because of the heroic 
efforts of men and women who above and beyond the call of duty ran into 
a burning building while others were escaping. It was their duty to 
escape, and it was the duty of the firefighters and police officers to 
go into that building and rescue as many people as they did. In going 
in there, they faced almost certain death.
  I think it is important to note, Mr. Speaker, that our country has 
responded very dramatically to the events of September 11. I firmly 
believe that one of the reasons why the country has responded the way 
it has is because of the example that was set on September 11 when the 
eyes of the Nation and the eyes of the world saw those people running 
in to save lives, saw them meeting their death. They saw nobody wavered 
in the face of those fires and those falling buildings. They just did 
what they were trained to do and what it takes incredible courage to 
do.
  Those of us from New York, we know many who died that day. In my own 
district, there was the chief of the department, Peter Ganci, who had 
escaped from the first building and went into the second building, and 
was killed when that came down.
  Father Judge, the chaplain to the fire department, was killed 
administering last rites on September 11.
  Personal friends, Michael Boyle and David Arce, worked on my 
political campaigns. They were good friends, and they also went into 
that building. They were friends together, and they died together.
  Neighbors of mine, the Haskell brothers, both firefighters, Tim 
Haskell and Tom Haskell, both of whom died that day.
  Another neighbor, John Perry, a New York City police officer, who 
actually was at headquarters submitting his retirement papers that 
morning. He was retiring from the New York City Police Department that 
day. He was at police headquarters. He saw what happened, and he ran 
from the headquarters to the World Trade Center and died in the rescue 
operation.
  So these are all heroic people, and we can multiply that by hundreds. 
There is nobody in the New York area who was not impacted by the death 
of one of those brave people.
  I must say on a note of bipartisanship, just as Michael Boyle and 
David Arce worked for my campaigns, John Perry's mother and father were 
active members of the Democratic Party; and one of the most encouraging 
notes I have seen is that John's mother, Pat Perry, who is a Democratic 
Party leader in my area, is once again calling my office to tell me 
when she thinks I voted wrong. To me, that is what democracy is all 
about. I wish Pat and Jim Perry the very best, as I do the families of 
all who died.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot begin to give the credit to these people that 
they deserve, but this is one thing we can do. I strongly support this 
legislation, and I also want to emphasize that while we are singling 
out the uniformed services for the work they did and for being heroes, 
for every person that died in the World Trade Center, their families 
consider them to be heroes, and there are many acts of heroism that 
have not been recorded.
  I think it is important to note that everyone who died in the World 
Trade Center is a hero. By commemorating the firefighters, police 
officers, emergency service workers, the court employees, and the brave 
people who brought down Flight 93, we are honoring the most visible 
aspects of that heroism. They are all heroes. The entire country is 
heroic in the great response we have had in carrying out this war 
against terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise with the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) and 
congratulate him on his leadership and hard work in drafting this 
legislation and working to secure the proper signatures and the support 
of the leadership of this body.
  I rise with strong support for the True American Heroes Act. This 
legislation honors the over 300 men and women, firefighters, EMTs and 
rescue workers, dozens of police officers from both the city and Port 
Authority, and other Federal, State and local emergency workers who 
charged into the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, and 
perished as they attempted to save the lives of workers in the 
building.
  From the moment the planes struck the towers from all over the city 
and surrounding area, rescuers poured out of fire houses and precinct 
houses and ran into the burning towers without regard for their own 
personal safety.
  They were men and women, cops, firefighters, EMTs, and public 
servants like FBI Special Agent Lenny Hatton. This legislation lets us 
honor those who died so others could live.
  At Ground Zero on September 12, I heard estimates from people in 
authority from the State and city, and they estimated that as many as 
20,000 people had been killed in the World Trade Center. We know now 
that thanks to the heroic work of the rescue workers the death toll was 
closer to 3,000. This rescue effort has been called the largest and 
most successful in our history, and it resulted in saving roughly 
25,000 lives.
  Thousands of families are in mourning this holiday season. But 
perhaps the best reason to pass this bill is that tens of thousands of 
families are not in mourning. They have traumatic memories of a narrow 
escape, but they have their whole lives ahead of them. The people died 
on September 11, but they did not die in vain. As New York and the 
world watched in horror as the planes struck and the towers were 
engulfed, these individuals thrust themselves towards danger.
  To those with hearts of gold, we award medals of gold. They are true 
American heroes and heroines. The Congressional Gold Medal honors 
contributions to America by outstanding individuals and groups. What 
could anyone do that is more outstanding than saving the lives of 
innocent people, people who merely showed up for work. The True 
American Heroes Act will award Congressional Gold Medals to families 
and next of kin to these brave rescuers who perished in the attack. 
What better way to pay tribute than to award these families the most 
distinguished honor bestowed by Congress?
  This legislation also designates that the individual station houses 
and fire houses that lost people in the attack will receive copies of 
the gold medal. One example in the district that I represent is the 
Roosevelt Island-based Special-ops unit of the New York Fire 
Department, which lost 10 people. The loss was so great because at this 
particular facility there was a duty change in progress. Men who would 
and could have gone home, grabbed their equipment and headed to the 
scene. As a result, the loss was twice as high as it might otherwise 
have been.

[[Page H10195]]

  As we pass the fire houses and precinct houses where flowers fill the 
sidewalks in New York City, the emotion of the tragedy is still 
overpowering. This legislation will ensure that we will forever have 
public displays around the city to preserve the memory of these 
rescuers who made the ultimate sacrifice.
  The offices of the Mayor and the Governor of New York and the head of 
the Port Authority will also be awarded copies of medals. As we all 
know, the head of the Port Authority, my friend, Neil Levin, was lost 
in the attack. Neil was serving as the executive director of the Port 
Authority, the agency that ran the World Trade Center for the past 28 
years. He was last seen helping people get out of the building. Neil 
died in the brave tradition of the captain going down with the ship. It 
is fitting that a copy of the gold medal will be given to the Port 
Authority.
  Mayor Giuliani himself rushed to the scene of the attack so quickly, 
that for a time his own safety was at risk. The copies of the medals 
given to the Port Authority, Mayor, and Governor are a highly 
appropriate honor for leaders who responded so quickly. In addition to 
the gold medals, the United States Mint will make bronze reproductions 
of the medals available to the general public. The proceeds from these 
sales will go toward building a memorial at Ground Zero that will serve 
as a lasting tribute to the fallen heroes and heroines. All around 
America, our citizens can purchase these medals and demonstrate their 
solidarity with the fallen heroes and heroines of New York.
  Finally, the bill awards medals to the exceptional brave passengers 
who battled the hijackers of Flight 93.

                              {time}  1515

  They saved an untold number of lives and quite possibly the very 
building in which we are standing.
  I thank my colleague and counterpart on the Subcommittee on Domestic 
Monetary Policy, Technology, and Economic Growth, Chairman King, for 
working with me on this legislation. I would also like to acknowledge 
Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member LaFalce from the Committee on 
Financial Services for moving this bill to the floor so quickly. 
Chairman Oxley and Ranking Member LaFalce have shown bipartisan 
leadership in the immediate wake of the attacks. Working together, they 
worked to produce a number of important bipartisan initiatives which 
responded to the new threats to our financial system. New York City is 
thankful to them and all the Members of this House who have responded 
to the city in its time of greatest need.
  This was an attack on our country, and New York is a symbol of our 
country. All New Yorkers join me in thanking my colleagues, and 
especially Chairman King for his leadership on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding the 
time to me on this important issue and for his leadership in crafting a 
resolution and as chairman of the committee. I also thank the ranking 
member, the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney), for her work on 
this issue. Indeed, as New Yorkers, they grieve deeply, but we all do.
  We are all devastated by the scope of the tragedy on September 11, 
but the courage and valor shown by so many reaffirmed our belief about 
the character of this great Nation. For this reason, I rise in strong 
support of H.R. 3054, the True American Heroes Act. The bill authorizes 
the President to present, on behalf of the Congress, congressional gold 
medals to officers, emergency workers and other employees of Federal, 
State and local governments who responded to the attacks on the World 
Trade Center in New York City and perished in the tragic events of 
September 11. In addition, medals would be given to the families of 
those individuals aboard United Flight 93 who resisted the hijackers 
and foiled their attempts at further destruction. Unfortunately, there 
is no medal or plaque that can truly convey our appreciation for the 
heroism demonstrated by so many on September 11, but it is important 
for Congress to show to the rest of this country and the world how we 
value their bravery.
  George William Curtis, the noted 19th century intellectual, stated, 
``Man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers and 
woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that 
principle.'' I repeat his words today because it is clear that all 
those individuals who sacrificed their lives loved this country and 
what it stood for. The actions of those heroes on Flight 93 was 
patriotism exactly as Curtis defines it, and their heroism on that 
flight demonstrated to the world how strongly Americans believe in the 
principles of this Nation.
  I salute their valor and the courage of all who lost their lives, and 
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for 
time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I know that the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) intended to 
speak today. He cannot make it. He has been detained. I would again 
like to state for the record the tremendous job that he has done in 
working with myself and with the gentlewoman from New York.
  I want to, again, thank the gentlewoman from New York for really 
being such a stalwart fighter on this bill and for being there and for 
making sure that I kept working as hard as I should have. I thank the 
gentlewoman from New York very much.
  Also, Mr. Speaker, I would just like to conclude in following up on 
what the gentlewoman from New York said about the leadership that has 
been shown on this issue really throughout the chain of command, from 
President Bush, to the leadership in the Congress, in New York to 
Governor Pataki, Mayor Giuliani, Police Commissioner Kerik, Emergency 
Services Commissioner Richie Sheirer, and also the late Neil Levin, who 
was the chairman of the Port Authority and was killed on that day.
  They provided the leadership, the men and women on the ground 
provided the courage and the dedication which brought about, again, the 
rescue of 25,000 people. To think of it is really still mind-boggling 
to realize the effort that went into that. That is the type of courage 
and they are the type of people that we are honoring with this 
legislation today.
  I would also like to say to my friend Jimmy Boyle who is watching 
this and whose son Michael died on September 11, I promised Jimmy I 
would get the bill through. We are going to get it through.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3054, 
legislation that would authorize Congressional Gold Medals be struck 
for those government workers who perished in the September 11 attacks 
at the Pentagon and World Trade Center, and also for the brave 
passengers on United Flight 93. This is an appropriated honor and 
entirely deserving of our support.
  This legislation says that in recognition of the bravery and self-
sacrifice of officers, emergency workers, and other employees of State 
and local government agencies, including the Port Authority of New York 
and New Jersey, and of the United States Government, who responded to 
the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, and perished in 
the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the President is authorized to 
present, on behalf of the Congress, a gold medal of appropriate design 
for each such officer, emergency worker, or employee to the next of kin 
or other representative of each such officer, emergency worker, or 
employee. The bill also makes this honor available to the passengers of 
Flight 93.
  Earlier in the year, I joined with Representative Tancredo and others 
in introducing a similar bill to authorize a Congressional Gold Medal 
for the brave passengers of United Flight 93, who perished fighting the 
terrorists and denying them their mission.
  There were so many heroes on September 11. I am particularly pleased 
to honor Todd Beamer, the New Jerseyan who gave his life on hijacked 
United Airlines Flight 93 fighting the hijackers. All Americans mourn 
the loss of Todd Beamer and the others on that flight. Our hearts and 
prayers go out to Lisa Beamer, their children, and to all the other 
families of the people on that plane.
  So many Americans perished on that day. Many central New Jerseyeans 
were working in the World Trade Center on September 11th when it was 
attacked by terrorists. Others were on board the hijacked airplanes. 
Since then, numerous fire, rescue, EMT and medical personnel from our 
area have been on the scene in New York, caring for victims and their

[[Page H10196]]

families. I have personally toured the sites of the attacks in New York 
and in Washington, and words cannot adequately capture the horror of 
those scenes.
  This is an appropriate honor for a number of very brave Americans. I 
urge my colleagues to join with me in supporting this bill.
  Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 3054. At 
the same time, I rise in great respect for the courage and compassion 
shown by those who gave their lives attempting to rescue their fellow 
citizens in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. I also 
rise in admiration and gratitude to the passengers of Flight 93 who 
knowingly sacrificed their lives to prevent another terrorist attack. 
However, I do not believe that an unconstitutional authorization for 
Congressional Gold Medals is in the true spirit of these American 
heros. After all, this legislation purports to honor personal 
sacrifices and acts of heroism by forcing others to pay for these gold 
medals.
  Mr. Speaker, money appropriated for gold medals, or any other 
unconstitutional purpose, is, in the words of Davy Crockett, ``Not 
Yours to Give.'' It is my pleasure to attach a copy of Davy Crockett's 
``Not Yours to Give'' speech for the record. I hope my colleagues will 
carefully consider its' message before voting to take money from 
American workers and families to spend on unconstitutional programs and 
projects.
  Instead of abusing the taxing and spending power, I urge my 
colleagues to undertake to raise the money for these medals among 
ourselves. I would gladly donate to a Congressional Gold Medal fund 
whose proceeds would be used to purchase and award gold medals to those 
selected by Congress for this honor. Congress should also reduce the 
federal tax burdened on the families of those who lost their lives 
helping their fellow citizens on September 11. Mr. Speaker, reducing 
the tax burden on these Americans would be a real sacrifice for many in 
Washington since any reduction in taxes represents a loss of real and 
potential power for the federal government.
  H.R. 3054 violates fundamental principles of fiscal responsibility by 
giving the Secretary of the Treasury almost unquestioned authority to 
determine who can and cannot receive a gold medal. Official estimates 
are that implementation of this bill will cost approximately 3.9 
million dollars, however the terms of the bill suggest that the costs 
incurred by the United States taxpayer could be much higher. 
Furthermore, unlike previous legislation authorizing gold medals, H.R. 
3054 does not instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to use profits 
generated by marketing bronze duplicates of the medal to reimburse the 
taxpayer for the costs of producing the medal. Unfortunately, because 
this bill was moved to the suspension calender without hearings or a 
mark-up there was no opportunity for members of the Financial Services 
Committee such as myself to examine these questions.
  Because of my continuing and uncompromising opposition to 
appropriations not authorized within the enumerated powers of the 
Constitution, I must remain consistent in my defense of a limited 
government whose powers are explicitly delimited under the enumerated 
powers of the Constitution--a Constitution which each Member of 
Congress swore to uphold. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I must oppose this 
legislation and respectfully suggest that perhaps we should begin a 
debate among us on more appropriate processes by which we spend other 
people's money. Honorary medals and commemorative coins, under the 
current process, come from other people's money. It is, of course, 
easier to be generous with other people's money, but using our own 
funds to finance these gold medal is true to the sprit of the heros of 
September 11.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3054, the 
True American Heroes Act, authorizing the President, on behalf of the 
Congress, to present Congressional Gold Medals to police officers, 
emergency workers, and other employees of federal, state, and local 
governments, who lost their lives in responding to the attacks on the 
World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, 2001.
  This measure also authorizes the President to award medals to those 
people on board United Airlines Flight 93 who resisted their hijackers 
and caused the plane to crash, preventing an additional tragedy in 
Washington.
  On that horrible day in September, our nation witnessed the best and 
the worst of humanity. The despicable and cowardly terrorist acts were 
valiantly countered with the incredible heroism and courage of our 
firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency personnel, and our 
fellow citizens.
  Accordingly, it is incumbent upon our nation to honor those heroes 
who selflessly gave their lives in saving others. Bestowing the 
Congressional Gold Medal on those deserving men and women will be a 
fitting tribute to their memory and their contribution to our nation's 
freedom. Accordingly, I urge my fellow colleagues to support this 
important measure.
  Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3054, the 
True American Heroes Act and want to thank the gentleman from New York 
(Mr. King), the gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Maloney), and the 
gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Tancredo) for their efforts in bringing 
this important legislation to the floor today.
  Because there was no report filed by the Committee on Financial 
Services on this bill, I am including for the Record the CBO estimate 
for the legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
                                                    U.S. Congress,


                                  Congressional Budget Office,

                                Washington, DC, December 12, 2001.
     Hon. Michael G. Oxley,
     Chairman, Committee on Financial Services,
     U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: As you requested, the Congressional 
     Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for 
     H.R. 3054, the True American Heroes Act.
       If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
     pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew 
     Pickford.
           Sincerely,
                                                 Barry B. Anderson
                                   (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
       Enclosure.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

     H.R. 3054--True American Heroes Act
       H.R. 3054 would authorize the President to present a 
     Congressional gold medal to the families of public safety 
     officers, emergency workers, and other employees of state and 
     local government agencies who perished while responding to 
     the attacks on September 11, 2001, at the World Trade Center. 
     The bill also would authorize duplicate medals to be 
     presented to various officials of New York, as well as each 
     precinct house, fire station, or other duty station that had 
     a member perish in the attacks. H.R. 3054 would authorize the 
     U.S. Mint to sell bronze duplicates of the medal, and allow 
     the proceeds from those sales to be used to erect a memorial 
     for the fallen emergency workers who responded to the 
     attacks.
       CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 3054 would cost 
     approximately $3.8 million in 2002, mostly for the cost of 
     gold to produce about 550 medals. CBO estimates that the 
     first gold medal would cost about $35,500 to produce, 
     including around $5,500 for the cost of the gold and around 
     $30,000 for the costs to design, engrave, and manufacture the 
     medal. Funds collected from the sale of bronze duplicate 
     metals would be available for the cost of a memorial to 
     emergency workers killed in the attacks. CBO estimates that 
     $1 million to $2 million would be collected and later spent 
     as a result of such sales. Over a few years the net budget 
     impact would be insignificant.
       Because the bill would affect direct spending, pay-as-you-
     go procedures would apply. H.R. 3054 contains no 
     intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 
     the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would not affect the 
     budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
       The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. This estimate 
     was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director 
     of Budget Analysis.

  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the True 
American Heroes Act. The men and women who died on September 11th 
serving our country by saving lives deserve not only our immense 
gratitude, but also the highest of honors.
  Out of tragedy, our nation has emerged stronger and prouder than 
ever. Our spirit is inspired by the stories of brave men and women from 
that day--true American heroes.
  In our darkest hours on September 11, the heroes in our midst shined 
brighter than ever. We know some heroic endeavors that were undertaken 
from stories about cell phone calls and from eyewitness accounts.
  On United Airlines Flight #93 passengers called loved ones alerting 
them that their plane had been hijacked. One of my constituents, Jeremy 
Glick, called his wife Lyzbeth from that flight. Jeremy was part of the 
fearless effort to stop the terrorists from taking the plane into the 
heart of Washington, D.C.
  From his cell phone conversation, we know that Jeremy along with 
other passengers and crew chose to fight the terrorists who had 
commandeered the plane, At 10:37 a.m., United Flight #93 crashed in 
Pennsylvania, just minutes after the White House and the Capitol 
Building had been evacuated.
  Always a hero to his wife, his family and his friends, Jeremy Glick 
became a hero to the nation on September 11th, 2001.
  Mr. Speaker, days after the September 11 attacks, I introduced H.R. 
2921 to authorize the President to award posthumously the Congressional 
Gold Medal to Jeremy Glick for his bravery, courage and service to his 
nation. We must honor all the heroes of the United Flight 93. Today, 
this House formally recognizes his contribution and all the heroes of 
that fateful day.
  So, too, do we recognize the bravery of many Americans who died in 
Lower Manhattan.
  Some were our neighbors.

[[Page H10197]]

  Dana Hannon of Wyckoff, New Jersey was a 29-year old, newly-engaged 
member of the New York City Engine Company #28, who responded to the 
reports of a plane crash at the north and south towers of the World 
Trade Center.
  Paul Laszczynski of Paramus was a Port Authority police officer who 
was honored for his action during the first attack on the World Trade 
Center. He and a colleague carried a wheelchair-bound victim down 77 
floors to safety after the bombing in 1993.
  Joe Navas of Paramus was a 44-year old Port Authority police officer. 
In his hometown of Paramus he volunteered as a Little League Coach for 
his two boys. His wife and family had to learn about his earlier heroic 
exploits by reading it in the Bergen Record.
  The example set by Joe Navas is not unique. Our fire departments and 
emergency services are the first on the scene to fires, motor vehicle 
accidents, natural disasters, hazardous waste spills, and, yes, even 
terrorist attacks.
  And they never draw attention to themselves. In their minds, they are 
``just doing their jobs . . .''
  That Tuesday, their work and their courage brought them into the 
building lobbies as people flooded out into the streets. These men and 
women ran up the stairs while instructing people to immediately get 
down those same stairs and outside. They ran to help as others ran to 
safety. Their efforts will never be forgotten, especially by those who 
were saved.
  Someday we may hear the story of the lives these men and women saved 
or the comfort they provided. But for now, we can be proud: proud of 
the job they were doing, proud of the heroism they showed that day, and 
proud of the courage they have always shown. New Jersey lost a tragic 
number of officers and emergency workers in lower Manhattan that day. 
As we wait for stories about New Jersey's finest, we will continue to 
share the memories of their everyday heroism and spirit.
  Mr. Speaker, the men and women that we honor today died on their own 
terms--fighting selflessly against those who hate all that our country 
stands for. Our tenacious American spirit will prevail. As President 
Reagan said in his first Inaugural Address, ``we must realize that no 
arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as 
the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our 
adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as 
Americans do have.''
  On behalf of Congress, let us now recognize the men and women who 
served us in our most horrific hours by awarding these heroes 
Congressional Gold Medals. I strongly urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation.
  This action today is another way of saying God Bless America. Truly 
we are ``one Nation under God.''
  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3054, a bill 
to award the Congressional Gold Medal to the heroes of September 11. I 
hope that this small token of appreciation will symbolize America's 
appreciation for the endless bravery that was shown on that day.
  There are some, for whom there is no sacrifice too great when the 
call to duty sounds. There are some, in a world wrapped in a shroud of 
self-promotion, who see beyond the ``me'', the ``my'', the ``mine'' and 
the ``I''. There are some that so regard their brothers and sisters 
that they disregard their own safety, their own well being, and even 
their own lives, to lend a hand. there are some, which in a split 
second make a decision to forget themselves and do what it takes to 
save others; they are heroes.
  For heroes, there is no room to think or to rationalize. It is never 
practical to endanger ones existence in the hope of promoting the 
survival of others, but they do. It goes beyond what is logical. The 
hero possesses an innate and instinctive ability to respond to extreme 
situations with others in mind. By nature, the hero defies the basic 
human impulse for self-preservation. The hero is selfless.
  On September 11, many Americans heeded the call to action. On a 
beautiful morning, ordinary people awakened to start the day, to go 
about their normal routines with smiles, frowns, traffic, and cups of 
coffee. The Pentagon was still an impenetrable fortress and the skyline 
of New York was still intact; the morning proceeded as usual. In the 
moments to follow, shocked and horrified, firefighters, police 
officers, servicemen and women, and everyday people sprang into 
situations that were simply incomprehensible; they fought to save 
lives. They saved lives and returned to save more, and in an instant, 
the courageous fire that burned in their hearts was extinguished.
  Above the mayhem, Flight 93 swam the skies to reach the West Coast. 
Aboard this flight the passengers eagerly awaited landing, waiting to 
meet their loved ones miles away. Nonetheless, with angry shouts the 
silence was broken and the passengers realized that terror's arm had 
reached yet another flight. The terrorists made their move and fought 
to carry out this horrible act. They were headed to Washington, DC to 
destroy the very symbols that shine as beacons for freedom throughout 
the world. The terrorists were trained and prepared to destroy lives 
and break the spirit of America. However, they were never trained to 
defeat the spirit of heroism.
  The passengers of Flight 93, after talking to their courageous and 
heroic family members and learning of the attacks, decided that there 
would be no more death and destruction. They decided that America had 
suffered enough for one morning. They decided that they would trade 
their lives to save hundreds, maybe thousands more, quite possibly my 
own. For them, heroism was not the goal. They did not seek a grand 
prize or recognition. They sought only to prevent the destruction that 
was sure to come absent their intervention.
  For heroes, there is no reward other than the satisfaction of knowing 
that their sacrifice may allow the life of others to continue. Since 
September 11, America has received so many lessons in heroism. We have 
been schooled in selflessness and courage. We have learned what it 
means to sacrifice. We can only honor and thank them for these lessons 
and for the lives that they saved, and the lives they gave.
  The Congressional Gold Meal is the nation's highest civilian award. 
The medal recognizes outstanding achievements and unusual acts of valor 
and courage. Be it over a lifetime or in one instance, it recognizes 
that its recipients have--in their own way--changed the world for the 
better. The heroes of 9-11 have shown a courage that is rare to modern 
times. They fought the hatred and the malice of that terrible day with 
love, compassion, courage and selflessness. And they changed the world.
  It is difficult to find good in such a tragic event. However, we can 
look to the many men and women who worked tirelessly and who died 
courageously to save life, and know that even in the face of death and 
terror, the good in humanity prevails. The Congressional Gold Medal is 
but a small token, but I hope it will symbolize the immeasurable thanks 
that we pay to these heroes. I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. KING. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. King) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3054, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8, rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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