[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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