[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 89 (Monday, June 15, 2009)]
[House]
[Pages H6776-H6778]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF THE CONAGRA FOOD 
                            PLANT EXPLOSION

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 540) expressing condolences to the 
families, friends, and loved ones of the victims of the catastrophic 
explosion at the ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina, and for 
other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 540

       Whereas the people of North Carolina experienced a 
     devastating tragedy when a massive explosion occurred at the 
     ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina, shortly before 
     11:30 a.m. on June 9, 2009;
       Whereas the 500,000-square-foot plant, one of the largest 
     owned by ConAgra Foods, employs 900 people, 300 of whom were 
     on site when the blast occurred;
       Whereas three workers lost their lives when the explosion 
     ripped through the plant;
       Whereas employee Louis Junior Watson re-entered the 
     building to help a coworker escape and both employees died 
     when the structure caved in;
       Whereas at least 40 employees were injured, some suffering 
     from exposure to toxic ammonia fumes and at least four with 
     critical burns;
       Whereas three brave firefighters were treated for 
     inhalation;
       Whereas North Carolina's first responders, fire, police, 
     and EMS, were quick to the scene and prevented any further 
     loss of life or injury, and private citizens risked their 
     well-being to come to the aid of their friends and neighbors;
       Whereas the Garner Police and Fire Departments have 
     cooperated with North Carolina Task Force 8 Urban Search and 
     Rescue to search and secure the building and its periphery;
       Whereas agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, 
     Firearms and Explosives, the Wake County Fire Marshal, 
     inspectors from the North Carolina Department of Labor, and 
     agents with the United States Chemical Safety Board have 
     combined efforts to investigate the cause of the explosion;
       Whereas the United States Environmental Protection Agency 
     has inspected the site of the explosion to ensure no 
     contamination spreads from the plant;
       Whereas the above mentioned agencies will continue to work 
     together with private citizens to investigate the accident, 
     provide assistance to families of the victims, and ensure 
     public health and safety in this disaster's aftermath; and
       Whereas ConAgra has established the ConAgra Foods Garner 
     Plant Fund in memory of those lost in this tragedy, has set 
     up assistance and relief services for the families of the 
     victims, and is helping support surviving workers: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) expresses condolences to the families, friends, and 
     loved ones of the victims of the explosion at the ConAgra 
     Foods plant in Garner, North Carolina;
       (2) honors Barbara McLean Spears of Dunn, North Carolina, 
     Louis Junior Watson of Clayton, North Carolina, and Rachel 
     Mae Poston Pulley of Clayton, North Carolina, who lost their 
     lives in the explosion, and the 40 others who were injured;
       (3) expresses sympathies to the people of Garner, the 
     entire State of North Carolina,

[[Page H6777]]

     and the Nation who grieve for the victims; and
       (4) commends the heroic actions of the Garner Police and 
     Fire Departments, the quick response of the Bureau of 
     Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and all other 
     first responders, emergency services personnel, and private 
     citizens who responded to the crisis.

                              {time}  1715

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert) each 
will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, with this resolution, the House of Representatives 
acknowledges the tragedy that occurred at ConAgra on June 9, 2009, and 
extends our sympathies to the people of Garner, North Carolina, and to 
all of those who were touched by this tragedy. I thank the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Etheridge) for introducing this important 
resolution about such a sad tragedy.
  Shortly before 11:30 a.m. on June 9, last Tuesday, a massive 
explosion ripped through the ConAgra plant in North Carolina while 
about 300 employees were working. The explosion killed three employees 
and injured at least 38 others. Three of the responding firefighters 
were also treated for chemical inhalation.
  We wish we could turn back the hands of time and prevent this 
terrible tragedy. Unfortunately, we can't. And, instead, we need to do 
all we can to understand the cause of the explosion so we can minimize 
the risk of explosions like it.
  This past weekend, the ATF response team announced that the explosion 
was caused by a natural gas leak in a room that housed vacuum pumps 
used for sealing snacks.
  According to news reports, the ATF has not found any evidence of 
criminal activity. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration 
and the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, along with others, will continue 
with the investigation.
  We express our deepest condolences to the families, friends and loved 
ones of the victims of this tragedy. We honor three employees who lost 
their lives in the explosion, Barbara McLean Spears of Dunn, North 
Carolina, Louis Junior Watson of Clayton, North Carolina, Rachel Mae 
Poston Pulley, of Clayton, North Carolina; and we also honor those who 
suffered injuries.
  And, finally, we commend the heroic actions of the first responders, 
the Garner Police and Fire Departments, the emergency medical 
personnel, the North Carolina Task Force 8 Urban Search and Rescue, the 
ATF, and all other emergency services personnel and private citizens 
who came to the rescue. Their efforts, along with those of the ConAgra 
employees themselves, no doubt prevented further loss of life and 
injuries.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution and reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of the resolution, which expresses the heartfelt 
condolences of this body to the families, friends and loved ones of the 
victims of the June 9 explosion at ConAgra Foods plant in Garner, North 
Carolina.
  As the resolution notes, the people of North Carolina experienced a 
devastating tragedy with a massive explosion occurring at the plant 
shortly before 11:30 a.m. The 500,000 square foot plant employed about 
900 people, 300 of whom were on-site when the blast occurred. As a 
result of the blast, three workers lost their lives when the explosion 
ripped through the plant.
  One brave employee, Louis Junior Watson, selflessly re-entered the 
building to try to help a coworker escape. Tragically, neither employee 
was able to escape the plant before the structure collapsed.
  Along with Mr. Watson, the resolution honors the memories of Barbara 
McLean Spears, Rachel Mae Poston Pulley, who were the other two people 
who perished in the plant. We know that at least 40 employees were 
injured in the accident. Some suffered from exposure to toxic ammonia 
fumes, and at least four received critical burns.
  After the blast occurred, North Carolina's first responders, 
including firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical 
technicians, quickly arrived on the scene. Their timely efforts 
probably prevented many other losses of life or injury. This 
resolution, as my colleague from Virginia noted, commends them for 
their sacrifice and courage as well.
  In addition to the first responders, we also recognize the private 
citizens of the proud community of Garner who risked their well-being 
to come to the aid of the families and friends and neighbors of those 
in the tragedy.
  I join Mr. Etheridge, Chairman Scott, and my colleagues in the House 
to express our sincere sympathies to the people of Garner, the entire 
State of North Carolina, and the Nation who grieve for the victims.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Etheridge).
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my good friend, Chairman 
Conyers, and Majority Leader Hoyer for expediting this resolution to 
the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, last Tuesday, June 9, the town of Garner, in my 
district, changed forever. A natural gas leak, as you've heard, ignited 
a massive explosion at the ConAgra Food plant, causing the collapse of 
a significant portion of the structure. Three employees died in the 
explosion; and close to 40 others were injured, four, with critical 
burns.
  This resolution remembers the lives of Barbara McLean Spears of Dunn, 
North Carolina, Louis Junior Watson and Rachel Mae Poston Pulley, both 
of Clayton. They were all hardworking Americans who did just what we do 
every day: they got up, they went to work on that fateful day, Tuesday, 
to make their lives better and to do their part to contribute to 
America's work force and success of this Nation.
  One of those workers, Louis Junior Watson, was particularly heroic. 
Though he had a means of escape, Watson chose to remain in the building 
to aid his coworker, Barbara McLean Spears, who had fallen. This 
extraordinary man is truly a hero and exemplifies the spirit of 
community and kinship that has strengthened his community.
  Mr. Watson and his wife, Terri, would have celebrated their wedding 
anniversary yesterday. They had a 14-year-old son, and 16-year-old and 
18-year-old daughters. Louis Junior Watson was laid to rest at 11 a.m. 
today.
  More than 1,000 people attended the Sunday funeral services held for 
Rachel Mae Poston Pulley. Ms. Pulley was a mother of seven and a 
grandmother of six.
  Barbara McLean Spears, who was married one year ago to her partner of 
15 years, Anthony Spears, also leaves behind her 61-year-old mother, 
Bertha McLean, two brothers and two nieces. She was also laid to rest 
yesterday.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring their lives 
and their loved ones who are left behind.
  This resolution also recognizes Mayor Williams and his staff, our 
first responders, fire, police, EMS, who were quick to the scene and 
prevented even further loss of life or injury. Those emergency 
personnel worked tirelessly on behalf of our communities; and we thank 
all of them, including private citizens who stepped up in this great 
time of need. Four of those brave firefighters, as you've already 
heard, were injured in the line of duty on Tuesday, and we commend 
their heroic efforts.
  The citizens in and around my district have come together in the wake 
of this devastation, and it has been remarkable. I'm heartened and 
encouraged by the show of support from my fellow North Carolinians.
  Our small communities are enhanced by businesses like ConAgra, which 
employed 900 people at this plant. I'm pleased to learn that they've 
set up a recovery fund for the victims, and they've been distributing 
groceries to their employees in need.

[[Page H6778]]

  I know that ConAgra is working to rebuild the plant, and I look 
forward to the day when the employees can return to their work. There's 
a great demand for the products that ConAgra is producing in Garner, 
and I am pleased that these snacks and other food products are made in 
the Second District of North Carolina.
  Mr. Speaker, let us remember those who we have lost and be thankful 
for those who were saved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims 
and their families and the entire ConAgra community because they are 
suffering.
  On Friday night I participated in a vigil in Garner to remember and 
honor the victims. I was honored to attend and pleased with the 
tremendous outpouring of support.
  At 11:30 tomorrow, exactly 1 week after the accident, Mayor Williams, 
the city of Garner, and all the community will join together with other 
individuals in other communities who were touched by the accident in a 
moment of silence to commemorate this disaster. I hope that we will 
have Congress' voice represented there with the passage of this 
resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this important and 
necessary and timely resolution.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I will continue to reserve.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may 
consume to another colleague from North Carolina, Mr. Price.
  Mr. PRICE of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join 
colleagues here today in offering condolences to the families and 
friends and coworkers of Barbara McLean Spears, Louis Junior Watson and 
Rachel Mae Poston Pulley, the three workers who tragically lost their 
lives in an explosion at the ConAgra plant in Garner, North Carolina on 
June 9.
  This area, Garner, North Carolina, is an area that I formerly 
represented as their Congressman. It's now represented by our 
colleague, Bob Etheridge; and I want to thank Bob for sponsoring this 
resolution here today and enabling us to come together in this time of 
tribute.
  Our sympathy goes out to the families of the victims, but also to the 
40 other ConAgra employees who were injured in this plant's explosion 
and collapse. Some of them have severe burns. They have other serious 
injuries. We wish them a successful recovery, and we thank the medical 
providers, including the Burn Center at UNC Chapel Hill, who are doing 
so much to treat these victims.
  Often it does take a tragedy like the ConAgra explosion to publicly 
highlight the courageous work of our first responders. We commend those 
who responded to this explosion. There are many stories of bravery that 
prevented further injury or loss of life. The firefighters, the police, 
the emergency medical services of Garner and Wake County and many 
surrounding communities that heeded the call to rescue the ConAgra 
plant employees in a quick and safe manner. So we're very indebted to 
them and grateful to them. These first responders put us first, put our 
communities first every day.
  There are also many private citizens who risked their lives helping 
plant employees evacuate, who gave selfless assistance to their 
suffering neighbors. That's a testament to the character and the 
strength of Garner's community.
  The ConAgra plant, as my colleague, Mr. Etheridge, has said, is a 
cornerstone of the Garner and Wake County community. It was built as a 
sausage plant nearly 50 years ago. As we move forward, remembering the 
victims of this tragedy, and the way that this plant provided the 
livelihood for so many people, we do hope the plant is rebuilt, and 
that employees can return to work. And we're heartened that such plans 
seem to be under way.
  We do need to remain vigilant, of course, in our efforts to improve 
workplace safety. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has 
concluded their investigation, finding, fortunately, no evidence of 
criminal intent. The Chemical Safety Board investigation is ongoing. We 
need to get to the bottom of this. We need to understand what happened; 
and we need, of course, to adopt practices and policies that lead to 
safer facilities in the future and avoid this kind of tragedy.
  So, Mr. Speaker, in closing, we honor the memories of those that we 
have lost, give thanks for those who have been spared, and join in 
sympathy for the victims and their families.
  Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, I would just urge my colleagues to support 
the resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume and thank my colleagues from North Carolina for bringing this 
tragedy to our attention and giving us the opportunity to convey our 
condolences.
  I urge my colleagues to support the resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, 540.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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