[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR PROMPT RESPONSE TO ATTEMPTED TERRORIST ATTACK IN 
                              TIMES SQUARE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 2010

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the Homeland Security 
Committee, I rise today in strong support of House Resolution 1320, 
expressing support for the vigilance and prompt response of the 
citizens and law enforcement agencies in New York and Connecticut to 
the attempted terrorist attack in Times Square on May 1, 2010, their 
exceptional professionalism and investigative work following the 
attempted attack, and their consistent commitment to preparedness for 
and collective response to terrorism.
  I would like to acknowledge Speaker Pelosi and Chairman Thompson for 
their leadership in bringing this important resolution to the floor. I 
would also like to thank my colleagues Congressman McMahon, Congressman 
Himes, and Congressman Hall, who authored this legislation.
  As Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency 
Communication, Preparedness, and Response, I am an original cosponsor 
of this resolution. I am pleased to join my colleagues in recognizing 
the New York City first responders who safely evacuated hundreds of 
people from Times Square and responded in a prompt and effective 
manner, as the result of extensive terrorism preparedness efforts that 
are supported, in part, by the Department of Homeland Security. H. Res. 
1320 recognizes the efforts of these men and women as well as the 
action of two alert citizens, Mr. Lance Orton and Mr. Duane Jackson, 
who notified the New York Police Department about a suspicious vehicle 
that was parked on 45th Street in Times Square. It is due to the 
exceptional professionalism and investigative work by the New York 
Police Department, the New York Police Department Bomb Squad, the Fire 
Department of New York, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United 
States Customs and Border Protection, the United States Attorney's 
Office for the Southern District of New York, the Department of 
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the New York Joint 
Terrorism Task Force, and other law enforcement agencies in Connecticut 
that a suspect was apprehended only 48 hours following the attempted 
bombing.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I support this bill because it is 
important to recognize and honor the men and women who put themselves 
in harm's way all day, every day, doing the important work to keep our 
homeland safe. I am proud to stand with my colleagues today in support 
of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H. Res. 
1320.

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