[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 4767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TESORO TRAGEDY ANNIVERSARY

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come to the floor this morning to mark 
the 1-year anniversary of a terrible tragedy in my home State of 
Washington, and to once again honor the memories of those who were 
killed.
  On April 2, 2010, a fire broke out at the Tesoro refinery in 
Anacortes, WA, and claimed the lives of seven workers: Daniel J. 
Aldridge, Matthew C. Bowen, Donna Van Dreumel, Matt Gumbel, Darrin J. 
Hoines, Lew Janz, and Kathryn Powell.
  These were men and women who were taken too young, with so much life 
to live and with so many people to live it with. They were workers who 
took on tough jobs, worked long hours during difficult economic times 
to provide for their families. They were people who made tremendous 
sacrifices and who embodied so much of what is good about the community 
they lived in.
  They have been dearly missed. Even now, 1 year later, there is 
nothing we can say to make the pain go away for the mothers and 
fathers, sons and daughters, coworkers, and family members who still 
bear those deep scars of loss. But the Anacortes community is strong, 
and while they have endured more than their fair share of pain over the 
years, their resiliency and compassion have carried them forward. Over 
the past year, we have seen homes and hearts and pocketbooks open to 
the families who lost so much because this community understands the 
pain of a loss such as this can't be overcome or forgotten. They know 
these families should never have to bear that pain alone.
  We owe it to the Anacortes community to honor those they have lost. 
We owe it to them to do everything we can to make sure that such 
tragedies never happen again.
  State investigators have determined that tragedy could have been and 
should have been prevented. The problems that led to what happened were 
known beforehand and they should have been fixed. That is 
heartbreaking.
  Every worker in every industry deserves to be confident that while 
they are working hard and doing their jobs, their employers are doing 
everything they can to protect them. I want you to know I will keep 
working to make sure the oil and gas industry improves their safety 
practices, because we owe that to our workers and to their families and 
to communities such as Anacortes all across our country.
  One year after that tragedy, my thoughts and prayers and condolences 
remain with the families who have endured so much pain, and my profound 
thanks goes out to the Anacortes community that has been with those 
families every step of the way.
  I am proud to submit a Senate resolution with my colleague, Senator 
Cantwell--which we will do later today--to recognize the anniversary of 
this tragedy on April 2, 2011, and I urge my colleagues to join in 
remembering those workers in Anacortes who were taken from us far too 
soon.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I suggest the absence of a 
quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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