[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 19209]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              APPLAUDING THE CAPITOL FLAG OFFICE EMPLOYEES

  (Mr. MORAN of Virginia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud the 
courageous actions of employees in the U.S. Capitol flag office.
  Last week, an armed intruder evaded security and broke into the 
Capitol, leading police on a chase spanning four floors of the 
building. The perpetrator represented a serious threat to the safety of 
Members, staff, and the visiting public. At the time of his capture, he 
was carrying a .22 caliber pistol and was high on crack cocaine. But 
thanks to the sharp instincts, quick thinking, and decisive action of a 
trio of Capitol flag office employees, Monday, September 18, was not to 
be a tragic day. According to published reports, these brave employees 
were able to subdue the intruder, holding him in custody until Capitol 
Police arrived.
  Mr. Speaker, I have got some serious concerns, as I think we all do, 
regarding how easily Capitol security was breached last week. We have 
spent hundreds of millions of dollars on securing the Capitol and 
increasing the size of the police force since 9/11. But that is a 
debate for another time and place. Today, I want to use this time on 
the House floor to recognize individuals from the flag office involved 
in last week's security breach. They are part of a team who day in and 
day out ensure that constituents across the country receive their own 
crisp edition of the Stars and Stripes freshly flown over the Capitol 
dome. Their actions in a dangerous situation speak volumes, displaying 
a willingness to put their safety on the line for this institution and 
for their fellow workers.

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