[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17882]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0915
              ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF I-35 BRIDGE TRAGEDY

  (Mr. WALZ of Minnesota asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, it was one year ago today, at 
6:05 p.m. this evening, that an eight-lane steel truss span bridge 
collapsed into the Mississippi River in Minneapolis. I'm sure we all 
remember that strange and surreal sight of a bridge laying in the very 
river it used to span and the images of vehicles that were crushed in 
the debris.
  As a school teacher, for me the most poignant and terrifying image 
was that of a school bus balanced over the abyss as it was about to 
plunge into the steel and concrete below, but whose occupants were 
thankfully all unharmed.
  Unfortunately, not everyone on that bridge made it home safely; 13 
people were killed in the tragedy. That those numbers weren't higher 
was due in no small part to the hundreds of firefighters, police, 
emergency personnel and ordinary citizens who rushed to the aid of 
their fellow Americans. Their direct actions immediately following this 
tragedy saved lives and eased suffering.
  Ordinary residents of Minneapolis displayed extraordinary courage on 
August 1. We are here today to note this sad occasion and to remember 
those who were lost.
  Construction on a new bridge is underway. It will be wider, longer, 
more reliable and safer. And I thank my colleague who spoke earlier, 
Mr. Ellison, for his leadership on that, but it won't bring back those 
who tragically died.
  Let us learn from this disaster and ensure it never happens again.

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