[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 86 (Tuesday, June 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H3900-H3902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMENDING CONTRIBUTIONS OF ROOFING PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN
REBUILDING OF PENTAGON
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 424) commending the patriotic
contributions of the roofing professionals who replaced, at no cost to
the Federal Government, the section of the Pentagon's slate roof that
was destroyed as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United
States that occurred on September 11, 2001.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Con. Res. 424
Whereas the damage to the Pentagon that resulted from the
terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on
September 11, 2001, included the destruction of more than an
acre of the Pentagon's slate roof;
Whereas roofing professionals from throughout the United
States, mostly from small businesses, volunteered to work
together to replace the destroyed section of the Pentagon's
roof;
Whereas these roofing professionals donated approximately
$450,000 worth of labor and materials to the replacement
effort; and
Whereas these roofing professionals successfully replaced
60,000 square feet of the Pentagon's slate roof before
September 11, 2002, and at no cost to the Federal Government:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress commends the patriotic
contributions of the roofing professionals who replaced, at
no cost to the Federal Government, the section of the
Pentagon's slate roof that was destroyed as a result of the
terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on
September 11, 2001.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan).
General Leave
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks
on House Concurrent Resolution 424.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Oklahoma?
There was no objection.
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 424, introduced by my
distinguished colleagues, the gentleman
[[Page H3901]]
from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) and the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Velazquez), honors the hard work of the roofers who helped rebuild the
Pentagon in the wake of the September 11 attacks.
Mr. Speaker, September 11 is etched in our minds for all time. That
terrible day brought destruction and cast a dark shadow over the entire
country and world. In the midst of those acts of evil, the Pentagon was
severely damaged. Over the past several months, this body has
acknowledged and thanked those who have helped rebuild New York and the
Pentagon in so many ways following the terrorist attacks.
Today we recognize the diligent work of the roofing professionals,
mostly small businesses, who have banded together to volunteer their
time, labor and materials worth one-half million dollars to rebuild the
section of roof destroyed in the attack on the Pentagon. The fire from
the attack ruined more than one acre of slate roofing over the Pentagon
in addition to the section of structure that was damaged. Today, the
full 20,000 square foot area of roof over the Pentagon now has
replacement slate. They completed this work before the deadline at no
cost to the taxpayers.
The House commends the patriotic and generous contributions these
roofing professionals have made to the rebuilding of the Pentagon.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the roofing professionals
who volunteered their time and effort to repair the roof of the
Pentagon following the September 11 terrorist attack.
Mr. Speaker, the Pentagon was struck by a horrible act of terrorism
on September 11, 2001. One hundred twenty-five employees at the
Pentagon and 64 hostages on Flight 77 perished as a result of the
terrorist attack that day. The attack also resulted in the destruction
of more than an acre of the Pentagon's slate roof. The renovation
effort, known as the Phoenix Project, is under way to restore the
damaged portion of the Pentagon and is pushing to have the Pentagon
personnel back to work in that portion of the building by September 11,
2002.
Contributing to this effort were roofing professionals from
throughout the United States, mostly from small, family-owned
businesses who volunteered to work together to replace the destroyed
section of the Pentagon's roof. These hard-working Americans donated
approximately a half million dollars in materials and labor to the
replacement effort and successfully replaced 60,000 square feet of the
Pentagon's roof at no cost to the American taxpayers who have already
shared a large burden of the emotional and financial costs of September
11. The completion of this project reflects the spirit that we as
Americans can work together, rise from the ashes and overcome any
obstacle.
I commend those who have come forth with this resolution. I urge its
support.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Manzullo).
Mr. MANZULLO. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H. Con. Res.
424, a resolution commending those small businesses and family-owned
enterprises in the roofing industry who donated their time and
resources to help complete the reconstruction of the portion of the
Pentagon roof damaged or destroyed by the terrorist attacks on
September 11. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to the many volunteers
for the patriotic work and to acknowledge the National Roofing
Contractors Association which organized these efforts.
The Pentagon Project, as it was called, was the brainchild of John
and Kimberly Francis who are co-owners of a family-run roofing
contracting company in Falls Church, Virginia. Searching for something
they could offer in response to the attacks, they approached the
National Roofing Contractors Association with the idea of assembling a
volunteer force of small businesses in the roofing industry to raise
the needed cash, material and manpower to rebuild the approximately
60,000 square feet of damaged roof. Small business volunteers from
around the country offered to come to Washington to help fix the roof
or donated supplies for the project. The result: Less than 9 months
after the attack, these volunteers have completed their work and
restored a symbol of American power and resolve.
This resolution honors their success, determination and patriotism.
It recognizes their eagerness to step forward and contribute in a
meaningful way to America's fight against terrorism and resolve to
stand firm along the way.
On behalf of the American people, as well as the members of the
Committee on Small Business, all of whom cosponsored this resolution,
we offer our heartfelt thanks for a job well done and congratulations
on a recognition well deserved.
I especially want to thank my colleague, the ranking minority member,
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez), for her leadership in
making sure that this resolution was authored, submitted and came to
the floor today.
In fact, about 4 hours ago, we were at the Pentagon for a ceremony
that honored these roofers. Sixty thousand square feet is a little over
an acre and a half. It is a tremendous amount of roof. You could see
the roofers still on the roof today. It must have been 130 degrees up
there. This is what they wanted to do for America.
As people came together after September 11, these roofers realized
that they wanted to do something in a meaningful way. As they drive by
the Pentagon every day, they can see that portion of the roof that they
restored with no cost to the Federal Government because this is their
contribution to making America great.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such
time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms.
Velazquez), the ranking member of the Committee on Small Business.
(Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to revise and extend
her remarks.)
Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of a grateful
Nation. Less than 3 months before the anniversary of the worst act of
terrorism in our history, a small group of volunteer small business
professionals from across the country completed replacement of more
than an acre of hard slate roof over the Pentagon. Earlier this
morning, many of us participated in a ceremony at the Pentagon to
recognize the work of these selfless Americans, and we are here again
to thank them for their patriotic generosity.
Small businesses work for America. They anchor our communities and
neighborhoods. They create three-fourths of all new jobs, employ half
our workers and produce nearly half our GDP. They hauled us out of our
last recession into the longest peacetime boom on record. They did it
before, and they are doing it again.
But that is not all. When they lock up for the night, small business
owners are out in the community, volunteering in school, coaching
little league, donating their time and expertise to neighborhood
improvement.
But even when it did not seem possible that small businesses could
give any more, they did. When terrorists crashed American Airlines
Flight 77 into the Pentagon on September 11, small businesses stepped
forward to help. Leading the way were John and Kimberly Francis, owners
of Northern Virginia Roofing in Falls Church, Virginia. After September
11, they joined millions of Americans in wanting to do something, to
give something back.
{time} 1545
So when they learned of the extensive damage to the Pentagon's roof,
they decided to volunteer their particular talents. They would give a
new roof to the Pentagon.
Soon roofing professionals from across the country came to volunteer
their time, labor, and materials, rebuilding more than an acre and a
half of hard slate roof over the Pentagon. They flew in from all across
the country to northern Virginia, they drove, they even brought campers
to work on this project.
My colleagues might remember that this was not the best time if one
was a small business to donate time on labor. The economy was in a
recession and threatened to get worse. Americans
[[Page H3902]]
feared for their security and their jobs. Yet these roofers knew that
they had a patriotic imperative and an historic opportunity to help
heal this breach by doing what they do best. In our darkest moment,
they were among our brightest lights.
Eight months later, $450,000 in donated material and labor have had
their desired effect. A professional army of volunteers have given a
roof to the Pentagon at no charge to the Federal Government or the
American taxpayer.
I hope every Member of this body is inspired by the story of these
selfless professionals. Whenever they drive by the Pentagon and see the
rapid rebuilding and the work crews on the job day and night, they will
see a symbol standing for all that America's small businesses have done
for this country. Small businesses not only rebuilt the Pentagon, they
rebuilt our resolve. For that and for so much else, we thank them.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the staff for their
hard work, not just on the resolution but giving small businesses the
support they needed to accomplish this great fete: Staff Director
Michael Day, Mary Ellen Ardonney, Wendy Belzer and James Snyder.
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
I commend the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) and
the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Velazquez) for introducing this
resolution and working so hard to ensure its passage. I thank the
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Burton), the House Committee on Government
Reform chairman; the gentleman from California (Mr. Waxman), ranking
member; the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Weldon) and the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis), the chairman and ranking member of the
Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census and Agency Organization, for
expediting the consideration of this resolution.
Again, Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to support this resolution to
commend the extraordinary generosity and patriotism of the professional
roofers who helped rebuild the Pentagon.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the distinguished
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) for yielding me this time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the patriotic contributions of the
local roofing companies in Northern Virginia especially who donated
labor, money, and supplies, which nationally totaled about half a
million dollars, to rebuild the section of the Pentagon's slate roof
that was destroyed on September 11. I am proud that the push for the
roofing companies to volunteer their time and effort and money
originated with an idea by a roofing company in my district, Northern
Virginia Roofing.
Northern Virginia Roofing is a husband and wife company located in
Falls Church. They approached the National Roofing Contractors
Association a week after the attacks, right after the attack, and said
they wanted to contribute to the recovery effort of the Pentagon. The
Association then approached the Defense Department, which gladly
accepted the idea of giving the Pentagon a new roof.
Even though it has been more than 8 months since those tragic events
of September 11, I am still constantly amazed, as I know my colleagues
are, by the acts of heroism and patriotism displayed by the American
people. This clear act of unselfishness by these roofing companies
sends a clear message to the world that our resolve cannot be
diminished. The attacks of September 11 have not weakened the United
States and the American spirit. Our core values of freedom and
democracy are certainly still intact.
Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of Congress to support this
resolution, and I am sure they will, which not only commends the
roofing companies who are working around the clock to rebuild a
severely damaged Pentagon, but it is also a testament to the American
spirit.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
We have no further request for time, and in closing I would commend
again the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Small
Business for the introduction of this resolution and certainly extend
heartfelt appreciation to the family roofers who came together as small
businesses to indicate that, when small businesses come together, they
can tackle big problems and meet big needs. So I simply commend all of
those who are in support of this resolution and urge its passage.
Mr. NUSSLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of this resolution
commending the patriotic contributions of the roofing professionals who
replaced the section of the Pentagon's slate roof destroyed by
terrorists on September 11, 2001.
The sight of the smoke rising from the Pentagon that day was a vision
caused by evil that I will never forget.
Since that time, many Americans have acted with hope and good will
and without hesitation to help our Nation move forward from a time and
place of tragedy.
Ken and Jared Schmitt of Rafoth, Inc. in Dubuque, Iowa offered their
time and talents to make a difference. Ken and Jared were among the
roofing professionals who volunteered to help repair more than an acre
of the Pentagon's slate roof. I had the honor of meeting with them
during their stay in the Washington area.
Roofing professionals across the country donated approximately
$450,000 worth of labor and materials to the replacement effort at no
cost to the Federal Government.
This resolution offers an opportunity for us to say thank you to
those who did this work out of their sense of duty and generosity. Ken
and Jared deserve America's gratitude and respect. There is no question
that they have mine.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Linder). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Sullivan) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res.
424.
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. SULLIVAN. 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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