[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              KIMBERLY FLYNN ON 9/11 ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2006

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to read the statement of Kimberly 
Flynn, a member of 9/11 Environmental Action, a community group in New 
York City focused on environmental and health impacts of the terrorist 
attacks of 9/11. Ms. Flynn gave this statement at a rally in New York 
City that I attended to bring attention to the health problems that 
continue to exist from 9/11.
       Good afternoon. I'm Kimberly Flynn and I represent 9/11 
     Environmental Action. We're community activists. For nearly 5 
     years, we've been fighting for the comprehensive EPA cleanup 
     that never happened. And we're also fighting for the health 
     needs of all those harmed by 9/11 pollution to be met.
       In the days after 9/11, like many people, my mother in New 
     Orleans was glued to CNN. Now, my mother has no expertise in 
     occupational health and safety, but she called me with 
     concern in her voice: Kim, why are some people digging 
     through all that rubble wearing respirators, but most people 
     are not? Isn't that going to cause serious problems down the 
     line?
       How is it that our government, whose job it is to protect 
     human health from the unprecendented and obvious hazards 
     never asked that question?
       After 9/11, when two of tallest buildings buildings in the 
     world were reduced to rubble, and the air was thick with dust 
     and smoke . . . when toxic dust penetrated into buildings 
     throughout the area, they told all of us it was safe.
       At a time when your heroism and patriotism were the 
     admiration of the entire world, they told the people of Lower 
     Manhattan it was their patriotic duty to go about their 
     business.
       Well, I have a question for President Bush and Governor 
     Pataki: It has been nearly 5 years, when are you going to do 
     your patriotic duty?
       To Governor Pataki: Your Ground Zero legacy is at stake. 
     You must act to fix the unconscionable workers comp fiasco . 
     . . NOW.
       To President Bush: We will not let you leave office without 
     acknowledging to the American people that so many of those 
     workers, volunteers and cleanup workers who came to the 
     rescue on and after 9/11 are sick . . . as are many others 
     who live, work and go to school in Lower Manhattan. And that 
     they need and deserve our government's help . . . NOW.
       We will not let you leave office without making a full 
     commitment to provide for the long-term 9/11 health needs of 
     everyone harmed by these obvious and unprecedented hazards.
       These are days of desperation for many of you, and our 
     hearts go out to you and all those suffering from their 
     Ground Zero exposures. But more than that, we are with you! 
     We are yours in the struggle for justice, for the duration.

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