[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7820-7821]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE MEMORY AND SACRIFICE OF FIREFIGHTERS MATTHEW RENAUD, 
             ROBERT BEBEE, ROBERT GARNER, AND ANNE SULLIVAN

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I, along with fellow Members of the 
Texas and Harris County delegation, stand together to honor and 
recognize the sacrifice of four fallen firefighters who died last 
Friday, May 31, 2013, in the city of Houston serving in the line of 
duty.
  We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the families and fellow 
firefighters of those who died and those who were injured.
  We are united with the city of Houston in grief over the deaths of 
Captain EMT Matthew Renaud, Engineer Operator EMT Robert Bebee, 
Firefighter EMT Robert Garner, and Probationary Firefighter Anne 
Sullivan, who died last Friday while searching a blazing hotel and 
restaurant for possible trapped victims.
  In the 118-year history of the Houston City Fire Department, this was 
the greatest loss of life of their members while on duty. Their heroism 
will not be soon forgotten nor their sacrifice dimmed by time.
  In the Firemen's Creed, these words are heard loudly:

       But, above all, our proudest endeavor is to save lives of 
     men, the work of God, Himself.

  We ask that our colleagues join us now in a moment of silence in 
their memory.
  Mr. Speaker, we wish all firefighters injured last Friday a speedy 
recovery.
  Mr. Speaker, I along with fellow members of the Harris County 
Delegation stand together to honor and recognize the sacrifice of four 
fallen Firefighters who died last Friday, May 31, 2013 in the City of 
Houston, Texas serving in the line of duty.
  We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the families and fellow 
firefighters of those who died.
  We are united with the City of Houston in grief over the deaths of 
Captain EMT Matthew Renaud, Engineer Operator EMT Robert Bebee, 
Firefighter EMT Robert Garner and Probationary Firefighter Anne 
Sullivan who died on Friday, while searching a blazing hotel and 
restaurant for possible trapped victims.
  In the 118 year history of the Houston City Fire Department this was 
the greatest loss of

[[Page 7821]]

life of their members while on duty. Their heroism will not be soon 
forgotten nor their sacrifice dimmed by time.

                   Excerpts from the Firemen's Creed

       I have no ambition in this world but one and that is to be 
     a fireman . . . We strive to preserve from destruction the 
     wealth of the world . . . We are the defenders from fire . . 
     . But, above all, our proudest endeavor is to save lives of 
     men, the work of GOD himself.

  We ask that our colleagues join us in a moment of silence in their 
memory.
  We wish a speedy recovery for all those firefighters injured during 
Friday's tragedy.

                          ____________________