[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 12]
[House]
[Pages 16653-16654]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING CONGRESSIONAL STAFF AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our Nation and this House paid a 
fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, to the 
heroic rescuers, and to their families.
  Today, I would like to take just a moment to honor another group of 
people who serve this Nation in a less dramatic way, but who are heroes 
in their own right and in their own quiet ways.
  Last year, just 1 day after our Nation came under attack, and this 
very building was among the targets, the men

[[Page 16654]]

and women who work here in this building, in our offices and in 
countless other government offices throughout this land, came right 
back in to work to serve this great Nation. When they came in to work 
on that September 12 morning, they knew then and they have known each 
and every day since then that they work in a potential target.
  Scarcely a month later, they then faced a new challenge when anthrax 
entered our buildings, and for some of our staff, entered their bodies. 
The Capitol Police, the janitors and maintenance workers, the grounds 
crews, the people who serve food, the secretaries, the 
Parliamentarians, the clerks, the young pages, our legislative and our 
committee staff, our field and caseworkers, and all the other dedicated 
and courageous people who make this place and our government run all 
deserve our thanks and our praise.
  With tears in their eyes, with sadness and with fear in their hearts, 
but with indomitable courage they came right back to work to serve this 
country we all love.
  A year has passed now, and the immediate danger may have been 
diminished; but it remains in our awareness. Still, our staffs and the 
rest of the employees come to work, and in doing so, they serve our 
country.

                              {time}  1245

  In these times, this takes courage. So, and for that courage, I am 
grateful and this country is deeply fortunate.

                          ____________________