[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2610]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




COMMEMORATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COLLAPSE OF THE SILVER BRIDGE

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                         HON. CHARLES A. WILSON

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2007

  Mr. WILSON of Ohio. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate one of 
the worst infrastructure disasters this Nation has ever seen. On 
December 15, 1967, at about 5 p.m., the Silver Bridge collapsed. It 
spanned the Ohio River from Gallia County in my district to Mason 
County West Virginia. That disastrous accident killed 46 people. Most 
of them had just left work and were headed home. This horrible tragedy, 
which was the result of the failure of a single eye-bar supporting the 
bridge, spurred Congressional action that led to the first federal 
bridge inspection requirements.
  Madam Speaker, I wish I could announce today that our nation wisely 
learned the lesson of the Silver Bridge Collapse. Unfortunately, the 
more recent collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis shows just how 
much our infrastructure has decayed because of inadequate investment. 
While I am glad that the appropriations bill we passed last night 
includes investment in bridges, I am convinced that much more work 
needs to be done.
  On this 40th anniversary, let us take a moment to remember the 46 
people killed in the Silver Bridge collapse. Even 40 years after the 
disaster, their absence is felt by their families and communities. Let 
us resolve today to honor their memories by doing all we can to ensure 
that the bridges, tunnels and roads that make up our nation's byways 
are safe and secure.

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