[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 131 (Friday, September 11, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1272-E1274]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE 14TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEPTEMBER 11TH, 2001
______
HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE
of texas
in the house of representatives
Friday, September 11, 2015
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join my colleagues in
recognizing and commemorating the 14th anniversary of the attacks on
our homeland on September 11, 2001.
The years that have passed since that day have not dimmed my memory
or diminished
[[Page E1273]]
my resolve to see an end to terrorism not only in the United States,
but around the world.
As a Member of Congress and a senior Member of the Committees on
Homeland Security and the Judiciary, both of which deal with national
security issues, I have long been committed and engaged in efforts to
develop policies that anticipate and respond to new and emerging
challenges to the security of our nation and the peace and safety of
the world.
On Tuesday of this week the House Committee on Homeland Security held
a full committee hearing in New York City at ``Ground Zero,'' which is
now the home of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
I will never forget that day.
Today, September 11, 2015 is the 14th anniversary of the attacks that
killed 2,977 men, women and children.
I stood on the East Front steps of the Capitol on September 11, 2001,
along with 150 members of the House of Representatives and sang ``God
Bless America.''
September 11, 2001 remains a tragedy that defines our nation's
history, but the final chapter will be written by those who are charged
with keeping our nation and its people safe while preserving the way of
life that terrorists seek to change.
I visited the site of the World Trade Center Towers in the aftermath
of the attacks and grieved over the deaths of so many of our men,
women, and children.
I want to thank and commend the work of our first responder community
on that day and every day since September 11 for their efforts to
protect their communities and our nation from acts of terrorism.
I watched as thousands of first responders, construction workers, and
volunteers worked to recover the remains of the dead, and removed the
tons of debris, while placing their own lives and health at risk.
The men and women who worked at ``Ground Zero'' were called by a
sense of duty to help in our nation's greatest time of need since the
bombing of Pearl Harbor.
There is unfinished work for those first responders who were injured
or suffered illnesses during and after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
September 11 will forever remain a part of our national memory and
for those who serve in Congress a clarion call to be vigilant against
those who would do our nation harm.
To respond to the medical needs of the thousands of people who became
ill from exposure to the toxic environment at Ground Zero, Congress
passed the James Zadroga September 11 Care Act (9/11 Care Act), which
provides rescue and recover workers with health care to treat the
conditions that resulted from their exposure to toxic dust after the
terror attack.
The 9/11 Care Act will expire in October 2016.
I urge my Colleagues on the Committee to join me in seeking
reauthorization of the 9/11 Care Act this year.
Under the leadership of President Obama, Bin Laden was found and
killed.
President Obama was given a daunting task--after the reckless
decision to invade Iraq without provocation.
This single decision to engage in a war of choice and not necessity
resulted in the situation that we see in the Middle East with ISIL and
the massive displacement of people seeking safety from a war zone that
covers Syria and Iraq's borders.
Today, this nation faces new threats from terrorists.
We also have the benefit of first responder professionals who guard
us, protect us, and watch over us against those who would seek to do us
harm.
The men and women who serve our communities as law enforcement
officers, firefighters, EMT's, nurses, doctors, and dozens of other
professionals that train to be ready to detect, deter, and defend
against another September 11.
I have introduced the ``Families of Responders Identification of
Emergency Needs in Designated Situations'' called the ``FRIENDS Act,''
to bring a measure of peace to those who will be called to the front
lines in our nation's fight against terrorism and terrorists acts at
home.
I thank the staff of the Homeland Security Committee and the first
responder organizations for their assistance in improving the bill.
The FRIENDS Act would result in the first report ever produced on the
state of family support planning for the families of first responders.
Federal family support planning is important to homeland security
because this area of continuity of operations planning addresses the
health and safety needs of first responder families during terrorist
attacks or incidents as well as other emergencies.
When first responders are called to duty--whether it is September 11,
2001 or to protect and serve during Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, or Sandy
or other emergencies--they should not be concerned about the safety
needs of their families.
I look forward to the opportunity for each member of the House to
cast a vote in favor of first responder families by supporting passage
of the FRIENDS Act.
But today let us remember those who perished on this awful day 14
years ago, and rededicate ourselves to honoring their sacrifice by
doing all we can to protect our homeland and all who dwell peaceably
therein.
First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty on September 11, 2001
Of the 2,977 victims killed in the September 11 attacks,
411 were emergency workers in New York City who responded to
the World Trade Center. This included:
Fire Department of New York (FDNY): Chief Peter J. Ganci,
Jr., 54, the highest ranking uniformed fire officer in the
department; First Deputy Fire Commissioner William M. Feehan,
72; Marshal Ronald Paul Bucca, 47; Chaplain Mychal Judge, 68.
Battalion 1: Chief Matthew Lancelot Ryan, 54; Lt. Paul
Thomas Mitchell, 46.
Battalion 2: Chief William McGovern, 49; Chief Richard
Prunty, 57; Faustino Apostol, Jr., 55.
Battalion 4: Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, 43.
Battalion 6: Chief John P. Williamson, 46.
Battalion 7: Chief Orio Palmer, 45; Lt. Stephen G. Harrell,
44; Lt. Philip Scott Petti, 43.
Battalion 8: Chief Thomas Patrick DeAngelis, 51; Thomas
McCann, 45.
Battalion 9: Chief Dennis Lawrence Devlin, 51; Chief Edward
F. Geraghty, 45; Lt. Charles William Garbarini, 44; Carl
Asaro, 39; Alan D. Feinberg, 48.
Battalion 11: Chief John M. Paolillo, 51.
Battalion 12: Chief Frederick Claude Scheffold, Jr., 57.
Battalion 22: Lt. Charles Joseph Margiotta, 44.
Battalion 43: Lt. Geoffrey E. Guja, 49.
Battalion 47: Lt. Anthony Jovic, 39.
Battalion 48: Chief Joseph Grzelak, 52; Michael Leopoldo
Bocchino, 45.
Battalion 49: Chief John Moran, 42.
Battalion 50: Chief Lawrence T. Stack, 58.
Battalion 57: Chief Dennis Cross, 60; Chief Joseph Ross
Marchbanks, Jr., 47.
Division 1: Capt. Joseph D. Farrelly, 47; Capt. Thomas
Moody, 45.
Division 11: Capt. Timothy M. Stackpole, 42.
Division 15: Chief Thomas Theodore Haskell, Jr., 37; Capt.
Martin J. Egan, Jr., 36; Capt. William O'Keefe, 48.
Engine 1: Lt. Andrew Desperito, 43; Michael T. Weinberg,
34.
Engine 4: Calixto Anaya, Jr., 35; James C. Riches, 29;
Thomas G. Schoales, 27; Paul A. Tegtmeier, 41.
Engine 5: Manuel Del Valle, Jr., 32.
Engine 6: Paul Beyer, 37; Thomas Holohan, 36; William R.
Johnston, 31.
Engine 8: Robert Parro, 35.
Engine 10: Lt. Gregg Arthur Atlas, 44; Jeffrey James Olsen,
31.
Engine 21: Capt. William Francis Burke, Jr., 46.
Engine 22: Thomas Anthony Casoria, 29; Michael J. Elferis,
27; Vincent D. Kane, 37; Martin E. McWilliams, 35.
Engine 23: Robert McPadden, 30; James Nicholas Pappageorge,
29; Hector Luis Tirado, Jr., 30; Mark P. Whitford, 31.
Engine 26: Capt. Thomas Farino, 37; Dana R Hannon, 29.
Engine 29: Michael Ragusa, 29.
Engine 33: Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, 42; David Arce, 36; Michael
Boyle, 37; Robert Evans, 36; Keithroy Marcellus Maynard, 30.
Engine 37: John Giordano, 47.
Engine 40: Lt. John F. Ginley, 37; Kevin Bracken, 37;
Michael D. D'Auria, 25; Bruce Gary, 51; Steven Mercado, 38.
Engine 50: Robert W. Spear, Jr., 30.
Engine 54: Paul John Gill, 34; Jose Guadalupe, 37;
Christopher Santora, 23.
Engine 55: Lt. Peter L. Freund, 45; Robert Lane, 28;
Christopher Mozzillo, 27; Stephen P. Russell, 40.
Engine 58: Lt. Robert B. Nagel, 55.
Engine 74: Ruben D. Correa, 44.
Engine 201: Lt. Paul Richard Martini, 37; Gregory Joseph
Buck, 37; Christopher Pickford, 32; John Albert Schardt, 34.
Engine 205: Lt. Robert Francis Wallace, 43.
Engine 207: Karl Henry Joseph, 25; Shawn Edward Powell, 32;
Kevin O. Reilly, 28.
Engine 214: Lt. Carl John Bedigian, 35; John Joseph Florio,
33; Michael Edward Roberts, 31; Kenneth Thomas Watson, 39.
Engine 216: Daniel Suhr, 37.
Engine 217: Lt. Kenneth Phelan, 41; Steven Coakley, 36;
Philip T. Hayes, 67; Neil Joseph Leavy, 34.
Engine 219: John Chipura, 39.
Engine 226: Brian McAleese, 36; David Paul De Rubbio, 38;
Stanley S. Smagala, Jr., 36.
Engine 230: Lt. Brian G. Ahearn, 43; Frank Bonomo, 42;
Michael Scott Carlo, 34; Jeffrey Stark, 30; Eugene Whelan,
31; Edward James White III, 30.
Engine 235: Lt. Steven Bates, 42; Nicholas Paul Chiofalo,
39; Francis Esposito, 32; Lee S. Fehling, 28; Lawrence G.
Veling, 44.
Engine 238: Lt. Glenn E. Wilkinson, 46.
Engine 279: Ronnie Lee Henderson, 52; Anthony Rodriguez,
36.
Engine 285: Raymond R. York, 45.
Engine 320: Capt. James J. Corrigan, 60.
Haz-Mat 1: Lt. John A. Crisci, 48; Dennis M. Carey, 51;
Martin N. DeMeo, 47; Thomas Gardner, 39; Jonathan R. Hohmann,
48; Dennis Scauso, 46; Kevin Joseph Smith, 47.
Ladder 2: Capt. Frederick Ill, Jr, 49; Michael J. Clarke,
27; George DiPasquale, 33; Denis P. Germain, 33; Daniel
Edward Harlin, 41; Carl Molinaro, 32; Dennis Michael
Mulligan, 32.
[[Page E1274]]
Ladder 3: Capt. Patrick J. Brown, 48; Lt. Kevin W.
Donnelly, 43; Michael Carroll, 39; James Raymond Coyle, 26;
Gerard Dewan, 35; Jeffrey John Giordano, 45; Joseph Maloney,
45; John Kevin McAvoy, 47; Timothy Patrick McSweeney, 37;
Joseph J. Ogren, 30; Steven John Olson, 38.
Ladder 4: Capt. David Terence Wooley, 54; Lt. Daniel
O'Callaghan, 42; Joseph Angelini, Jr, 38; Peter Brennan, 30;
Michael E. Brennan, 27; Michael Haub, 34; Michael F. Lynch,
33; Samuel Oitice, 45; John James Tipping II, 33.
Ladder 5: Lt. Vincent Francis Giammona, 40; Lt. Michael
Warchola, 51; Louis Arena, 32; Andrew Brunn, 28; Thomas
Hannafin, 36; Paul Hanlon Keating, 38; John A. Santore, 49;
Gregory Thomas Saucedo, 31.
Ladder 7: Capt. Vernon Allan Richard, 53; George Cain, 35;
Robert Joseph Foti, 42; Richard Muldowney Jr, 40; Charles
Mendez, 38; Vincent Princiotta, 39.
Ladder 8: Lt. Vincent Gerard Halloran, 43.
Ladder 9: Gerard Baptiste, 35; John P. Tierney, 27; Jeffrey
P. Walz, 37.
Ladder 10: Sean Patrick Tallon, 26.
Ladder 11: Lt. Michael Quilty, 42; Michael F. Cammarata,
22; Edward James Day, 45; John F. Heffernan, 37; Richard John
Kelly, Jr, 50; Robert King, Jr, 36; Matthew Rogan, 37.
Ladder 12: Angel L. Juarbe, Jr, 35; Michael D. Mullan, 34.
Ladder 13: Capt. Walter G. Hynes, 46; Thomas Hetzel, 33;
Dennis McHugh, 34; Thomas E. Sabella, 44; Gregory Stajk, 46.
Ladder 15: Lt. Joseph Gerard Leavey, 45; Richard Lanard
Allen, 30; Arthur Thaddeus Barry, 35; Thomas W. Kelly, 50;
Scott Kopytko, 32; Scott Larsen, 35; Douglas E. Oelschlager,
36; Eric T. Olsen, 41.
Ladder 16: Lt. Raymond E. Murphy, 46; Robert Curatolo, 31.
Ladder 20: Capt. John R. Fischer, 46; John Patrick
Burnside, 36; James Michael Gray, 34; Sean S. Hanley, 35;
David Laforge, 50; Robert Thomas Linnane, 33; Robert D.
McMahon, 35.
Ladder 21: Gerald T. Atwood, 38; Gerard Duffy, 53; Keith
Glascoe, 38; Joseph Henry, 25; William E. Krukowski, 36;
Benjamin Suarez, 34.
Ladder 24: Capt. Daniel J. Brethel, 43; Stephen Elliot
Belson, 51.
Ladder 25: Lt. Glenn C. Perry, 41; Matthew Barnes, 37; John
Michael Collins, 42; Kenneth Kumpel, 42; Robert Minara, 54;
Joseph Rivelli, 43; Paul G. Ruback, 50.
Ladder 27: John Marshall, 35.
Ladder 35: Capt. Frank Callahan, 51; James Andrew Giberson,
43; Vincent S. Morello, 34; Michael Otten, 42; Michael
Roberts, 30.
Ladder 38: Joseph Spor, Jr., 35.
Ladder 42: Peter Alexander Bielfeld, 44.
Ladder 101: Lt. Joseph Gullickson, 37; Patrick Byrne, 39;
Salvatore B. Calabro, 38; Brian Cannizzaro, 30; Thomas J.
Kennedy, 36; Joseph Maffeo, 31; Terence A. McShane, 37.
Ladder 105: Capt. Vincent Brunton, 43; Thomas Richard
Kelly, 39; Henry Alfred Miller, Jr, 51; Dennis O'Berg, 28;
Frank Anthony Palombo, 46.
Ladder 111: Lt. Christopher P. Sullivan, 39.
Ladder 118: Lt. Robert M. Regan, 48; Joseph Agnello, 35;
Vernon Paul Cherry, 49; Scott Matthew Davidson, 33; Leon
Smith, Jr., 48; Peter Anthony Vega, 36.
Ladder 131: Christian Michael Otto Regenhard, 28.
Ladder 132: Andrew Jordan, 36; Michael Kiefer, 25; Thomas
Mingione, 34; John T. Vigiano II, 36; Sergio Villanueva, 33.
Ladder 136: Michael Joseph Cawley, 32.
Ladder 166: William X. Wren, 61.
Rescue 1: Capt. Terence S. Hatton, 41; Lt. Dennis Mojica,
50; Joseph Angelini, Sr., 63; Gary Geidel, 44; William Henry,
49; Kenneth Joseph Marino, 40; Michael Montesi, 39; Gerard
Terence Nevins, 46; Patrick J. O'Keefe, 44; Brian Edward
Sweeney, 29; David M. Weiss, 41.
Rescue 2: Lt. Peter C. Martin, 43; William David Lake, 44;
Daniel F. Libretti, 43; John Napolitano, 32; Kevin O'Rourke,
44; Lincoln Quappe, 38; Edward Rall, 44.
Rescue 3: Christopher Joseph Blackwell, 42; Thomas Foley,
32; Thomas Gambino, Jr., 48; Raymond Meisenheimer, 46; Donald
J. Regan, 47; Gerard Patrick Schrang, 45.
Rescue 4: Capt. Brian Hickey, 47; Lt. Kevin Dowdell, 46;
Terrence Patrick Farrell, 45; William J. Mahoney, 37; Peter
Allen Nelson, 42; Durrell V. Pearsall, 34.
Rescue 5: Capt. Louis Joseph Modafferi, 45; Lt. Harvey
Harrell, 49; John P. Bergin, 39; Carl Vincent Bini, 44;
Michael Curtis Fiore, 46; Andre G. Fletcher, 37; Douglas
Charles Miller, 34; Jeffrey Matthew Palazzo, 33; Nicholas P.
Rossomando, 35; Allan Tarasiewicz, 45.
Special Operations: Chief Raymond Mathew Downey, 63; Capt.
Patrick J. Waters, 44; Lt. Timothy Higgins, 43; Lt. Michael
Thomas Russo, Sr, 44.
Squad 1: Capt. James M. Amato, 43; Lt. Edward A. D'Atri,
38; Lt. Michael Esposito, 41; Lt. Michael N. Fodor, 53; Brian
Bilcher, 37; Gary Box, 37; Thomas M. Butler, 37; Peter
Carroll, 42; Robert Cordice, 28; David J. Fontana, 37;
Matthew David Garvey, 37; Stephen Gerard Siller, 34.
Squad 18: Lt. William E. McGinn, 43; Eric Allen, 44; Andrew
Fredricks, 40; David Halderman, 40; Timothy Haskell, 34;
Manuel Mojica, 37; Lawrence Virgilio, 38.
Squad 41: Lt. Michael K. Healey, 42; Thomas Patrick Cullen
III, 31; Robert Hamilton, 43; Michael J. Lyons, 32; Gregory
Sikorsky, 34; R. Bruce Van Hine, 48.
Squad 252: Tarel Coleman, 32; Thomas Kuveikis, 48; Peter J.
Langone, 41; Patrick Lyons, 34; Kevin Prior, 28.
Squad 288: Lt. Ronald T. Kerwin, 42; Ronnie E. Gies, 43;
Joseph Hunter, 31; Jonathan Lee Ielpi, 29; Adam David Rand,
30; Timothy Matthew Welty, 34.
EMS Battalion 49: Paramedic Carlos R. Lillo, 37.
EMS Battalion 57: Paramedic Ricardo J. Quinn, 40.
Port Authority Police Department: Supt. Ferdinand V.
Morrone, 63; Chief James A. Romito, 51; Lt. Robert D. Cirri;
Insp. Anthony P. Infante, Jr., 47; Capt. Kathy Nancy Mazza,
46; Sgt. Robert M. Kaulfers, 49; Donald James McIntyre, 38;
Walter Arthur McNeil, 53; Joseph Michael Navas, 44; James
Nelson, 40; Alfonse J. Niedermeyer, 40; James Wendell Parham,
32; Dominick A. Pezzulo, 36; Antonio J. Rodrigues, 35;
Richard Rodriguez, 31; Bruce Albert Reynolds, 41; Christopher
C. Amoroso, 29; Maurice V. Barry, 48; Clinton Davis, Sr., 38;
Donald A. Foreman, 53; Gregg J. Froehner, 46; Uhuru Gonga
Houston, 32; George G. Howard, 44; Thomas E. Gorman; Stephen
Huczko, Jr., 44; Paul William Jurgens, 47; Liam Callahan, 44;
Paul Laszczynski, 49; David Prudencio Lemagne, 27; John
Joseph Lennon, Jr., 44; John Dennis Levi, 50; James Francis
Lynch, 47; John P. Skala, 31; Walwyn W. Stuart, Jr., 28;
Kenneth F. Tietjen, 31; Nathaniel Webb; Michael T. Wholey;
Sirius, K-9.
New York City Police Department: Sgt. Timothy A. Roy, Sr.,
36; Sgt. John Gerard Coughlin, 43; Sgt. Rodney C. Gillis, 33;
Sgt. Michael S. Curtin, 45; Det. Joseph V. Vigiano, 34; Det.
Claude Daniel Richards, 46; Moira Ann Smith, 38; Ramon
Suarez, 45; Paul Talty, 40; Santos Valentin, Jr., 39; Walter
E. Weaver, 30; Ronald Philip Kloepfer, 39; Thomas M. Langone,
39; James Patrick Leahy, 38; Brian Grady McDonnell, 38; John
William Perry, 38; Glen Kerrin Pettit, 30; John D'Allara, 47;
Vincent Danz, 38; Jerome M. P. Dominguez, 37; Stephen P.
Driscoll, 38; Mark Joseph Ellis, 26; Robert Fazio, Jr., 41.
Private emergency medical services: Keith Fairben, 24--a
paramedic who worked for the New York Presbyterian Hospital;
Richard Pearlman, 18--an EMT who worked for the Forest Hills
Volunteer Ambulance; Mario Santoro, 28--a paramedic who
worked for the New York Presbyterian Medical Center; Yamel
Merino, 24--an EMT for Metrocare/Montefiore Medical Center
for three years; Mohammad Salman Hamdani, 23--a part-time
FDNY Certified EMT and also a member of the New York City
Police Department Cadet Corps for three years; Marc Sullins,
30--an EMT who worked with Cabrini Medical Center; Mark
Schwartz, 50--an EMT who worked for Hunter Ambulance; Jeff
Simpson, 38--an EMT who worked for the Dumfries-Triangle
Rescue Squad, and also an employee for Oracle Corporation.
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