[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17366]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING DISCOVERY HOSTAGE SITUATION

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 28, 2010

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the actions 
of the men and women who responded courageously to the recent hostage 
situation at the Discovery Communications building in Silver Spring, 
Maryland.
  On Wednesday, September 1, 2010, a man entered the Discovery 
Communications building in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, taking 
three people hostage. This individual was holding a gun and possessed 
four improvised explosive devices, including one strapped to his body. 
For more than three hours, authorities attempted to negotiate with him 
to surrender and release the hostages. He was heard to repeatedly state 
that he was prepared to die. After hearing what was believed to be 
either a gunshot or an explosive detonating, the law enforcement team 
shot him and freed the hostages.
  The local and federal authorities responding to this crisis situation 
in a dense urban environment are to be commended for their courage and 
professionalism. Responders included the Montgomery County Police 
Department, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, the Maryland 
State Police, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 
Explosives. I want to especially recognize the Special Operations 
Division SWAT team of the Montgomery County Police Department for its 
leadership throughout this intense and uncertain situation. The 
Discovery Communications' building security officers and administrative 
staff also are to be commended for their quick and effective 
implementation of their crisis plan. The seamless communication and 
coordination between these agencies was a demonstration of their 
outstanding training and preparedness to handle crisis situations.
  I would also like to commend Discovery Communications for 
implementing effective emergency plans that resulted in the safe 
evacuation of their employees and children in the building's day care 
center. The level-headed approach of Discovery's management and 
employees towards the situation prevented the crisis from escalating 
into a far worse scenario. Discovery's actions were essential in 
ensuring the safety of its employees during this crisis.
  Outstanding preparedness training and seamless inter-agency 
communication, combined with the effective implementation of emergency 
plans by calm and cooperative Discovery management and employees, 
brought this harrowing situation to a safe conclusion. Although there 
was a loss of life, the first responders' courage, swift response, and 
professionalism helped prevent a bad situation from becoming worse and 
even more deadly.

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