[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO DEREK GRAY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARTIN T. MEEHAN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 11, 2003

  Mr. MEEHAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my strong support for the 
resolution offered by my colleague from Rhode Island. This resolution 
expresses the sense of the House of Representatives with regard to the 
need for improved fire safety in nonresidential buildings in the 
aftermath of the tragic fire on February 20, 2003, at a nightclub in 
West Warwick, Rhode Island, and expresses the condolences of Congress 
to the families and friends of the people who died in that horrible 
fire.
  I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic deaths of the 99 people 
who were killed and more than 180 others who were injured in the fire, 
including the death of Derek Gray. Derek was a Dracut, Massachusetts 
resident and only 22 years old when he died as a result of the 
nightclub fire. I want to express my deep condolences to Derek's 
family, as well as to the families and friends of all of the people who 
died or were injured as a result of the fire.
  The Station nightclub fire was a massive tragedy--one in which nearly 
100 people lost their lives. What we know about that horrible event is 
that the people who perished that night were the victims of a lack of 
protections--or enforcement of existing protections--to ensure the 
safety of club-goers. Last month, numerous others lost their lives in a 
Chicago nightclub stampede for the same reason.
  We in Congress have a duty to the people who lost their lives and 
their families to work to ensure that these events never occur again. 
We need to dramatically increase safety protections at entertainment 
facilities across this country, and we need to do it now.

                          ____________________