[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H1043-H1045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   EXPRESSING CONCERN ABOUT SUICIDE PLANE ATTACK ON IRS EMPLOYEES IN 
                             AUSTIN, TEXAS

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1127) expressing concern regarding the 
suicide plane attack on Internal Revenue Service employees in Austin, 
Texas.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1127

       Whereas all Federal employees, and those from the Internal 
     Revenue Service in particular, have experienced a terrible 
     tragedy in the suicide plane attack on February 18, 2010;
       Whereas Vernon Hunter, who lost his life in the terror 
     attack, had 48 years of public service, including 20 years of 
     serving in the United States Army and 2 tours in Vietnam;
       Whereas Federal, State, and local officials have cooperated 
     to respond promptly and professionally to the attack and 
     provide assistance to Internal Revenue Service victims and 
     families affected by the crash; and
       Whereas Federal employees, from the Armed Forces to the 
     Internal Revenue Service, serve their Nation with honor and 
     commitment, and perform public service that benefits the 
     entire Nation: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) strongly condemns the terror attack perpetrated 
     deliberately against Federal employees of the Internal 
     Revenue Service in Austin, Texas;
       (2) honors Vernon Hunter, a victim of the crash, Shane 
     Hill, who suffered severe injuries, and all those who were 
     injured for their service to our Nation;
       (3) commends Internal Revenue Service employees for their 
     dedication and public service;
       (4) recognizes the heroic actions of the first responders, 
     emergency services personnel, Internal Revenue Service 
     employees, and citizens on the ground in Austin such as Robin 
     De Haven whose actions minimized the loss of life; and
       (5) rejects any statement or act that deliberately fans the 
     flames of hatred or expresses sympathy for those who would 
     attack public servants serving our Nation.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Boustany) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on 
House Resolution 1127.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  On February 18, the IRS family suffered a terrible tragedy. I rise 
today to express my deepest sympathies to the families of Vernon 
Hunter, Shane Hill, and the employees at the IRS in Austin, Texas. We 
as a Nation and as a people are much better than this. We should be 
better to each other. This type of attack is just wrong, and we must 
not tolerate violence against our public servants.
  I understand that people may not like to pay their taxes, but we 
cannot take out our anger on IRS employees. They do not deserve this. 
The people who work at the Internal Revenue Service are mothers and 
fathers and brothers and sisters who work hard each and every day. They 
do their jobs, and they do them well. They perform a public service 
that benefits the entire Nation. This Congress is committed to the 
safety of each and every person who serves this Nation.
  I want to thank the IRS Commissioner for the steps he has taken to 
enhance security at all IRS sites around the country. We will continue 
to make sure that the Internal Revenue Service has the resources to 
improve security at its offices.
  I was moved by the many stories of people who reached out and helped 
each other during this terrible tragedy. Even in the face of chaos and 
violence, people reached out and helped each other. First responders, 
emergency personnel, employees, and other citizens showed great courage 
and compassion to minimize the loss of life. I thank them all and honor 
them today.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might 
consume.
  (Mr. BOUSTANY asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Like all my colleagues here in the House of 
Representatives, I was shocked and horrified by the tragedy that 
occurred at the IRS office in Austin, Texas, on February 18. I 
especially want to offer my condolences to the family of Vernon Hunter, 
who lost his life in this senseless attack. Mr. Hunter dedicated his 
life to serving his country, including 20 years in the U.S. Army and 
two tours in Vietnam. I stand with my colleagues today to honor his 
service and his memory.
  We should also recognize the courage and heroism of those men and 
women, including IRS employees, first responders, and others, who 
responded to the attack to ensure that our country did not suffer even 
greater losses.
  I would like to associate myself with the words of President Obama to 
the employees of the IRS when he said, and I quote, ``I am thankful for 
your dedication, courage, and professionalism as we rebuild in Austin. 
And as you continue your work, we will do what is needed to ensure your 
safety. We are grateful for your service to this country. May God bless 
you and the United States of America.''
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1330

  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I'm pleased to yield such time 
as he may consume to my colleague and my friend, the distinguished 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Doggett), a member of the Ways and Means 
Committee and a sponsor of the resolution.
  Mr. DOGGETT. I thank the gentleman from Georgia and the gentleman 
from Louisiana for their important comments. The recent suicide attack 
in my hometown of Austin, Texas, on an IRS building was a horrible 
tragedy. I authored this resolution to honor those who were victims, to 
recognize the courage that was displayed by so many that day, and to 
condemn such cowardly acts of violence.
  Seeing that building aflame after this premeditated suicide attack 
which was, in the words of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, ``perpetrated 
in rage without any regard for the sanctity of human life,'' I was just 
amazed that not more of our neighbors were harmed. In large measure, 
this was the result of the valor and professionalism amidst the flames 
and the chaos of the Federal workers, others who came upon the scene, 
and our local first responders.
  Leaders of these well-trained professionals who rose to the call of 
duty that day include our Austin Police Chief, Art Acevedo; our Fire 
Chief, Rhoda Mae Kerr; our EMS Director, Ernie Rodriguez; and Travis 
County HAZMAT Chief, Gary Warren who, with the Westlake Fire 
Department, was fortunately near the site of the attack and raced into 
action. And I know

[[Page H1044]]

that the neighboring Grace Covenant Church has already offered support 
and solace for many following the attack.
  This resolution also recognizes Robin De Haven. Robin, an Iraqi 
veteran and a technician with Binswanger Glass, was driving by and was 
one of the first to rush to the scene as he saw the attack. Without a 
moment's hesitation, he stopped his truck, got out his ladder, and 
despite the fire, the heat, the smoke and the chaos, he rescued 
employees from the second floor of the building.
  As the saying goes, ``it's easy to be brave from a distance,'' but 
Robin showed his bravery close up, very close up, and in doing so, he 
helped many people escape injury. Last week he became the first 
Austinite to receive a ``challenge coin,'' recognizing his quick 
thinking and courage from all three of the city's public safety 
organizations.
  There is the spirit and courage of the Austin IRS employees, whose 
calm and orderly evacuation saved lives. They were recognized by the 
prompt visit of IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman, Treasury Secretary 
Geithner, and Colleen Kelley, the president of the National Treasury 
Employees Union, who heard firsthand what these employees experienced.
  Frankly, all in the building that day were heroes, and we cannot know 
the names of all who acted with courage. But a few stories that were 
shared with me by the employees I think are typical: Alfredo 
Valdespino, who guided employees out of the building and then ran back 
inside to offer more help. Also returning to help a missing colleague 
was Richard Lee. David Irving carried a disabled coworker down the 
stairs and out of the building on his back. Armando Valdez, Jr., and 
Deborah Fleming yelled to other employees, ``Follow my voice,'' as they 
guided them away from falling through the gaping holes in the floor. 
Andrew Jacobson and Morgan Johnson broke out a window and allowed 
employees to climb out through Robin De Haven's ladder.
  That tragic day, even as work continued at the scene, however, after 
this deadly assault on Federal employees, a Facebook page was created 
that lauded the killer. This response to violence is deplorable. 
Intense debate as we have here on this floor about our Tax Code is 
appropriate. That's what we do here in Congress and in gatherings 
across the country. There are many tax provisions that I have 
personally criticized in the strongest terms, and at times I have also 
criticized the way the IRS has administered the Tax Code. But to 
demonize and harm public servants who are serving our country at the 
IRS while praising a murderer or anyone else who would do them harm is 
outrageous.
  Nor is such misconduct unique to this tragedy. According to the Wall 
Street Journal, the number of threats against IRS employees are on the 
rise. Just this week, the Austin American-Statesman reported about 
another local agent's necessary care in opening mail filled with razor 
blades and pushpins, about last year's phony anthrax attack on another 
Austin IRS building and an earlier plot to blow up another Austin IRS 
building. Each year, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax 
Administration, which oversees the IRS, investigates more than 900 
threats against IRS employees, including violence.
  Let me be clear: I'm not here today to glorify the IRS. I'm here to 
condemn unequivocally through this resolution those who would glorify 
violence against our public employees who are properly conducting their 
duties in service to our Nation.
  There are many who will long bear the emotional scars from this 
attack, and some still cope with the physical burdens. I want 
especially to recognize Shane Hill, a 5-year investigator with the 
Texas State Comptroller's office who happened to be in the building 
that day and now with his family faces a very long physical recovery.
  Vernon Hunter has been mentioned. Known by his friends as Vern, he 
lost his life in this senseless attack. At his funeral last Friday, he 
was described as the type of man who always woke up with a smile, 
always wanted to help others, and as a Texan, never left home without 
his cowboy hat. Coming from a family dedicated to uniformed service, he 
served in the U.S. Army for over two decades, which included two tours 
of duty in Vietnam. His four brothers and a son all served in the 
United States military, as does his son-in-law today who is actively 
serving in the United States Navy. After retiring from the Army, he 
continued that service to his country for almost three decades with the 
Internal Revenue Service, where his wife Valerie has also worked.
  The gentleman from Georgia is a particularly appropriate person to 
present this resolution today because after living through a life of 
segregation in South Carolina, Vern was present that day, John Lewis, 
when you along with Dr. Martin Luther King spoke down The Mall here in 
the famous ``I Have a Dream'' speech and the celebration at the Lincoln 
Memorial. His dream, he saw in his service to his country through the 
Army and through the Internal Revenue Service, was a dream rooted in 
freedom and justice; and 45 years after that speech, Vernon was able to 
witness America's progress when he himself served as a delegate for 
President Obama.
  Dr. Martin Luther King once said: ``The quality, not the longevity, 
of one's life is what is important.'' Because Vern Hunter cared enough 
to make a difference, Austin and this Nation that he loved so much and 
served his whole life was made better. In a remarkable statement at a 
moment of such great pain, the Hunter family expressed its personal 
forgiveness of the suicide attacker and expressed sympathy for the 
attacker's family. These moving words of peace reflect the power of 
their own faith and the strength of spirit, both of the Hunter family 
and the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church family, led by Reverend 
Gaylon Clark. Vern, his life and his family are a testament about what 
is best in our country. In him, we have lost a true American hero.
  Today I respectfully ask that my colleagues join in adopting this 
resolution to honor him, the other victims, the employees, and the 
rescuers and to renounce violence against those who are serving our 
country.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, now I would like to yield such time as 
he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) in whose 
district this tragic event occurred.
  Mr. McCAUL. I thank the gentleman for yielding. And I thank the 
gentleman from Austin, Mr. Doggett, for introducing this resolution. We 
share Austin, and we share in our grief and share in these tragic 
events that occurred on February 18. I was in Austin. I was driving, 
and I saw a bunch of smoke coming out of some Federal buildings where I 
used to work with the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the FBI, right 
next door to the IRS building.
  I called the police chief that day, and I said, What happened? Police 
Chief Acevedo said that a plane had flown into the Federal building, 
and I said, Well, do you know if it was an accident? He said, No, 
Congressman, it was intentional. And at that point in time, we knew 
that this was not just some accidental mishap, airplane getting off 
course, mechanical problems, but rather an intentional act of violence.
  What I saw at the scene was quite astounding, and I'm sure the 
gentleman from Austin saw it as well. The airplane was a rather small 
aircraft, yet the damage that was done was massive, almost bringing the 
entire Federal building down. As it was in flames that fateful day, it 
reminded me a bit of Oklahoma City. It also looked like a sort of 
smaller version of 9/11. As the flames went up, as the glass blew out, 
a technician by the name of Robin De Haven, probably one of the great 
heroes that day, removed glass from the back side of the building and 
saved five employees of the IRS.
  Our thoughts and prayers go to the Hunter family. Vernon Hunter 
served his country and served in the IRS. He also served in the United 
States Army for 20 years. His office was right above where the airplane 
crashed into that building. The plane literally skipped off the top of 
a car and went into the first floor of the building in an intentional 
act to kill people.
  And I was asked a question at the press conference with the police 
chief and the fire department, Well, Congressman, was this an act of 
terrorism? Well, I guess it's all how you define ``act of terrorism.'' 
But what I said was, Anytime somebody flies an airplane intentionally 
into a Federal

[[Page H1045]]

building to kill people, I think that is an act of terror. And if you 
ask the Federal employees that day what they thought, well, they 
certainly thought it was an act of terror as well. We need to stop this 
in this country. We need to stop this.
  The heroism on the part of the Austin Police Department, the fire 
department, the FBI and the first responders in responding to this 
tragic scene and saving so many lives when we saw this massive 
destruction, the great miracle that day was that more people were not 
killed. Those first responders saved countless lives, and we owe them a 
debt of gratitude for their great, great service to not only the city 
of Austin but to the American people.
  So with that, let me again thank the gentleman from Austin for 
introducing this resolution. It's very timely. We do share that city 
together. We work well together, and I think, again, we share the grief 
of the loss. We share the tragic event, and we also share the belief 
that this was really an intentional act, an act of terror that we need 
to stop in this country.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LEWIS of Georgia. Having no further requests for time, Madam 
Speaker, I yield the balance of my time to the gentleman from Texas to 
close.
  Mr. DOGGETT. I thank both gentlemen. I want to applaud the remarks of 
my colleague Mr. McCaul, both the remarks that he made here today and 
the remarks that he made on the afternoon of this tragedy, under what I 
know was a very stressful situation.

                              {time}  1345

  I believe that we share a common purpose here. No one was looking to 
see which party, a member of the IRS was that day, or what part of the 
City of Austin. It affected our entire community. I had not used the 
term earlier, but I must say I also agree with his conclusion that like 
the much larger-scale tragedy in Oklahoma City, this was an act of 
domestic terrorism. But let's not quibble over the terms; it was the 
harm that was done and the promotion of that harm and violence. There 
is nothing noble about terror. Any expression to the contrary deserves 
our condemnation.
  As I read the statement that the pilot put up on his website, which 
was a rather confusing diatribe, I noticed particularly his quotation, 
``violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer,'' and in 
response almost immediately, some folks set up a Facebook page and 
called themselves ``fans'' of this suicide attacker. Sporting a ``Don't 
Tread on Me'' flag, the so-called ``fan page'' to the murderer 
misappropriated Thomas Jefferson's famous words that ``the tree of 
liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots 
and tyrants.'' This resolution soundly rejects, in a bipartisan manner, 
such appalling tributes.
  The patriots were working in the building that day, not working to 
kill public servants. The heroes were people like Vern Hunter who were 
doing their job on behalf of their country, not trying to destroy their 
fellow human beings.
  I believe we must turn down the volume on hate if we are to avoid 
reoccurrence of such baseless terror attacks. In our country, there is 
room for wide and vigorous political discourse and disagreement--our 
democracy thrives on it--but there is no room for violence or the 
dangerous incitement to violence. We get change through the ballot box, 
not by bullets, not by suicide airplane attacks. Let us speak today 
with one strong, unequivocal voice renouncing this attack. We reject 
the path of hate, and we reject the call to violence.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Lewis) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1127.
  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. DOGGETT. Madam 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.

                          ____________________