[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 125 (Friday, September 29, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S10648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF ANTHRAX ATTACKS

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, In the autumn of 2001, while the Nation was 
still reeling from the reality of our airplanes being turned into 
weapons of terror, someone, somewhere, launched another deadly 
terrorist attack using our postal system to deliver their weapon of 
choice--anthrax. Those anthrax-laced letters targeting several 
journalists and public officials, among them Senator Daschle and 
myself, jarring an already fearful Nation.
  Receiving that letter was a chilling and personal reminder that the 
threat of terrorism was not temporary, nor was it an ocean away. 
Thankfully, my staff and I were unharmed, but others were not so lucky. 
The terrorists who sent these letters struck 22 people ranging in age 
from 7 months to 94 years, and the attacks resulted in the deaths of 
five Americans. They were people who died by simply touching an 
envelope--in some cases the mail was addressed to them, and in other 
instances, it was an envelope meant for someone else. Yet all of these 
people died as a result of doing what so many of us do every day--our 
jobs.
  Five years after those attacks and 5 years into the global war on 
terror, there is still no perpetrator who has been arrested or 
convicted for these attacks. Every year around the time of the 
anniversary--we learn that the FBI is still working on this case and 
that it remains a high priority for the Bureau. Many skilled and 
talented people have worked diligently on this case, bringing to bear 
some of the most advanced forensic technology in the world.
  The victims of the anthrax attacks varied in gender, race, religion, 
age, economic status and locale, but they all shared in the suffering. 
The victims who suffered the most were employees of the U.S. Postal 
Service, of the Department of State, of news organizations and of the 
Senate, and the aides, the children, and the senior citizens whose mail 
came in contact with the anthrax-laden letters.
  Robert Stevens, a photo editor at The Sun newspaper in Boca Raton, 
Florida, died on October 5, 2001, at the age of 63. Thomas Morris, Jr., 
a Washington, DC, postal worker, died on October 21 at the age of 55. 
Joseph Curseen, also a Washington, DC, postal worker, died on October 
22 at the age of 47. Kathy T. Nguyen, a New York City hospital worker, 
died on October 31 at the age of 61. And Ottilie Lundgren, a 94-year-
old Connecticut retiree, died on November 21.
  Many of those who survived anthrax exposure remain severely 
debilitated, suffering from chronic cough, fatigue, joint swelling and 
pain, and memory loss. Several victims have been diagnosed with 
depression and anxiety and are still tormented by nightmares. Many 
cannot return to work, and some of those who have returned are unable 
to do even routine tasks without difficulty. Victims say they 
communicate very little with one another, mostly fighting their battles 
alone.
  On October 16, 2003, I introduced a bill to amend the September 11th 
Victim Compensation Fund of 2001 to provide compensation for anthrax 
victims on the same basis as compensation is provided to victims of 
September 11. The bill never made it out of the Judiciary Committee. 
Without this appropriate help, the surviving victims struggle to pay 
their medical bills and get by on worker's compensation, and many 
report feeling like they have borne the brunt of the anthrax attacks 
alone. This surely exacerbates the emotional and psychological 
difficulties that many anthrax victims experience. Congress should act 
to help these people, who are victims of the national experience of 
these terrorist attacks, and they should be treated accordingly.
  Congress and the American people hope for answers and for a 
resolution of this case. We hope that lessons have been learned from it 
that will help prevent or minimize future biological attacks. In the 
meantime, let us remember the loss and the suffering of those who fell 
victim to this deadly episode of terrorism on our soil.

                          ____________________