[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2797]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        HOUSTON DAY CARE TRAGEDY

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, just last week in Houston, 
Texas, in a private home called Jackie's Day Care, seven babies under 3 
years old were subjected to an horrific inferno; a fire. As the 
caretaker or the owner of this child care facility and as the facts 
unfold that we believe Federal funding was involved, first there was a 
representation that she was in the home and had fainted. But over the 
last 72 hours it was determined that she had gone to the grocery store. 
Four babies are dead. Two are in a burn unit. And one is fighting for 
his life in another facility.
  I am standing here today--my voice can be heard--to first of all say 
how many people need day care and have to subject themselves to these 
kinds of homes. She was 22. Maybe she cared for the children. But right 
now she has fled the country.
  I am asking Ms. Tata to return. I am asking her family members to 
return so that she can receive justice and so these families can heal. 
This is not the way to address your responsibility. Four families are 
burying babies who would have had wonderful futures, who simply 
attempted to work and have a place safe and secure for them to be. Now 
they are dead.
  Ms. Tata, you're 22 years old. Come back to this country and get in 
line for the justice you deserve. We are coming after you.

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