[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             U.S. TRAGEDIES

  Mr. McCONNELL. I begin this morning by extending my sympathy to 
families of the victims in yesterday's explosion in Harlem. News 
reports suggest a truly tragic loss of life and a lot of injuries, so 
it is a very sad day in New York today.
  As usual, in a catastrophe such as this, the response from firemen, 
police, and first responders was both quick and courageous. Many 
ordinary citizens who just happened to be in the area showed a lot of 
humanity and a lot of heroism too.
  We are grateful for them and we are all hoping and praying for a 
fully speedy recovery for those who were injured. These kinds of tragic 
accidents always take a big toll on the communities where they take 
place.
  A few months back there was a horrible house fire in western Kentucky 
that took the lives of eight children and their mother. It was 
devastating to the entire community and still is, so we are thinking of 
them also today.

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