[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 97]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  TRIBUTE TO HONOR FIRST RESPONDER JEFF SIMPSON FOR HIS SACRIFICE AND 
                         SERVICE TO OUR NATION

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. ROBERT J. WITTMAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 3, 2017

  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Jeff Simpson, a 
September 11 first responder who selflessly sacrificed his life aiding 
his fellow Americans. Jeff will be remembered for his compassion, his 
bravery, and his love of community and country.
  Jeff was a fully certified Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and a 
member of the Dumfries Triangle Rescue Squad in Triangle, Virginia. 
Volunteering with the local ambulance on nights and weekends was Jeff's 
passion. His family and friends remember Jeff stopping to help others 
in highway accidents and listening to emergency calls in his down time 
to help his neighbors. Jeff never went anywhere without his ``rescue 
bag'' and would always sidetrack his plans to help someone in need.
  Jeff worked for Oracle Corporation, and on September 11, 2001, was on 
assignment approximately five blocks from the World Trade Center. The 
sound of the first plane crashing into the North Tower caused the 
meeting Jeff was in to be cancelled and the building to be evacuated. 
After seeing the second plane hit the Second Tower, Jeff knew he had to 
help. A coworker remembers Jeff saying, ``There is not a fire 
department in the world that can handle a situation like this, I'm 
going to help.'' Jeff was last seen running toward the North Tower.
  Six months after the September 11 attacks, Jeff's remains were 
finally located at the structure. Jeff was with 12 other New York City 
Fire Department and New York Port Authority personnel where it is 
believed the group established a triage area to care for those who'd 
been injured in the attack.
  Jeff Simpson's sacrifice and servant leadership led to him 
posthumously receiving one of the first Public Safety awards 
established by Governor Warner and to be recognized by the National 
Association of Rescue Squads in 2003. Rescue Station 23 in Prince 
William County was dedicated to Jeff Simpson in 2010 because of how 
well he lived out the creed, ``We Serve to Save.'' On September 9th, 
2016, the Town of Dumfries named their Community Center the Jeff 
Simpson Community and Cultural Arts Center in dedication to Jeff and in 
gratitude of his life and service to his community and country.
  Today, I have the honor of remembering Jeff Simpson and celebrating 
his legacy. Jeff embodies everything that is great about the American 
people, selflessly using the talents that each of us possess to aid and 
care for each other. I dedicate this to Jeff and to his wife Diane and 
his three children, Max, Elaine, and Leeann. Thank you, Diane, for 
continuing to share Jeff Simpson's legacy with all of us.

                          ____________________