[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 23, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H1496-H1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE NEW YORK FIELD OFFICE FOR 
 EXTRAORDINARY PERFORMANCE DURING AND IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SEPTEMBER 
                                11, 2001

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 384) honoring the men and women of the United 
States Secret Service New York field office for their extraordinary 
performance and commitment to service during and immediately following 
the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 384

       Whereas the United States Secret Service New York field 
     office located in 7 World Trade Center was destroyed on 
     September 11, 2001, as a result of terrorist attacks;
       Whereas, throughout the day of the attacks and subsequent 
     days, the men and women of the New York field office 
     continually and knowingly placed themselves in exceptional 
     danger in their efforts to save life;
       Whereas, in selfless dedication to others, Master Special 
     Officer Craig Miller was lost in the collapse of the World 
     Trade Center;
       Whereas, subsequent to the terrorist attacks, the men and 
     women of the United States Secret Service New York field 
     office worked tirelessly to re-establish critical field 
     office operations and assist State and local public safety 
     officials; and
       Whereas the United States Secret Service performs a 
     critical role in the protection of freedom, and these acts 
     represent a dedication to duty in the highest traditions of 
     the Department of the Treasury and the United States of 
     America: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) honors the continuing service and commitment of the men 
     and women assigned to the United States Secret Service, New 
     York field office;
       (2) recognizes the critical importance of the United States 
     Secret Service to our national security; and
       (3) supports providing the necessary resources to ensure 
     the full operation of the New York field office and the 
     mission of the Secret Service.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Idaho (Mr. Otter) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter).


                             General Leave

  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Resolution 384.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Idaho?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time that I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to have the House consider House 
Resolution 384 introduced by my distinguished colleague, the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook). I commend him for sponsoring this important 
resolution.
  This resolution honors the men and the women of the United States 
Secret Service New York field office for their extraordinary 
performance and commitment to service during and following the 
September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.
  Madam Speaker, Building 7 of the World Trade Center housed a number 
of Federal Government offices, including the IRS, the EEOC, the Defense 
Department, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the New York 
field office of the United States Secret Service. The field office was 
destroyed on September 11 and, tragically, Master Special Officer Craig 
Miller lost his life when the building collapsed.
  Master Special Officer Miller was at the Marriott Hotel that morning 
when the hotel was evacuated. Master Special Officer Miller had a 
military background and extensive emergency medical training. It is 
believed that he went back into the towers to help the wounded.
  His courage in the face of danger was extraordinary and typifies the 
hundreds of men and women who put themselves in danger to help others 
on that horrific day. Master Special Officer Miller and his actions 
reflect a proud tradition of selfless service to our Nation by the 
United States Secret Service.
  Madam Speaker, our Nation will never forget the horror of September 
11, but neither will we forget the heroism of so many on that terrible 
day. Today we recognize the commitment of the men and women of the 
Secret Service New York field office.
  Within 48 hours of attacks, this New York field office was fully 
operational. A remarkable achievement, Madam Speaker. The office was 
completely destroyed, but within two days it was up and running again 
and fighting the war on terrorism. The Electronic Crimes Task Force, a 
division of the New York

[[Page H1497]]

field office, with the cooperation of the business community, restored 
wireless communications and computer network capabilities.
  The challenges, Madam Speaker, were only just beginning, for the 
President of the United States was to schedule a visit to that site. 
The United Nations General Assembly was weeks away from commencing its 
activities, and there were ongoing criminal investigations that needed 
to be continued.
  Madam Speaker, we honor the employees of the New York field office of 
the Secret Service today because of their integrity, their tireless 
energy, and their dedication in serving the citizens of the United 
States and of New York City.
  The Secret Service is currently occupying office space at the John 
Jay College and the Penn Station Post Office. They have earned our 
gratitude and whatever resources are necessary to continue their 
protective and criminal investigative missions.
  Madam Speaker, I ask all Members to support this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1415

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join with the gentleman from Idaho in 
consideration of this resolution honoring the men and women of the 
United States Secret Service, New York field office, for their 
extraordinary performance and commitment to service during and 
immediately following the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center 
on September 11, 2001.
  Madam Speaker, the United States Secret Service is mandated by the 
United States Congress to carry out two distinct and significant 
missions: protection and criminal investigations. One of the Nation's 
oldest Federal investigative law enforcement agencies, the Secret 
Service was founded in 1865 as a branch of the United States Treasury. 
Its original mission was to investigate counterfeiting of U.S. 
currency.
  Though the Secret Service's primary mission is to protect the 
President and Vice President, and the Nation's financial system, on 
September 11, 2001, these men and women placed themselves in harm's way 
to protect the ordinary citizen. They did so after their offices in the 
World Trade Center were destroyed and after losing one of their own, 
Master Special Officer Craig Miller.
  The New York field office's tireless work to reestablish critical 
field office operations and assist State and local public safety 
officials after their attacks is a testament to the Secret Service's 
commitment to the City of New York and to the American people.
  We often think of the Secret Service as a Washington-based 
organization that protects the President, heads of state, the White 
House, and other national treasuries in the District of Columbia. Now 
we know that the Secret Service is present in cities all over the 
country and is ready to serve and protect all of us at a moment's call. 
So I join with my colleague in urging total support for this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).
  Mr. HOYER. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for his 
generosity in yielding me this time, and I rise in strong support of 
this resolution.
  Being a Secret Service employee is special. It is a job that requires 
a very special kind of person, a person that would be held to a higher 
standard than others, and a person who we depend upon to protect our 
Nation's leaders, our communities, and our Nation's financial systems.
  On September 11, the images of heroes that we all remember were of 
first responders, like firefighters and New York City Police Department 
officers. Within the masses, however, were special people that we may 
not have noticed, and some were the men and women of the Secret 
Service.
  The Secret Service field office, as has been said, was located at 
Number 7 World Trade Center, which was adjacent to the north and south 
towers. For the second time since the World Trade bombing in 1993, 
these men and women faced unusual challenges that tested their courage, 
strength, dedication, and loyalty.
  On September 11, like any other morning, most of the Secret Service 
employees were either settling into their offices or still making their 
way to work. Others were about to attend meetings to prepare for the 
upcoming meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. At 8:48 a.m. 
their offices in Building 7 shook and the lights flickered. Most of 
them stopped for a quick moment but quickly returned to their work.
  However, after realizing that a plane had hit the north tower of the 
World Trade Center, they very quickly went into an alert mode. Although 
most other tenants started to evacuate the building, the men and women 
of the Secret Service instinctively grabbed first aid trauma kits and 
other emergency equipment.
  Special Agent in Charge, Steve Carey, and other managers ran from one 
floor to another, and room to room, to ensure that everyone was moving 
to safety. Once outside, they saw the sky engulfed by flames and smoke. 
Some of the agents ran into the north tower to assist in the evacuation 
process. Others began to execute the emergency medical skills that they 
had been trained to perform and set up small triage units on West 
Street to assist the injured.
  Tragically, as the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) has said, the 
Secret Service lost an employee, Master Special Officer Craig Miller. 
Officer Miller was on a temporary assignment in New York for the United 
Nations General Assembly and was nearby at the Marriott Hotel when the 
first plane hit the World Trade Center. Although the hotel was 
evacuated, it appears that Officer Miller stayed behind to help.
  Because of his military background and extensive emergency medical 
training, those who knew Officer Miller believe his life was taken 
while trying to assist the wounded. In fact, some of the medical 
equipment was later found in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel that that 
particular officer had in his possession.
  Following September 11, the employees at the New York field office 
knew that the hours and days ahead would be equally challenging. Not 
only were they now without an office, but all of their equipment, all 
of their equipment was destroyed with their building. However, with 
strong support of other Secret Service offices within the region and 
around the country, and other law enforcement assistance, they returned 
to a readiness mode in 48 hours, as the ranking member has indicated, 
an extraordinary achievement in and of itself. In fact, within 48 hours 
of the attack, the Secret Service Electronic Crimes Task Force was able 
to track the cell phone use of some of the terrorists involved in the 
attack.
  The men and women of the U.S. Secret Service have devoted, Madam 
Speaker, their careers to protecting the lives of others, to protecting 
the financial integrity of our Nation, to protecting the integrity of 
our currency. Their level of bravery was no real surprise. Their 
courageous efforts were simply an extension of what they had been 
trained to perform at any given minute. They are deserving of this 
honor and always worthy of trust and confidence.
  Madam Speaker, Franklin Delano Roosevelt said that ``the lives of 
nations are determined not by the count of years but by the lifetime of 
the human spirit. The life of a man,'' he said, ``is three score and 
ten, a little more or a little less, but the life of a Nation is the 
fullness of its will to live.'' How special are these agents that we 
call Secret Service, how special are these people who themselves 
represent the fullness of the will of a Nation to live and to succeed.
  These patriots, Madam Speaker, these proud Americans demonstrated 
that even under attack, the Nation stands strong; the human spirit 
remains unbowed. I rise in strong support of this resolution and thank 
the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), who was responsible in many 
respects for its introduction; and I thank the members of the committee 
for quickly processing this resolution which the gentleman from 
Oklahoma and I and others will personally deliver to the

[[Page H1498]]

men and women of the Secret Service located in New York next week.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
to thank my colleague from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer) and my colleague from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis) for their kind remarks and for recounting the 
litany of heroic deeds of that tragic day in New York City.
  Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), who has brought this to our attention in 
the form of recognition and legislation.
  Mr. ISTOOK. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me this 
time, and I will not duplicate some of the terrific details that were 
recounted by my friend, the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer); but I 
do adopt them in praise of the men and women of the Secret Service and 
the heroism that they displayed on September 11, 2001.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in tribute to the very selfless efforts 
of the men and women of the United States Secret Service, the New York 
field office, on September 11, 2001, and the days that have followed 
since then. It is difficult to separate oneself at a time like this, to 
get beyond looking at the totality of the horrific events that occurred 
so that we can examine individual acts of determination, of compassion, 
and of courage. They are far more telling about the fate and future of 
our country and how the fate and future will be bright because of this 
determination, compassion, and courage. That is more telling about our 
country's future than the damage that was inflicted by this evil.
  There were a great many examples of selflessness and courage, as we 
have heard, that occurred that day. They came from a multitude of 
people, from a multitude of walks of life. I am focusing at the moment 
on the Secret Service because, as chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Treasury, Postal Service, and General Government of the Committee on 
Appropriations, I have come to know them through the work that our 
subcommittee does with them, and through the fortunate experience that 
I have had of having several of the good people of the Secret Service 
work in my personal congressional office on fellowship programs. I have 
to say that while the resources we provide to them are important, there 
is no substitute for the character and dedication that these 
individuals bring to their efforts and to their mission.
  On September 11, the Secret Service New York field office, which was 
located in 7 World Trade Center, was destroyed by these terrorist 
attacks. Throughout that day, throughout that night, there were 
countless examples, as we have heard, of Secret Service employees 
placing themselves at great risk to be of aid to others. Just one 
example of heroism and dedication is Master Special Officer Craig 
Miller, who was lost in the collapse of the World Trade Towers. It is 
important that Craig Miller be remembered as an example of what is 
truly important about this country.
  We may never know exactly how Craig Miller died that day, but his 
life provided many examples of the sterling character which 
characterizes the people in the Secret Service of which we speak. That 
day his sacrifice, and the sacrifice of others who were lost beside him 
in serving others, inspires all of us as Americans to move ahead on the 
course of freedom; to know that through dedication to duty, through 
strength of character, and through selfless service to others freedom 
will prevail.
  The men and women of the Secret Service New York field office proved 
themselves worthy of the trust and confidence that we have placed in 
them. Throughout the hours and days that followed the attacks, they 
tirelessly worked to reestablish critical field office operations and 
also to assist State and local public safety officials.
  The performance of the personnel in the New York field office on that 
day and the days that followed represent a dedication to duty in the 
highest traditions of the Department of the Treasury, of the United 
States Secret Service, and of the United States of America.
  Madam Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize their 
service, and I urge adoption of this very important resolution.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume to associate myself with the remarks of all the 
distinguished speakers and would urge passage of this resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume; 
and in closing, I would just like to reflect that the author of this 
legislation was one whose district had witnessed such a terrible 
disaster in the bombing of the Federal building in Oklahoma City, and 
so it echoes of the patriotism that we saw there and we saw again in 
New York City.
  I would like to thank my colleagues who have come down here today to 
honor the men and women of the Secret Service of the New York field 
office. After September 11, they worked tirelessly to reestablish the 
critical operations, as we have all heard, and undoubtedly that 
contributed to the safety and the continuation of this great Nation and 
equally important to the continuation of this great Republic.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to join with those of us who have 
spoken in favor of this resolution on the floor in support of this 
resolution.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 384, honoring the 
continuing service and commitment of the men and women assigned to the 
United States Secret Service, New York field office.
  On that horrible day on September 11th, the New York field office of 
the U.S. Secret Service located in 7 World Trade Center was destroyed 
as a result of the attacks. However, in the face of grave danger, the 
men and women of the Secret Service valiantly and selflessly assisted 
rescue workers at the scene in their efforts to save the thousands of 
people working in the World Trade Center complex.
  Our Nation witnessed the best and the worst of humanity that fateful 
day. Accordingly, it is incumbent upon our Nation to honor those 
heroes, be they here or departed. Accordingly, I urge my fellow 
colleagues to support this important measure.
  Mr. OTTER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1430

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Biggert). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Idaho (Mr. Otter) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 384.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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