[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2160-H2165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING A NATIONAL WEEK OF HOPE IN COMMEMORATION OF THE 10-YEAR 
         ANNIVERSARY OF THE TERRORIST BOMBING IN OKLAHOMA CITY

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 184) recognizing a National Week of Hope in 
commemoration of the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing in 
Oklahoma City.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 184

       Whereas on April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. central daylight 
     time in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, America was attacked in one 
     of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, killing 168 
     and injuring more than 850 Americans;
       Whereas this dastardly act of domestic terrorism affected 
     thousands of families and horrified millions of people across 
     the State of Oklahoma and the United States;
       Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States 
     responded to this tragedy through the remarkable efforts of 
     local, State, and Federal law enforcement, fire, and 
     emergency services, search and rescue teams from across the 
     United States, public and private medical personnel, and 
     thousands of volunteers from the community who saved lives, 
     assisted the injured, comforted the bereaved, and provided 
     meals and support to those who came to Oklahoma City to help 
     those endangered or otherwise affected by this terrorist act;
       Whereas the people of Oklahoma and the United States 
     pledged themselves to create, build, and maintain a permanent 
     national memorial to remember those who were killed, those 
     who survived, and those changed forever;
       Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial draws hundreds 
     of thousands of visitors from around the world every year to 
     the site of this tragic event in American history;
       Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial brings comfort, 
     strength, peace, hope, and serenity to the many visitors who 
     come to the memorial and museum each year to remember and to 
     learn about this tragic event;
       Whereas the 10th anniversary of the terrorist bombing of 
     the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, 
     Oklahoma, is on April 19, 2005; and
       Whereas the Oklahoma City National Memorial will 
     commemorate the anniversary of the terrorist bombing by 
     recognizing the week of April 17-24, 2005, as the National 
     Week of Hope, which will include a day of faith, a day of 
     understanding, a day of remembrance, a day of sharing, a day 
     of tolerance, a day of caring, and a day of inspiration, and 
     the annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon, A Run to 
     Remember: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
       (1) joins with all Americans to send best wishes and 
     prayers to the families, friends, and neighbors of the 168 
     people killed in the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. 
     Murrah Federal Building;
       (2) thanks the thousands of first responders, rescue 
     workers, medical personnel, and volunteers from the Oklahoma 
     City community and from communities around the Nation who 
     answered the call for help that April morning and in the days 
     and weeks that followed;
       (3) sends best wishes and thoughts to those injured in the 
     bombing, and expresses gratitude for their recovery;
       (4) resolves to stand with all Americans to promote the 
     goals and mission established by the Oklahoma City National 
     Memorial as stated in the following mission statement of the 
     memorial: ``We come here to remember those who were killed, 
     those who survived, and those changed forever. May all who 
     leave here know the impact of violence. May this memorial 
     offer comfort, strength, peace, hope, and serenity.'';
       (5) encourages Americans to observe a National Week of 
     Hope--
       (A) to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Oklahoma 
     City bombing; and
       (B) to allow each American to participate in an event each 
     day of that week to teach a lesson that--
       (i) hope can exist in the midst of political violence;
       (ii) good endures in the world even among those who commit 
     bad acts; and
       (iii) there is a way to resolve differences other than by 
     resorting to terrorism or violence;
       (6) congratulates the people of Oklahoma City for making 
     tremendous progress over the past decade and for 
     demonstrating their steadfast commitment to such lessons; and
       (7) applauds the people of Oklahoma City as they continue 
     to persevere and to stand as a beacon to the rest of the 
     Nation and the world attesting to the strength of goodness in 
     overcoming evil wherever it arises.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Marchant) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant).


                             General Leave

  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 184.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this important resolution recognizes the National Week 
of Hope in commemoration of the 10th-year anniversary of the terrorist 
bombing in Oklahoma City.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), the distinguished sponsor of House 
Resolution 184.
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.

[[Page H2161]]

  House Resolution 184 recognizes a National Week of Hope. Some people 
might be surprised to think that we are commemorating an incident that 
took 168 lives, and we are talking not in terms of the lives taken, but 
we are talking in terms of the hope that has been generated.
  It was 10 years ago yesterday that, intentionally, domestic 
terrorists exploded a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah 
Federal Building in Oklahoma City. One hundred sixty-eight lives were 
lost, including 19 children. Eight hundred fifty people were injured; 
hundreds of buildings were damaged in addition to the destruction of 
the Murrah Building. Thirty children were orphaned; 219 children lost 
at least one parent. And yet despite all this, all this, we talk about 
hope because the response of Oklahoma City has shown that not only are 
we not deterred by acts of terrorism, but the best qualities of our 
community in Oklahoma City are brought to the forefront by that.

                              {time}  1100

  We are grateful for the thousands of people who came from across 
America to assist in the disaster relief efforts, but we are more 
grateful for the thousands of Oklahomans who since that time have 
pitched in to remember what happened there and to use it as a 
foundation for making better lives.
  The children of those who were killed, all through private donations, 
have college funds guaranteed to them. We have now the national 
memorial built on the site of the former Murrah Building where 
yesterday we had services with Vice President Cheney, former President 
Bill Clinton, the governor and former governor of Oklahoma, myself and 
many others, speaking to commemorate and remember the lives lost and 
the lives changed forever in that building.
  The Murrah Building housed regional offices for a number of Federal 
agencies: Secret Service; Social Security; Drug Enforcement Agency; 
Housing and Urban Development; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives; Armed Services Recruiting and many others. But where once 
it was a symbol of the Federal Government, now it is a symbol of people 
who, because of tragedy, turned to their faith, turned to caring for 
one another, caring for the victims, caring for the survivors, caring 
for the rescue workers.
  We want to commemorate that with a National Week of Hope, to know not 
only will we not be deterred by terrorist acts, but also we are 
resolved to make it known that even among hate there is a people and a 
community of faith in the United States of America. That is the 
community of Oklahoma City, and hope can exist in the midst of 
violence.
  God endures in the world, even when bad acts are committed, and there 
is a way to resolve differences other than by resorting to terrorism or 
violence. Because of that, a museum was established that promotes hope. 
The Murrah National Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism has been 
established, and we are grateful to the entire Nation, not only for the 
outreach of people that came for rescue operations and have helped in 
the rebuilding, but for the thoughts and the prayers, and we want to 
remember that with the National Week of Hope.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to yield such 
time as he might consume to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Boren), a 
new Member of the House and a cosponsor of this resolution from the 2nd 
District of Oklahoma.
  Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for 
yielding time. I want to thank the Members of the Oklahoma delegation, 
the gentlemen from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Sullivan and 
Mr. Cole), for coming together to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today and join my colleagues in voicing support 
for House Resolution 184. Just over 24 hours ago marked the 10th 
anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. We 
should never forget the lives lost and forever changed by the events of 
this day.
  On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. while the building employees worked 
at their desks, the visitors walked the halls and the children played 
in the day care center, a massive explosion caused by a terrorist bomb 
leveled the entire north side of the building. In the end, 168 innocent 
men, women and children senselessly lost their lives as they were 
carrying on with their daily schedules.
  The devastation does not end, however, with the sons and daughters, 
the husbands and wives, and the brothers and sisters that lost their 
lives on that day. Left in the aftermath were 30 orphaned children and 
219 children who lost at least one parent. These, too, are victims of 
this horrific act. In total, 850 people were physically injured by the 
bombing.
  In addition to the human loss, there was damage to over 300 
buildings. This damage caused over 7,000 Oklahomans to be left without 
a place to work and left 462 residents homeless. With this in mind, my 
heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the families in my State of Oklahoma 
and around the Nation who suffered a loss during this tragedy.
  I tell my colleagues that during the 10 years since the bombing, the 
healing process has been taking place in Oklahoma City, and the scars 
are healing in a remarkable fashion. The healing is attributable to the 
people of the city and the State who have shown their strong will and 
perseverance over the past decade by rebuilding. Out of the rubble and 
the heartbreak, they have built a beautiful memorial for all to visit.
  Rather than allowing fear to keep them away from the downtown area, 
the people of Oklahoma City have continued the city's growth beyond the 
memorial. The area surrounding the memorial is now flourishing with 
businesses, restaurants and family entertainment. Oklahoma City and the 
State of Oklahoma could have given up during this tragedy, but instead, 
they became emboldened as they faced the difficult challenges placed 
before them.
  This growth in Oklahoma City shows the strength that can be 
accomplished through the power of hope. My colleague, the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) mentioned that earlier. It shows Oklahomans' 
hope for a safe place to work, our hope for a safe place to take our 
families, and above all, our hope for normalcy after such a tragic 
event.
  The great accomplishments that have been demonstrated by my fellow 
Oklahomans since April 19, 1995, should be an example to all those in 
our Nation and around the world who face adversity in their own lives.
  The people of Oklahoma City deserve the recognition and remembrance 
that this resolution provides them. I am honored to give my support to 
this resolution which recognizes a National Week of Hope and 
commemoration of not only the loss in Oklahoma City, but the resilience 
of its residents.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to 
the gentleman from the State of Oklahoma (Mr. Cole), my distinguished 
colleague. The gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Cole) was the Oklahoma 
Secretary of State on April 19, 1995.
  (Mr. COLE of Oklahoma asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COLE of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from 
Texas for yielding me time, and I certainly want to thank the gentleman 
from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) for offering this thoughtful and gracious 
and heartfelt resolution.
  I want my remarks on the floor today to be spontaneous, just as the 
response to the bombing in Oklahoma City was by thousands of Oklahomans 
and millions of Americans.
  There are some dates that one remembers in their life. If one is from 
my generation, they remember the day that President Kennedy was 
assassinated, with crystal clarity; and I think all Americans remember 
where they were and what they were doing when the awful tragedy of 9/11 
unfolded; and certainly all Oklahomans, and I think many Americans, 
remember where they were on April 19, 1995.
  I certainly remember where I was. I was walking into the West 
entrance of the State capitol through a tunnel just at 9 o'clock, and I 
felt the tremble, and I wondered what it was, walked on down the hall 
into my office. My secretary immediately came and said something awful 
has happened in downtown Oklahoma City; we do not know what, but 
something terrible has happened.

[[Page H2162]]

  That was followed immediately by a call from my wife who at the time 
was three blocks away from the blast site, working in a law office in 
downtown Oklahoma City, fortunately on the 14th floor and fortunately 
out of harm's way. But she called to say, something terrible is 
occurring. She said, I can see through my windows there is smoke 
billowing up out of downtown, and there are hundreds of people in the 
streets, streaming away; something awful has happened.
  I immediately left my office and walked upstairs to the governor's 
office. As I walked through the door, I looked to my right, which was 
where the press room was located in that suite of offices, and I saw 
Governor Keating and his chief of staff, Clinton Key, and they were 
watching on television, only 9 minutes into the disaster at that point, 
but already helicopters from local televisions stations were there and 
giving us an aerial view. There was a great deal of speculation on the 
television about what had occurred, people attributing this to a 
natural gas explosion.
  Governor Keating, who was a former FBI agent and had investigated 
incidents of terrorism in the 1960s on the West Coast, knew immediately 
what it was. He said that is no natural gas explosion. That is a car 
bomb. That is some sort of explosive device that has been set off 
deliberately.
  From that moment forward, I watched an extraordinary response from 
one of the great public leaders that I have ever been privileged to 
associate with, Governor Frank Keating, as he marshaled the State and 
moved it forward to deal with the tragedy in front of him.
  I saw a marvelous response from his wife, to skip ahead just a 
moment, Cathy Keating, who organized the memorial service that moved 
most Americans. That was her idea on the second day of the tragedy.
  We were meeting that night, still not knowing, frankly, how many 
people had died, whether or not survivors were there, still dealing 
with all the tragedy associated with the event. She came into the 
meeting we were having in the governor's mansion and said, We need to 
have a memorial service; people need to grieve.
  I remember honestly thinking at the time, how in the world can we 
pull off something like this; we have more than we can handle in front 
of us. I made that sentiment known, and the first lady, to her enduring 
credit, said, You leave it to me. People want to be involved.
  I watched that extraordinary thing come forward as volunteers pitched 
in, as thousands of people who could not help immediately wanted to do 
something to respond and to help and to assist the victims of the 
tragedy. She made that happen, and without her, frankly, it would have 
never occurred.
  I remember many other people. There were so many heroes in those 
days, so many people. Ron Norick, the mayor of Oklahoma City, again I 
think one of the great public leaders in history, certainly in my 
State, the fire chiefs, the police officers, the responders, but most 
important, just average people, we could not ask for something and not 
get it. Frankly, we had more help pouring in than we could easily 
coordinate on the first few days.
  I will tell my colleagues this, too. I am a very strong and very good 
Republican, and I certainly never voted for Bill Clinton, but I have 
got to tell my colleagues, he was a great President of the United 
States in that particular tragedy. I will always be grateful for what 
he did.
  I remember the first day, again, of the incident, and President 
Clinton had called at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. By that point, the 
governor and his team had moved to the Civil Emergency Management 
Center, an underground location at the capitol complex in Oklahoma 
City, and President Clinton and Frank Keating were old friends. Frank 
Keating had been the student body president at Georgetown when 
President Clinton was the sophomore class president at Georgetown. So 
there was a familiarity and an ease of communication that was wonderful 
to have in a crisis like that.
  I remember the President immediately offering all the aid at the 
disposal of the United States of America; and let me tell my 
colleagues, my fellow Americans, you do not know how lucky you are when 
you are in a crisis to be an American until that happens to you, 
because the response was overwhelming, and the President was generous 
and gracious and amazingly helpful.
  As we moved forward in that discussion, President Clinton asked 
Governor Keating the obvious and most important question in some ways: 
Do you have any idea who is responsible for this terrible event? I 
remember there was lots of speculation about who might be responsible. 
There is still some speculation today, I suppose, but Governor Keating 
was nothing if not cautious and careful as a law enforcement official; 
and he said, We have no earthly idea and we need to be very careful 
here that blame not be placed on communities or things that did not 
happen.
  The President very thoughtfully said, Well, I certainly hope it was 
not a foreign national, because if it was, we will be at war someplace 
in the world in 6 months. I thought about that a lot after 9/11 and 
what unfolded there and how prophetic he was, indeed, in that 
particular vision.
  The day went on and it was a remarkable day, it was an intense day, 
but I suppose my most enduring memory of the day is leaving the capitol 
at 3:00 in the morning and driving down Lincoln Boulevard to get home 
and looking out the window and seeing this incredible line of people 
standing outside of a blood center at 3:00 in the morning, still 
wanting to do something to help. Amazing.

                              {time}  1115

  My role in that particular crisis, as it unfolded, was to do what 
Governor Keating told me to do; and that was to work with the Federal 
Government on the rebuilding process, and I focused my energy on that. 
We got a study and figured out how much damage there had been, and we 
began to understand how many lives and how terrifically awful it would 
be. And then I turned to the person that I knew would be the most 
helpful in that crisis at the Federal level and that was my good 
friend, Congressman Lucas. He represented that area of Oklahoma City at 
that point. And let me tell you, he was a tyrant, a Trojan in working 
on behalf of Oklahoma City and the victims. He did everything you could 
ask him to do and more, just simply a magnificent response on the part 
of my dear and good friend.
  In that crisis, there was a lot of praise, and I think justifiably 
for Oklahomans, but I also think a vein of speculation, Well, only 
Oklahomans would respond this way. It is kind of a frontier community, 
it is relatively homogeneous, it is very conservative, it is very 
family oriented, has a strong basis of faith, and only in a place like 
that would a response like that occur.
  I did not think that was true, but I have to tell you, on 9/11, when 
I watched a very diverse and very secular and very different New York 
City respond in exactly the same way as Oklahomans had responded, I had 
confirmed in an awful moment what I knew then, that the Oklahoman 
response was fundamentally an American response. That is the way 
Americans behave toward one another when things do not go well. So I 
will always remember this particular day.
  Obviously, it is seared in my memory very, very deeply, and I 
remember the tragedies that unfolded afterwards and, frankly, remember 
the response to those tragedies even more profoundly.
  But in closing, I would like to say, in reflecting on Oklahoma City, 
and I think it is clearly the lessons of 9/11 as well, that out of 
evil, grace comes; and I saw enormous grace on April 19, 1995, in 
Oklahoma City. And out of terror, courage comes; and I saw great 
courage, from the first responders to the average person that went in.
  I remember Rebecca Anderson, who was the one first responder and 
nurse whom we lost, because she went back into a dangerous building. 
And I remember my good friend Tim Giblet, who was working downtown at 
the time, who saved a number of people, again going into a building, 
doing what he had no training to do. He was not an emergency worker, he 
just knew people needed help. So the courage was there.
  And out of despair, hope, because there is a great deal of hope that 
comes when you see how your country and your fellow human beings 
respond in a

[[Page H2163]]

crisis. And, finally, out of adversity, as my good friend, the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) mentioned, triumph. Because if you 
went to Oklahoma City today and you went to that exact spot, you would 
find a magnificent memorial. You would find, more importantly, a museum 
that not only tells the story, but puts the awful nature of terrorism 
in a broader context; and you would find a city that believes in itself 
and its future, probably more profoundly today than it did on April 18 
of 1995.
  That is a lesson I think all of us as Americans ought to remember. We 
all believe in our country, but when you have a particular crisis, that 
is when America is at its very best. Certainly, on this particular day 
that is when Oklahoma was at its very best. And I will always be 
grateful to Governor Keating, the First Lady, Cathy Keating; to my good 
friend Frank Lucas, who was there when we needed him; to the other 
members of our delegation, Senator Nickles, Senator Inhofe, who were 
also magnificent; but first and foremost to the people of Oklahoma 
City, who showed when you are challenged what you can do; and then to 
our fellow Americans, who at every level, at every moment, responded in 
the most helpful, the most thoughtful, and in the most supportive of 
ways.
  It is a day to remember not only in terms of what is worst in 
humanity but what is best about America.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 184, a 
resolution recognizing a National Week of Hope in commemoration of the 
10-year anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City. I also 
would like to commend my friend and colleague, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma, Mr. Istook, for his efforts in bringing such a meaningful 
bill before the House for consideration.
  April 19, 1995, will always be seared in my memory as a day on which 
I see the worst and the best of human nature. As the then acting 
Secretary of State for Oklahoma, it was not just the facts of that 
fateful day alone that cut quick to my heart. It was the realization 
that what happened in Oklahoma City would impact all of Oklahoma, all 
of America, and all of the world in the weeks ahead.
  But, Mr. Speaker, as the world witnessed this tragedy, and as 
Americans sought answers to untold numbers of questions--the most 
compelling being why--there came an unexpected response: it was clear 
that Americans did not need an answer in order to move forward. Mr. 
Speaker, Oklahomans responded immediately, and that response began at 
the exact same place of the tragedy the base of the Murrah Federal 
Building itself, only moments after 9:02 AM. Amazingly, this reply sent 
a shockwave that was not only felt for just a few miles radius, but one 
that resonated all over the world.
  On April 19, 1995 terrorism struck the heartland of America. But, if 
168 lives taken, 850 individuals injured, families ripped forever of 
loved ones, and lives changed forever represented America's loss, then 
12,384 volunteers and rescue workers, 190,000 estimated Oklahomans 
attending funerals for bombing victims, and an unprecedented outpouring 
of love, aid, and hope from across the country represented America's 
spirit. And Americans response America's heart may have suffered a 
terrible blow, but America's spirit only grew stronger.
  This bill commemorates the 10 year anniversary of a terrible tragedy 
and I am proud as an Oklahoman to stand in this chamber to offer my 
full support of its passage. This anniversary is not only an 
opportunity to remember, but an opportunity to celebrate the American 
spirit that unifies and buoys her citizens in their most challenging 
times of need.
  Mr. Speaker, I again praise the gentleman from Oklahoma for this 
timely legislation and urge support for the passage of H. Res. 184.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States was forever changed on April 19, 1995, 
at 9:02 a.m. Central time. What began as a perfect spring day in 
Oklahoma City, quickly turned into a nightmare when a bomb exploded in 
front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people and 
injuring more than 850.
  Today, as we reflect on that horrific event, I am proud to stand 
before you in support of H. Res. 184, recognizing a National Week of 
Hope in commemoration of the 10th-year anniversary of the terrorist 
bombing in Oklahoma City. So much has changed since that fateful day. 
No longer do we as American citizens believe that we are isolated from 
terror. We know that the threat of another terrorist attack is very 
real. In the face of this threat, however, we have chosen to face our 
fears and to work together to keep our country safe.
  Immediately following the explosion on April 19, the true character 
of Americans emerged. Law enforcement personnel, bystanders, and those 
who had narrowly escaped harm rushed toward danger to attend to those 
who were injured by the explosion. Because of their heroism, many lives 
that otherwise would have been lost were saved that day.
  In Oklahoma City today, where the Alfred Murrah Building once stood, 
stands a poignant memorial that reminds us of each cherished life that 
was lost that tragic day. It also serves as an important reminder to 
all of us that each day is truly a blessing.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to state my emphatic support for this bill. The 
National Week of Hope will provide all Americans with the opportunity 
to reflect on the importance and value of human life. The National Week 
of Hope will include a day of faith, a day of understanding, a day of 
remembrance, a day of sharing, a day of tolerance, a day of caring, and 
a day of inspiration. Each day represents a core value that reflects 
the strength of our Nation.
  I want to thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) for 
introducing this meaningful legislation. I pray that all Americans will 
take cognizance of it and continue to demonstrate the bravery and 
compassion that were exhibited that tragic day in Oklahoma.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, how much time does our side have 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Graves). The gentleman from Texas has 5 
minutes remaining.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my distinguished 
colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas).
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 184, a 
bill recognizing a National Week of Hope in commemoration of the 10th 
anniversary of the terrorist bombing in Oklahoma City.
  Yes, Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, on April 19, 1995, an act of 
unimaginable death and destruction occurred in Oklahoma City when the 
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was blown up in one of the deadliest 
terrorist attacks on American soil, killing 168 of our friends and 
family, 19 of them children. In that instance, America's heartland lost 
its innocence. It shocked our Nation. It changed our lives forever.
  Few events in the past quarter century have rocked Americans' 
perceptions of themselves and their institutions and brought together 
the people of our Nation with greater intensity than this heinous act. 
My primary district office was a block and a half away from the Murrah 
Building. I will never forget, I will never forget being in Dallas with 
the rest of the Oklahoma Federal delegation at a BRAC hearing when a 
news station radio reporter tapped me on the shoulder and said, 
Congressman, we have a report that the Federal building in Oklahoma 
City has been bombed. They say the building is gone. Where is your 
office? The thoughts that went through my mind in that instant about my 
loyal staffers.
  The delegation came rushing back. As I walked through my damaged 
office, a block and a half away, on the opposite side of the Murrah 
Building, looking at the destruction, and being thankful I had lost 
none of my people, but knowing the heartbreak, the helplessness we all 
felt looking at that terror, that devastation that transpired on that 
day.
  Now, the bombing was a cowardly act of tragic proportions, and 10 
years after the bombing, many of those affected are still trying to 
make sense of it. But what we know for certain is that on that day we 
came together as a State and as a Nation in the face of adversity. We 
comforted those afflicted, we rebuilt our devastated city, we did not 
let the terrorists win.
  I want to take this time to honor and remember not only those who 
lost their lives, but also those who survived. We honor those who lost 
loved ones, those who upon hearing of the devastation rushed to the 
city to offer what help they could, the firemen, the policemen, the 
nurses, the structural engineers, even the community members who 
brought food and water for

[[Page H2164]]

the rescuers. They are heroes to all Oklahomans.
  Like so many other people in Oklahoma, this event has shaped my life, 
and as the U.S. Congressman representing downtown Oklahoma City at the 
time of the bombing, I have had the privilege and the opportunity to 
work these past 10 years to help ease the burden on Oklahoma City as a 
result of that devastating tragedy. From requesting Federal money to 
assisting in the rebuilding efforts, to introducing to the House the 
legislation that established the national memorial, I am honored to 
have had the chance to help in some small way.
  Mr. Speaker, I close today the way I closed a speech I made on this 
very House floor on May 2, 1995, just 13 days after the attack. As you 
remember, a spontaneous memorial formed around the perimeter of the 
Murrah Building, just as one did years later in New York City, a mound 
of wreaths, bouquets, teddy bears, tear-stained poems laid out, paying 
tribute to those who perished.
  One particular offering spoke, I believe, for all Oklahomans. It 
consisted of a teddy bear with a paper heart attached, bearing a crayon 
inscription which read as follows: ``Oklahoma, brokenhearted, yes; 
broken spirit, never.'' Ten years after the bombing, we Oklahomans are 
stronger than ever.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 additional minute to the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook), the sponsor of House Resolution 
184, to close.
  (Mr. ISTOOK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ISTOOK. Mr. Speaker, as is evident a great many people responded 
to this situation. Over 12,000 emergency workers, rescue workers and 
volunteer workers, were at the site within a matter of only a couple of 
days. They came from all over America, for which we are grateful and 
will always remember.
  I want to add some additional thanks to some people that have not 
been mentioned that I, as someone who shared representation of Oklahoma 
City with Congressman Lucas at the time, and as someone who now 
represents that specific building site, I want to express appreciation 
for those with whom we also worked.
  As a member of the Committee on Appropriations, I worked directly 
with former Chairman Bob Livingston, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, and 
former Infrastructure Chairman Bud Shuster in making sure that we 
fashioned the correct Federal response. And, in fact, something in the 
neighborhood of $200 million flowed in to reimburse law enforcement and 
safety expenses, to pay the cost of rebuilding hundreds of damaged 
properties, to establish a permanent revolving loan fund for the 
redevelopment of the area, the area that surrounds the former Murrah 
site, to build the new Federal building and campus, which was opened 
just over a year ago, and of course to establish the national memorial, 
museum, and the antiterrorism institute in Oklahoma City.
  We are grateful for how the country reached out to our community and 
to our State, and as has been made clear by everyone who has spoken, we 
are most grateful of all for the wonderful nature, character and spirit 
of the people of Oklahoma that have taken disaster and used it as 
something to build upon and make a stronger America, with stronger 
faith and a stronger Oklahoma.

   Comments by Congressman Ernest Istook at April 19, 2005, 10-Year 
 Anniversary Commemoration of Murrah Building Bombing, Oklahoma City, 
                                Oklahoma

       Today we gather to remember and renew our strength and our 
     bonds as Americans and as Oklahomans.
       Tomorrow, the U.S. House will designate this week as a 
     National Week of Hope, to carry across the Nation the message 
     of hope that we share today.
       In this resolution, we state that we join with this 
     community in hope and prayer in a national week of hope and 
     ask the Nation to join us in the wish that we will all learn 
     these 3 lessons stated in the resolution: that hope can exist 
     in the midst of political violence, that good endures in the 
     world even among those who commit bad acts, and that there is 
     a way to resolve our differences other than by resorting to 
     terrorism and violence.
       The resolution states that the Congress congratulates the 
     people of Oklahoma City for making tremendous progress over 
     the past decade and for demonstrating their steadfast 
     commitment to these three lessons. It applauds the people of 
     Oklahoma City for standing as a beacon to the Nation, and a 
     beacon to the world, attesting to the strength of goodness in 
     overcoming evil. How proper it is that it says that Oklahoma 
     City stands as a beacon.
       So often I heard the words of former President Ronald 
     Reagan saying America needs to be a shining city on a hill. 
     Those looking for a shining city need look no farther than 
     Oklahoma City. We will adopt the resolution because America 
     has learned from what has happened here. America has learned 
     from our actions, not from our words, that have touched the 
     soul of the Nation. I want to mention 2 symbols; one not far 
     away from here sits atop the dome of the state Capitol. It is 
     a special symbol, a statue crafted by Enoch Kelly Haney 
     called `The Guardian,' an Indian brave with a tall spear, its 
     end planted in the earth.
       That statue is a way of saying `Here we stand. We shall not 
     be moved.' That thought says a lot about the spirit of 
     Oklahoma, and the spirit of Oklahoma City, and our refusal to 
     be deterred by the obscenity of terrorism.
       But being steadfast and immobile, we recognize here is only 
     a virtue if we are already in the right place and doing the 
     right thing. If we send a message that we will not be moved, 
     then we must make sure we are standing firm for what is good 
     and for what is virtuous. Fortunately, this is a place that 
     aspires to stand for the good, and we have fertile soil for 
     virtue.
       Oklahomans know that it is not enough to inherit great 
     blessings; blessings have to be shared. We have to make this 
     a better community and a better land than we found it, better 
     for our children, better for our grandchildren.
       And the key is to this found in the other symbol the 
     enduring emblem of this memorial, an American elm know as the 
     survivor tree.
       The survivor tree was damaged. It was scarred. It was 
     denuded. Almost, but not quite, it was killed. Why did the 
     survivor tree withstand the blast and the shock? The answer 
     is quite simple, as President Clinton mentioned, it is the 
     roots; the roots preserved it. Despite all that it suffered, 
     its roots were deep, and they preserved it. And that is why 
     this city endures and prospers, despite the blast, the 
     deaths, the injuries. Here we stand, and the reason we shall 
     not be moved is because our roots go deep, and they are 
     planted in the proper soil. And that is the soil of faith the 
     eye that sees the foliage gradually return concealing some of 
     the scars as we see in the lives of so many survivors. Those 
     scars and the progress may be visible but what is not visible 
     is the roots. The roots were not created by any public 
     official, not any organization of survivors, not by the many 
     who so willingly came here to give aid. The roots of the 
     survivor tree were made by God, and this city's roots are 
     planted deeply in the faith in God. It is God who has 
     inspired the enduring faith that has mended hearts, sparked 
     outpourings of generosity, and provided sheltering arms for 
     people to shed their tears in that embrace. As one person 
     expressed it to me, `our faith is greater than their sin.'
       So often, we invoke the words, `God bless America.' We need 
     to remember, God has already blessed America. God has already 
     blessed Oklahoma. God has already blessed Oklahoma City. 
     Instead of only asking for God's blessings, maybe we need to 
     spend more time with us blessing God, and praising him for 
     our lives and our land, and praising him for the faith that 
     sustains the city.
       Without God, this city, this state, and this Nation have no 
     roots. With Him, our roots are solid and they nourish us. We 
     have many great symbols here in the city and in the memorial, 
     but it is God who has provided the greatest symbol of all--
     the Survivor Tree. We could never do that, for only God can 
     make a tree.
       Thank you for being the people of faith, and may America 
     bless God.

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, on April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 
suffered one of the worst terrorist attacks on American soil, killing 
168 people and injuring more than 850 Americans. Before the terrorist 
attacks of 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing was the worst act of 
terrorism ever committed on American soil.
  As a native Oklahoman, I was devastated by this terrible act of 
terror, the innocent loss of life, the destruction of the Alfred P. 
Murrah Federal Building and the hundreds of other buildings that were 
damaged in the surrounding Oklahoma City area.
  The people of Oklahoma responded to this tragedy through the 
remarkable and valiant efforts of local, state, and federal law 
enforcement, fire, emergency services, and search and rescue teams from 
across the United States. Thousands of volunteers from the community 
came and saved lives, assisted the injured, comforted the bereaved and 
gave hope to the victims and their families.
  This tragedy could have torn Oklahoma City apart, but instead, the 
tragedy united an entire community and an entire nation. On that 
terrible day, out of the rubble, the people of Oklahoma City 
resoundingly stood up against terror to stand as a beacon of light to 
the rest of the nation and the world, attesting to the fact that good 
will always triumph over evil, wherever evil may arise.
  On the 10th anniversary of this tragedy, I commend my fellow 
Oklahomans for their

[[Page H2165]]

strength, their faith, and for their resolve to move forward in the 
face of overwhelming odds to build a better Oklahoma and a greater 
America.
  Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Marchant) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 184.
  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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