House Proceeding 06-15-09 on Jun 15th, 2009 :: 3:18:30 to 3:23:45
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3:18:26 to 3:18:47( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: friends and neighbors of those in the tragedy. i join mr. etheridge, chairman scott and my colleagues in the house to express our sincere sympathy to the people of garner, the entire state of north carolina and the nation who grieve for the victims and reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentle the balance of his time.

3:18:30 to 3:23:45( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Etheridge

3:18:48 to 3:19:08( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: the gentleman from virginia. mr. scott: thank you, mr. speaker. mr. speaker, i yield such time as he may consume to the sponsor of the resolution, the gentleman from north carolina, mr. etheridge. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from north carolina is recognized. mr. etheridge: i thank the gentleman for yielding and, mr. speaker, i want to thank my good friend, chairman conyers, the majority leader hoyer for

3:19:09 to 3:19:29( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: expediting this to the floor today. last tuesday, june 9, the town of garner in my district changed forever. a natural gas leak, as you've heard, ignited a massive explosion at the conagra food plant claws caugs the collapse of the significant portion of the structure. three employees died in the explosion and close to 40

3:19:30 to 3:19:50( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: others were injured. four with critical burns. this resolution remembers the lives of barbara mclean spears of dunn, north carolina, louis junior watson and rachel mae poston pulley both of clayton. they were all hardworking americans who did just what we do every day.

3:19:51 to 3:20:12( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: they got up, they went to work on that faithful day tuesday to make their lives better and to do their part to contribute to america's work force and success of this nation. one of those workers, louis junior watson, was particularly heroic. though he had a means of escape, mr. watson chose to

3:20:13 to 3:20:35( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: remain in the building to aid his co-worker, barbara mclean spears, who had fallen. this extraordinary man is truly a hero and exemplifies the spirit of community and kinship that has strengthened his community. mr. watson and his wife, terri, would have celebrated their wedding anniversary yesterday.

3:20:36 to 3:20:58( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: they had a 14-year-old son, a 16-year-old, an 18-year-old daughters. louis junior watson was laid to rest at 11:00 today. more than 1,000 people attended his sunday funeral services held for rachel mae poston pulley. ms. pulley was a mother of

3:20:59 to 3:21:19( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: seven and a grandmother of six. barbara mclean spears, who was married one year ago to her partner of 15 years, anthony spears, leaves behind her 61-year-old mother, two brothers and two nieces. she was also laid to rest yesterday. mr. speaker, i ask my

3:21:20 to 3:21:40( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: colleagu to join me in honoring their lives and their loved ones who are left behind. this resolution also recognizes mayor williams and his staff our first responders, police, e.m.s. who were quick to the scene and prevented further

3:21:41 to 3:22:02( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: loss of life or injury. those emergency personnel worked tirelessly on behalf of our communities, and we thank all of them, including private citizens who stepped up in this great time of need. four of those brave firefighters, as you already heard, were injured in the line of duty on tuesday, and we commend their heroic efforts.

3:22:03 to 3:22:24( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: the citizens in and around my district have come together in the wake of this devastation. and it has been remarkable. i'm heartened and encouraged by the show of sport which my fellow north carolinians. our small communities are enhanced by businesses like conagra which employed 900 people at this plant.

3:22:25 to 3:22:45( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: i'm pleased to learn that they've set up a recovery fund for the victims and they have been distributing groceries to their employees in need. i know that conagra is working to rebuild the plant, and i look forward to the day when the employees can return to their work. there's a great demand for the products that conagra is

3:22:46 to 3:23:07( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: producing in garner, and i'm pleased that these snacks and our food products are made in the second district in north carolina. mr. speaker, let us remember those who have -- we have lost and be thankful for those who were saved. i thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and the entire conagra community

3:23:08 to 3:23:28( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: because they are suffering. on friday night i participated in a vigil in garner to remember and honor the victims. i was honored to attend and pleased with the tremendous outpouring of support. at 11:30 tomorrow, exactly one week after the accident, mayor williams, the city of garner

3:23:29 to 3:23:45( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: and all the community will join together with other individuals in other communities who were touched by the accident in a moment of silence to commemorate this disaster. i hope that we will have congress' voice represented there with the passage of this resolution.