[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7791-7792]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   SUPPORTING DESIGNATION OF NATIONAL EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE DISPOSAL DAY

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 1294) expressing support for designation of the 
first Saturday in May as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day to 
honor those who are serving and have served in the noble and self-
sacrificing profession of Explosive Ordnance Disposal in the United 
States Armed Forces.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1294

       Whereas the bomb and mine disposal profession was created 
     in April 1941;
       Whereas members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal 
     organizations perform a dangerous and selfless task often 
     without recognition, risking their lives on behalf of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the United States will forever be in debt to 
     personnel in the profession of explosive ordnance disposal 
     for their bravery and sacrifice in times of peace and war;
       Whereas people in the United States should express their 
     recognition and gratitude for members of the Explosive 
     Ordnance Disposal profession; and
       Whereas the first Saturday in May would be an appropriate 
     date to observe as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports the 
     designation of National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day to 
     honor those who are serving and have served in the noble and 
     self-sacrificing profession of Explosive Ordnance Disposal in 
     the United States Armed Forces.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Towns) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and to extend their remarks.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 1294, a resolution supporting the 
designation of a National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day in honor of 
the selfless service and sacrifice of the men and women of the United 
States armed services who risk their lives every day as explosive 
ordnance disposal experts. Explosive ordnance removal has always been a 
profession fraught with exceptional danger and emotional stress. My 
colleague, the gentleman from California (Mr. Issa), knows this 
firsthand from his time as a bomb disposal technician in the United 
States Army.
  Now, as the United States Military is engaged in two unconventional 
wars, our explosive ordnance disposal teams are under pressure as never 
before. They must respond on a daily basis to

[[Page 7792]]

roadside bombs and land mines that threaten our troops. It is their 
nerves of steel and high level of technical expertise that keep their 
comrades safe during ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. These 
brave men and women deserve a day of honor and remembrance for the 
difficult tasks we ask them to carry out in the service of their 
country. Wherever they may be--patrolling the ring road of Afghanistan 
or disarming an IED in the streets of Baghdad--they are in our thoughts 
and in our prayers.
  This resolution was introduced by our colleague, the gentlewoman from 
Florida, Representative Ginny Brown-Waite, on April 22, 2010. It was 
referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which 
reported the measure by unanimous consent on May 6, 2010. This measure 
enjoys the support of 60 Members of the House. I thank the gentlewoman 
for introducing this bill, and I thank the ranking member of the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Mr. Issa, of course, and 
his staff, for their help in bringing this bill to the floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to my 
distinguished colleague from the State of Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-
Waite).
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
support of House Resolution 1294, expressing support for designation of 
the first Saturday in May as National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day, 
to honor those who are serving and those who have served in the noble 
and self-sacrificing profession of explosive ordnance disposal in the 
United States Armed Forces. Although clearly a work of Hollywood drama 
meant for entertainment purposes, the Academy Award-winning film, ``The 
Hurt Locker,'' has brought new attention to our Nation's EOD 
technicians. While the action shown in this film is intense and very 
gripping, there is no question that when it comes to explosive ordnance 
disposal, truth is even more compelling than fiction. For this reason, 
I, along with my colleague from Oklahoma, Representative Boren, 
introduced House Resolution 1294, to recognize the real contributions 
that explosive ordnance disposal technicians have made to our Nation's 
military since the United States first began its bomb disposal program 
over 69 years ago.
  On average, there are over 4,000 brave men and women serving as 
explosive ordnance disposal technicians within the four services.

                              {time}  1430

  EOD techs are responsible for the location, identification, 
neutralization, and disposal of hazardous explosive items and devices. 
They are on the front lines in the global war on terrorism, protecting 
their fellow troops from conventional explosives, nuclear weapons, and 
improvised explosive devices. As my constituent and the executive 
director of the EOD Memorial Foundation explains, EOD technicians ``are 
people who voluntarily take that long walk into uncertainty'' every 
time they go to dispose of a bomb.
  This resolution also supports observing the first Saturday in May as 
National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day. This date was selected to 
coincide with the annual EOD Memorial Ball. This year's ball, which 
happens to have been the 42nd annual one, was held in Fort Walton 
Beach, Florida, on May 1, and I understand that it was a wonderful 
success, selling out all of the tickets that were available. Because 
the EOD Memorial Foundation is headquartered in my district in Webster, 
Florida, I have had the great honor to meet many of these warriors. I 
have learned that the ties that bind the EOD community together extend 
far beyond the battlefield. The EOD community is a family, and when 
even one part of that family is lost, the rest of them come together to 
support and assist those left behind.
  In 2009, 16 EOD technicians lost their lives serving our Nation in 
battle. Another EOD warrior was killed taking apart an IED just within 
the last week. This resolution honors those men and women who 
courageously, selflessly, and graciously face the real dangers posed by 
traditional and improvised explosives.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to join myself and Mr. Boren in 
honoring those American warriors and supporting House Resolution 1294.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to honor the brave men 
and women working as explosive ordnance disposal technicians by 
supporting this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCOTTER. Mr. Speaker, I wholeheartedly associate myself with the 
remarks of my distinguished colleagues, Ms. Brown-Waite and Mr. Towns. 
I urge all Members to support the passage of H.R. 1294.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support H. Res. 1294, 
honoring those who are serving and have served courageously as 
Explosive Ordnance Disposal personnel, as contractors or members of the 
United States Armed Forces.
  At home and abroad, unexploded ordnance (UXO)--bombs and shells that 
failed to explode during military training, testing, or operations--
pose a health and safety risk to communities and restrict opportunities 
for economic development. These still-dangerous explosives and harmful 
contaminants are located on or buried in millions of acres of former 
military lands in every state and Congressional district. Alarmingly, 
much of this land now serves as housing, schools, businesses, parks, 
and playgrounds.
  For the past ten years I have worked closely with my colleagues to 
direct Congressional funding and legislative action on UXO cleanup and 
increase investment in technology. In 2005, I formed the bipartisan UXO 
Caucus as part of an ongoing effort to increase Congressional 
awareness. The purpose of the UXO Caucus is to inform Members of the 
health, safety, and environmental risks of UXO and to highlight the 
challenges faced by communities and the federal government to clean up 
UXO and redevelop former military properties. Due to these bipartisan 
efforts, the Department of Defense has now named a program manager in 
charge of remediation, and additional funding has gone to technology 
that will better determine the location and density of munitions 
contamination.
  UXO technicians and units at home and abroad perform a selfless and 
dangerous task on behalf of the United States and we will forever be in 
their debt. Despite risking their lives for the health and safety of 
our families and communities, these heroes have largely gone 
unrecognized. I am extremely grateful for their sacrifices and I am 
pleased that we can honor them with this resolution highlighting 
National Explosive Ordnance Disposal Day.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this measure, and of course, on that note, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Towns) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the resolution, H. Res. 1294.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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