[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 19, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H949-H952]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING PENTAGON RENOVATION PROGRAM
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 368) commending the great work that the Pentagon
Renovation Program and its contractors have completed thus far, in
reconstructing the portion of the Pentagon that was destroyed by the
terrorist attack of September 11, 2001.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 368
Whereas the Pentagon was struck by a horrible act of
terrorism on September 11, 2001, taking the lives of 125
employees at the Pentagon and 64 hostages on a hijacked
airplane;
Whereas a renovation effort, known as Phoenix Project, is
underway to restore the damaged portion of the Pentagon, and
is pushing to have Pentagon personnel back to work in that
portion of the building by September 11, 2002, just 1 short
year after the terrorist attack;
Whereas, initially working 24 hours a day and 7 days each
week, the outstanding men and women of the Pentagon
Renovation Program have demonstrated the Nation's resolve and
know-how, and are 6 weeks ahead of schedule in the
reconstruction effort;
Whereas the 400,000 square feet of demolition work, which
had to be completed before reconstruction work could begin,
was completed in just 1 month, when it was estimated to take
4 to 7 months for the job; and
Whereas the renovation effort is comprised of 15 percent
government and 85 percent contracted personnel, and these
individuals have clearly dedicated themselves to making this
important institution whole again: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives commends the
great work that the Pentagon Renovation Program and its
contactors have completed thus far, in reconstructing the
portion of the Pentagon that was destroyed by the terrorist
attack of September 11, 2001.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
Jersey (Mr. Saxton) and the gentleman from Hawaii (Mr. Abercrombie)
each will control 20 minutes.
[[Page H950]]
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton).
General Leave
Mr. Saxton. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on the resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New Jersey?
There was no objection.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 368, commending the
great work that the Pentagon renovation program and its contractors
have accomplished in swiftly repairing the Pentagon after the
devastating attack of September 11, 2001. I thank our distinguished
colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), for sponsoring this
resolution.
Shortly after the tragic event of September 11, I led a small
delegation to visit the Pentagon. The devastation was truly appalling,
and I was sure that a lengthy period would be required to repair such
extensive damage. Of course, I am glad to report that I was wrong.
The dedication and superhuman efforts of the Pentagon renovation
program office and its contractors have defied all predictions in their
ability to work miracles. The removal of the debris and restoration of
the damaged area aptly called the Phoenix Project has amazed the world
in the speed of its operation.
The damaged wedge had been virtually renovated as part of the ongoing
project to refurbish the Pentagon before the plane struck last
September. Determined to finish the job and have people back at their
desk by September 11 of this year, the dedicated team of government and
contract employees went into immediate action. Work on the crash site
was conducted around the clock for three months and is now down to a
mere 20 hours a day. I understand that workers had to be forced to take
time off for Christmas and have protested the cessation of the 24-hour
day operations.
The pace and skill of this reconstruction effort is truly a
masterpiece of American ingenuity and effort and is a positive reaction
to the evil of September 11 of last year.
{time} 1445
Mr. Speaker, all involved in this extraordinary effort deserve our
deepest gratitude.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Military
Installations and Facilities, I pay close attention to military
construction projects. I have never seen one proceed at this pace and
sincerely hope that there is never a reason to proceed at this pace
again. But these intrepid souls have shown the world what American
spirit and resolve are all about. Many have worked on this project and
they are heroes, in my mind.
Mr. Speaker, I am sure that Members will all support H. Res. 368,
but, Mr. Speaker, let me just commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Foley) for his great efforts in bringing this resolution to us. It is
something that I think is very worthwhile for us to note here in an
official way today.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 368,
introduced by my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley), as
indicated by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), and endorsed
by numerous other Members of the House. The resolution commends the
outstanding progress made thus far by the Pentagon Renovation Program
and its contractors in reconstructing the section of the Pentagon
damaged by the terrorist attack.
On September 11, 2001, Mr. Speaker, our Nation suffered four
unprovoked terrorist attacks, three of which found their aim in two of
our most powerful symbols of strength and democracy. Two days after the
attacks, the Army asked the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton),
myself, and several other Members involved in the Subcommittee on
Military Construction to visit the Pentagon site and survey the damage
sustained there. Like the rest of the American public, we were stunned
by the gash in what had previously seemed to be the impenetrable
exterior of the Pentagon.
What really caught our attention, though, was the work already under
way. A small city of support was buzzing on the lawn. Firefighters were
still battling flare-ups and hot spots, and military and civilian
personnel were securing the building and sifting through the debris. No
one was waiting to be told what to do. They were just doing what they
knew needed to be done.
The Pentagon Renovation Program has exceeded every expectation. The
American public realized the significance of healing this visible wound
as soon as possible, and the Phoenix Project has made it a reality.
Government and contract personnel put their shoulders to the wheel, at
times laboring around the clock, to tear down the most severely damaged
sections and to rebuild it from the ground up. Demolition was supposed
to take 7 or 8 months, Mr. Speaker. The team completed it in 1 month
and 1 day. That is the power of American resolve.
I have the utmost confidence that the Renovation Program will meet
its ultimate goal to have people back at their desks by September 10,
2002. There could be no greater tribute to those who lost their lives
than to know that the men and women of the Department of Defense are
once again doing the business of the country from their proper Pentagon
offices.
Mr. Speaker, let us honor these Americans, public workers and private
citizens, willing to dedicate themselves to the rebuilding of our
national morale.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Foley).
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time and, thus, giving me the opportunity to praise so many fabulous
and phenomenal workers at the Pentagon.
I would first like to thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump),
Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, for expediting this
important resolution. The Committee worked especially quickly with the
staff from the Pentagon to move this resolution forward, House
Resolution 368, for which I know all of us are grateful. Within 48
hours, 70-plus colleagues on both sides of the aisle quickly joined me
in saluting the men and women at the Pentagon.
Mr. Speaker, anyone who has driven by the Pentagon recently has been
a firsthand witness to the amazing determination and depth of the
American spirit. That spirit is embodied in all the workers who are
resurrecting the Pentagon in a reconstruction project aptly named
Project Phoenix. Just 6 short months ago, terrorists attempted to
attack and raze a symbol of America. They found they could barely
scratch the surface.
From the individuals who immediately responded to the attack
delivering triage, to the many people affected by the explosion, to the
ongoing efforts of Project Phoenix, America's resolve and strength are
clear and evident. Anyone who has seen the Pentagon lately has seen a
miracle of reconstruction, and behind that miracle are all the workers
who have clearly taken hold of this project, showing the world that
what evil tries to destroy can be rebuilt stronger, bigger, and better.
It is as clear as the Pentagon itself that these workers are adding
more than bricks and mortar to this cherished building; they are
leaving an imprint of their dedication that rose from the ashes of
September 11. Starting almost immediately after the attack, workers
labored 24 hours a day to clear the area of over 400,000 square feet of
debris, a project they completed amazingly in only a little more than 1
month. They are now 6 weeks ahead of schedule, with an ever-visible
goal in site.
Above the construction site on the building is a clock counting down
to September 11, 2002. The workers made a commitment that they would
have Pentagon employees working back at their desks in the outer ring
of the Pentagon by September 11, 2002. And as that clock counts down,
it is a constant reminder of the importance of this work.
[[Page H951]]
Mr. Speaker, what these workers have displayed is a deep, true
dedication that cannot be feigned. It must come from within. And it for
that dedication that I introduced this resolution and received such
overwhelming support from my colleagues. I know others will speak
today: the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran), the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Davis), the gentlewoman from Maryland (Mrs. Morella), and
others joining us on the House floor today. We invite everyone on
Thursday, at 1 p.m., to the Pentagon for a formal presentation of this
proclamation.
One more word, Mr. Speaker, and I know that the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Davis) know
this personally, we have spent a lot of time talking about the tragedy
in New York, and at times I feel we have actually slighted those brave
men and women who were killed in the ashes of this devastation just a
short mile and a half from this complex. I salute their families as
well and the memory of those loved ones lost, and just want to assure
them that every person's life that was taken by terrorists will never
be forgotten. While we salute the tremendous accomplishments of the men
and women on the construction site, let us not leave this floor without
spending a moment to commemorate those brave men and women who serve us
daily in uniform, those who lost their lives, who never returned home,
but stood vigil over this great Nation of ours.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. Moran), who is representing the Pentagon here today, as
it resides in his district.
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague
from Hawaii for yielding me this time, and I thank my friends and
colleagues, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) and the gentleman
from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton), as well as all those involved in this
resolution.
Since the Pentagon is in my congressional district, it would be
tempting to take credit for the extra $1.1 billion that we added to the
supplemental appropriations bill last year to make this possible, but
in fact, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman
from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murtha), the chairman and ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations, do deserve
recognition for making this request a priority. But I know that they
would agree that the most deserved credit, as the resolution says, goes
to the tireless work of the men and women charged with the actual
rebuilding of the Pentagon.
On September 11, a day forever to be marked in infamy in United
States history, one of our Nation's historic landmarks and the
operational center of the world's most powerful military was struck by
the evils of international terrorism. This heinous act caught us by
surprise; however, in the days that followed, our steely resolve
triggered an overwhelming military response and an unprecedented effort
to rebuild our defiled monument.
Titled the Phoenix Project, the renovation of the Pentagon is an
ongoing demonstration of U.S. technological and civil engineering
advances. It is in operation 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, consists of
construction shifts running from 6:30 a.m. until 2:30 in the morning,
from the early hours before daybreak until long after the sun sets.
These American workers are demonstrating our Nation's collective
resolve to rise from the ashes and go forward undeterred in our efforts
to wipe out the terrorist threat.
While the renovation is running like a well-oiled machine, its
success could not be maintained without the dedication and deep-seated
devotion of the work crews responsible for its execution. As a
testament to their efficient labors, the demolition, slated for
completion in 7 months, the demolition, was incredibly finished in just
1 month. The blood, sweat and, undoubtedly, tears shed by these
hardworking individuals is a true example of America's work ethic and
ingenuity.
The purpose of this resolution, as I know my friend from Florida (Mr.
Foley) would agree, is simply to take a moment from our day to salute
these patriots. We proudly stand to honor their efforts and wait in
anticipation for the 1-year anniversary of September 11 when the
culmination of their labor will come to fruition and America's living
monument to its military superiority will be whole again and built
stronger than ever.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Maryland (Mrs. Morella).
Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this
time and for having this resolution come to the floor of the House. I
rise in strong support for House Resolution 368.
I want to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for
introducing the resolution, which I am proud to be a cosponsor of. The
resolution commends the efforts of the many individuals and
organizations that have done a remarkable job at the Pentagon in the
Pentagon renovation effort.
The Phoenix Project is already 6 weeks ahead of schedule, as my
colleagues heard, and demolition work that was supposed to take 7
months has taken only 1. The crew, made up of government workers and
contractor personnel, has built the skeleton for the outer ring in just
6 months and is on schedule to be open again by this coming September
11. How remarkable.
I also want to mention the efforts of AMEC. This is a design and
construction company in my district, Montgomery County, Maryland, for
the work they have done during this renovation. They actually were
responsible for the wedge-one renovations that were basically completed
right before September 11. AMEC has now been leading the efforts in
refurbishing wedge one, and I applaud their work.
Specifically, I want to thank their wonderful team: Brett Eaton, Dave
Coffman, Karl Johnson, John Macenczak, William Rock Viner, Greg Vachon,
Sing Banh, Eric Sin, Michael Palumbo, Shaul Kopyto, David Conner, Avis
Woods, David Clint, and Claude Bernier. These individuals, as well as
hundreds of others who have worked tirelessly since September 11,
deserve commendation, and I hope that all Members of this House will
support this in this very important resolution.
Yes, I toured the Pentagon several days after September 11, and I
look forward to being at the presentation of this resolution at the
Pentagon on Thursday, March 21, to say thanks.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume,
prior to yielding back the balance of my time, because I would just
like to say that the folks who are rebuilding the Pentagon are setting
a great example for the rest of America and the rest of the world. But
I think it is equally important today that we do not forget the
thousands of other people who are involved in activities that are
related to the attack on the Pentagon.
Obviously, there were people who lost their lives on September 11 and
in the following days, and there are people involved today at the
Pentagon who are not involved in the rebuilding effort. There are
people involved in other Federal agencies around the world, and there
are U.S. troops in places like Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, and in
Yemen, in Georgia; and there are Marines standing at their posts at
embassies all around the world.
{time} 1500
Mr. Speaker, these people are all people who deserve a great deal of
credit. But today we choose to single out one group of people who are
setting an example of American resolve. That resolve, however, is
shared by those I just mentioned and many others. So let the word go
out to the terrorists and the would-be terrorists that we are here and
we take note of what has occurred during the last 6 months. They should
take note, as well, about how serious we are.
Mr. Speaker, the men and women who are rebuilding the Pentagon are an
example of that, but they are not the only example of that. We thank
them for what they are doing, and I again pay my great thanks to the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Foley) for bringing this resolution to us
today. We look forward to joining the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
Foley) in the presentation that will take place in the next day or so.
Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House
Resolution 368.
[[Page H952]]
My Congressional District, the 10th of Virginia, lost nearly 30
people at the Pentagon to the tragic events of September 11, 2001. This
resolution commends the Phoenix Project which is the ongoing effort at
the Pentagon to rebuild the damaged section by September 11, 2002. Like
the Phoenix which rose out of the ashes, the project is running on
schedule because Phoenix team members are working around the clock, 6
days per week, to bring the Pentagon back from the ``ashes.'' It is
those workers today who we congratulate and thank.
The reconstruction of the Pentagon will rebuild the damaged building
and also help heal emotional wounds. It also sends a message to the
terrorists that America cannot be defeated. Our ideals and freedoms
will not waiver in the face of terrorism.
I am honored to be speaking in support of this resolution. It is
important that we not forget the courage and bravery of all those
affected by the events of September 11.
I urge your unanimous support for this resolution to honor those
brave Americans who died on September 11 and to thank those workers who
are rebuilding the Pentagon.
Mr. TOM DAVIS of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and
pride that I rise today to pay tribute to the men and women who have
worked so hard to rebuild the Nation's military headquarters and a
national icon.
Although born out of tragedy, the current reconstruction project
represents an opportunity to memorialize permanently and prominently
our Nation's history of resilience in the face of adversity. I
congratulate the workers and contractors who are ahead of schedule in
repairing the huge hole blown out of the Pentagon on Tuesday, September
11, 2001, by a terrorist-hijacked airliner.
The efforts of those involved in reconstruction have enabled the
Pentagon to get back to business--waging war in Central Asia and
destroying those networks responsible for the terrorist attacks in
Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania. The demolition of the wounded
section took only 1 month and a day to complete, aided by 24-hour days,
7 days a week and landfills that stayed open all night. Weary workers
celebrated the day they finished, November 19, by placing a Christmas
tree on the Pentagon's roof. It marked a turning point toward the
positive: they would stop tearing down and start building up.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to congratulate the crews at
the Pentagon who have toiled tirelessly for more than 3 months now,
trying to fix what was broken, replace what was destroyed, and put back
together a meticulous, 20-year, $1.2-billion renovation effort that was
already well along at the time of the attack.
Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Culberson). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Saxton) that the
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 368.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of
those present have voted in the affirmative.
Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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