[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 95 (Monday, July 15, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1256]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 4687, NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY TEAM ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOSEPH CROWLEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 12, 2002

  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4687, the 
National Construction Safety Team Act. And I especially want to 
recognize my friend from New York, Anthony Weiner for his work on the 
bill.
  As we all know, September 11th changed New York. It changed our 
world. Since September 11th, brave workers, volunteers, and scientific 
experts have traveled to Ground Zero in the name of recovery and 
understanding.
  These workers, volunteers, and experts have all pushed themselves and 
their skills to the ultimate limit to deal with an unusually grave 
situation. And I commend them all.
  In particular, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
NIST, had to deftly work with a myriad of concerned New Yorkers. There 
are thousands of affected family members who are both grieving and 
seeking answers. People like John and Kathy Ashton of Woodside, Sally 
Regenhard of Co-op City, and Arthur Taub of Co-op City. Some, like Mr. 
Taub, had concerns about the NIST investigation itself.
  NIST has worked with constituents who wanted answers--and with 
constituents who had information.
  Even seasoned NIST employees admitted they were covering new ground 
as no one could ever imagine such an event as 9/11 happening.
  In the immediate aftermath of September 11th, NIST had to try to do 
its job amidst emergency respondents, police officers, and 
incomprehensible loss.
  In this extraordinarily challenging situation, critical evidence--
like beams, steel work, and cables--was being carted off before the 
NIST team had a chance to even catalogue or identify it.
  Given the fact that the scope of this tragedy had never been seen 
before, it is understandable that the investigation would be less than 
ideal.
  But it is important that we learn from this tragedy.
  And there are several lessons to be learned from September 11th. One 
lesson is the importance of a swift and thorough investigation of a 
building failure.
  NIST's response teams must have access to building debris as soon as 
it's safe to enter a site.
  And they must be able to move and preserve this critical evidence. 
This bill gives NIST that authority.
  Looking toward the future, it is important to do all we can to 
prevent a building failure of any kind from ever happening. This bill 
will allow us to obtain information to help prevent building failures.
  And it is important for us to swiftly and thoroughly respond to the 
community when building failures, God forbid, happen. And this bill 
does that also.
  I urge your support of H.R. 4687.

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