[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 100 (Monday, July 22, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H5034-H5036]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR THE 10-MONTH-LONG WORLD TRADE CENTER CLEANUP
AND RECOVERY EFFORTS AT THE FRESH KILLS LANDFILL ON STATEN ISLAND, NEW
YORK, FOLLOWING THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
resolution (H. Res. 492) expressing gratitude for the 10-month-long
World Trade Center cleanup and recovery efforts at the Fresh Kills
Landfill on Staten Island, New York, following the terrorist attacks of
September 11, 2001.
The Clerk read as follows:
H. Res. 492
Resolved, That the House of Representatives thanks and pays
tribute to all those whose 10 months of efforts at Fresh
Kills Landfill on Staten Island, New York, to clean up the
debris from the site of the World Trade Center, and to
recover the remains and effects of the victims, following the
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, helped to bring
healing and closure to the victims' families and loved ones,
to New York, and to the Nation.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Putnam) and the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).
[[Page H5035]]
General Leave
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on H. Res. 492.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 492 is being introduced by our
distinguished colleague from the State of New York (Mr. Fossella). This
resolution honors the more than 1,000 workers who worked day and night
for 10 months at the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island, sifting
through over 1.5 million tons of debris from the World Trade Center
site, searching for human remains and personal items.
Mr. Speaker, following the unthinkable horror of last September 11, a
reality emerged that rivaled the gravity of the tragedy itself, that
the debris from the site would have to be hauled away and painstakingly
sifted for the remains of those killed in the tragedy. Tons of
concrete, steel, and other material had to be carried away by the
truckload, and dedicated men and women from New York City, State, and
Federal agencies contracted to completing this seemingly endless and
compassionate work.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York for introducing this
measure that honors those wonderful Americans that performed this back-
breaking labor for months on end. For this reason, I urge all Members
to support the adoption of House Resolution 492.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the debris from the cleanup of the terrorist attacks on
the World Trade Center towers were taken to the Fresh Kills Landfill on
Staten Island, New York for cleanup and investigation. Over a 10-month
period following September 11, 2001, more than 1,000 workers at the
landfill, around the clock, tirelessly and carefully sifted through all
1.62 million tons of debris from the World Trade Center site, searching
for remains, personal effects, and evidence from what is now considered
to be history's largest crime scene.
These workers came from 28 New York City, State, and Federal agencies
to participate in these cleanup and recovery efforts. They recovered
approximately 20 percent of all of the victim remains following the
towers' collapse, as well as more than 54,000 personal items. The
remains of 188 of the 1,215 World Trade Center victims whose remains
have been identified and returned to their families were recovered at
the landfill. The actions of these workers brought peace to the
hundreds of friends and families that were touched by this horrific
attack against the United States.
This resolution pays tribute to the workers who helped clean up the
debris of the World Trade Center site and recovered the remains and
effects of the victims. I urge my colleagues' support for this
resolution.
Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Staten Island, New York (Mr. Fossella), the sponsor of
this measure.
(Mr. FOSSELLA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his
remarks.)
Mr. FOSSELLA. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Florida for
yielding me this time, and I thank the gentleman from Missouri for his
words.
This was said last week at the closing ceremony of the Fresh Kills
Landfill: ``As grass grows green again on Fresh Kills, teach us that
life, not death, has triumphed.'' That was the Reverend Jack Ryan who
spent, it seemed like almost every day for the last 10 months, up at
the landfill that has been mentioned by my colleagues, where more than
1,000 workers and volunteers really did the Lord's work, trying to help
some families come to closure. As was mentioned, 54,000 personal items,
such things as wedding rings or wallets, identifications, pictures, and
the like were recovered and given to many of the families. The
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) mentioned that 188 of the victims
were identified from the work at Fresh Kills.
Over the past 10 months, I visited the landfill many times and
witnessed for myself the work which has taken a physical and an
emotional toll on the men and women there. But they never stopped
pushing themselves. They never stopped, because they knew what they
were doing was making a positive difference in the lives of people who
suffered greatly. They brought peace of mind and a sense of healing to
many, and a grateful Nation offers its thanks to these tireless and
dedicated workers.
Many of the workers sustained personal losses themselves on September
11 and were perhaps searching and working to find any remnant that
would help bring their own loved one to rest. They were working in
honor of their own family, friend, or coworkers; others simply worked
for our country and to provide some element of closure to fellow
Americans.
The sacrifice of all of these workers and their willingness to give
of themselves to help others has shown that the best attributes of
mankind may emerge, even as a result of the worst mankind can do.
Through their efforts, people such as Police Investigator James Luongo,
the coordinator of the recovery effort at Fresh Kills, FBI Special
Agent Richard Marx, Firefighter John Tedesco, Port Authority Police
Lieutenant Brian Tierney, Dominick Bilotto of the New York City
Sanitation Department, and hundreds like them gave families such as
Bill and Camille Doyle some comfort by returning their 25 year-old son,
Joseph's, driver's license and credit cards which were retrieved at
Fresh Kills.
For now, it is all the Doyles have of their son, a driver's license
and credit cards. But even for that, they are extremely thankful to
those who worked at the landfill.
I think a clear demonstration of how much their work at Fresh Kills
means to the people of Staten Island, New York City, the State, and the
Nation is illustrated by the actions of a Staten Islander, Daya Madison
of St. George who, on the day of the closing ceremony, stood at the
foot of the road leading out of the landfill, holding up the same signs
she has held up at the site for almost 10 months straight, wishing the
workers well and thanking them.
{time} 1815
As a Nation, we must remember that while over 1,200 families, 1,200,
have had the remains of their loved ones returned to them. There are
over 1,600, 1,600 families who lost a loved one on that unimaginable
day of September 11 at the Trade Center who have not recovered
anything. These families do not have a grave site to visit, ashes to
scatter or something of their loved one to lay to rest. Almost a year
later these families are still hoping and praying every day that their
loved one will be identified and returned to them.
We must also remember to keep these families in our hearts and
prayers. For over 50 years the Fresh Kills Landfill in Staten Island
served as a dumping ground for New York City, now and forever more will
serve as a hallowed ground; and we will always remember how the good in
people was exhibited there.
It is often said that closure does not have an end and we do not
necessarily move on, but move forward. These workers at Fresh Kills
Field should forever remain proud in knowing that they helped many more
than they will ever know to move forward. Again, as Father Ryan said,
``As grass grows green again on Field Kills, teach us that life not
death has triumphed.''
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr.
Fossella) for bringing this measure to the House's attention. I urge
adoption of this measure.
Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my friend from Staten Island
in recognizing the heroes who worked outside the view of cameras over
the last year.
The people who worked at Fresh Kills had a terrible task. More than
1,000 workers toiled at the landfill, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
They sifted through all 1.62 million tons of debris from the World
Trade Center site. they sifted through a national tragedy, looking for
the remains of national heroes.
They searched for body parts, personal items, and evidence from what
is history's
[[Page H5036]]
largest crime scene. These workers recovered approximately 20 percent
of all the victim remains. 188 of the 1,215 World Trade Center victims
whose remains have been identified and returned to their families were
recovered at the landfill.
More than 54,000 personal items were recovered: wedding rings,
photographs, driver licenses, keys; reminders of lives lived and
tragically cut short.
These workers helped the victims' families by giving the families
something to hold. These items could never replace the lost ones, but
could help give some closure and peace. On July 15, 2002, the cleanup
and recovery operations at Fresh Kills Landfill came to a somber
conclusion.
We will however, be eternally grateful to the workers at Fresh Kills.
We know it wasn't an easy job. But these workers lived up to the best
ideals of service by helping so many families.
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Terry). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam) that the House
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 492.
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. PUTNAM. 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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