[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H1002]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRESS MUST PROTECT COMMUNITIES ACROSS NATION

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, in the dark of night in January 2020, 
my constituents near the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing Company were 
awakened by a catastrophic explosion around 4 a.m. in the morning. 
Unbeknownst to these working families, this particular manufacturing 
building had propylene, and there was a leak, and there was a seismic 
explosion.
  Four hundred homes have been damaged to the extent that people cannot 
return. Tragically, two employees were killed. Due to the fact that the 
shift had not started, there wasn't a catastrophic killing of 
employees, innocent employees. A truck was blown from one part of the 
street to the other.
  We now cannot find the owner of this particular company. Homes are 
still destroyed. Businesses are destroyed. There is no one to call.
  I will be introducing legislation that insists that companies have 
the responsibility to report to local jurisdictions the dangerous 
flammable and toxic materials that they are holding.
  We are still fighting to get relief for these innocent victims, and 
we are asking Mr. Watson to stand up and do what he said he would, 
which is to take care of all of these persons. Well, he is doing it by 
filing bankruptcy.
  We will not rest until all of these homes and homeowners find a way 
for relief. I ask Members to join me in the legislation that will 
protect communities across the Nation.

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