[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 3]
[House]
[Page 4191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




OFFERING CONDOLENCES TO THE VICTIMS AND GRATITUDE TO THE RESCUE WORKERS 
                 OF CONTINENTAL CONNECTION FLIGHT 3407

  (Mr. HIGGINS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I am certain that everyone knows by now 
approximately 50 people lost their lives in a tragic plane crash last 
night in western New York. This crash occurred in the hometown of our 
colleague, Chris Lee, who has left Washington to assist in efforts 
ongoing in western New York.
  I know that the whole House joins Mr. Lee, Mrs. Slaughter, Mr. Massa, 
and me in offering our deepest condolences to the loved ones of those 
killed in this tragic event and in offering tremendous gratitude to the 
firefighters, emergency personnel, and other first responders who 
bravely worked through the night and are still working today to deal 
with this accident.
  I would now yield to my western New York colleague, Mrs. Slaughter.
  Ms. SLAUGHTER. I appreciate very much your yielding to me.
  We have suffered a terrible blow in western New York. I got home last 
night about midnight to turn on the television to see the suffering of 
my people, and my heart breaks for Upstate New York. Our worst fears 
were confirmed when we learned that no one survived that crash, and 
that one person on the ground was lost. They were less than 5 minutes 
away from the runway at the airport that might have saved their lives.
  It is always a tragedy; and just this week we stood with our 
colleague Mr. Cole to worry and concern with him for the loss that he 
had in his district due to the tornado. We appreciate that in western 
New York we take care of each other, and in the House of 
Representatives we care very much for each other as well.
  The first responders and all the citizens of western New York who 
rushed to help and all the officials of New York and Washington and the 
local officials have our thanks and our good wishes. We will do 
everything that we can to try to ease the pain and to ease the 
suffering, and hope to God that this does not happen to us again.


                           Moment of Silence

  Mr. HIGGINS. Madam Speaker, I ask the House observe a moment of 
silence for the families and the victims of this tragic event.

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