[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 5101-5102]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                COMMENDING TAMPA TSA AGENT JIM FLAHERTY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2013

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the heroic efforts 
of a constituent of mine, Mr. Jim Flaherty. An Army veteran, who served 
over twenty years with the New York Police Department, Mr. Flaherty was 
driving to his job with the TSA at Tampa International Airport in the 
early morning hours on March 13th, 2013. He was passed by a speeding 
car and, minutes later, Mr. Flaherty watched that same car crash into 
the woods by the side of the road and catch on fire.
  Mr. Flaherty stopped his car and, without concern for his own well-
being, ran to aid the victim who was unable to escape on her own due to 
her injuries and the driver's door unable to be opened due to the 
accident. Along with another passerby, Mr. Flaherty proceeded to pull 
her out of the passenger-side of the burning vehicle. When it was clear 
that the injured woman was unable to walk, the two men carried her to 
safety before the car was consumed by fire. They stayed with her until 
local first responders arrived on scene. Mr. Flaherty then selflessly 
continued onto work, demonstrating his commitment to helping others and 
his official duties.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Flaherty's heroic actions are an example of the best 
in humanity that all of us should strive for. I applaud his actions and 
thank him for the bravery that he exhibited that day.

[[Page 5102]]



                          ____________________