Dan Boren

Mr. BOREN

Mr. BOREN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Conaway amendment. I come from an energy State. I come from a State that produces oil and gas. It produces not only oil and gas, but it produces jobs for our local economy. And I rise in support of this amendment because it is a jobs amendment. In the 1980s and the 1990s we saw a great fluctuation in the price of oil and gas. We lost some jobs and some of those jobs never came back. Even though today we have higher oil and gas prices, some of those folks that were involved in the industry never came back. That tax base has been lost, and young people are not entering into the industry like they were before. They are not entering into the PLM programs, the programs that are so vital to our industry. So it is very important that we support this amendment so that we have more tool pushers, more roughnecks and more truck drivers in places like Oklahoma. I would ask each Member to vote for this amendment.

Mr. BOREN

Mr. BOREN. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Illinois for yielding time. I want to thank the Members of the Oklahoma delegation, the gentlemen from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Cole), for coming together to support this resolution. Mr. Speaker, I rise today and join my colleagues in voicing support for House Resolution 184. Just over 24 hours ago marked the 10th anniversary of the Murrah Federal Building bombing in Oklahoma City. We should never forget the lives lost and forever changed by the events of this day. On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m. while the building employees worked at their desks, the visitors walked the halls and the children played in the day care center, a massive explosion caused by a terrorist bomb leveled the entire north side of the building. In the end, 168 innocent men, women and children senselessly lost their lives as they were carrying on with their daily schedules. The devastation does not end, however, with the sons and daughters, the husbands and wives, and the brothers and sisters that lost their lives on that day. Left in the aftermath were 30 orphaned children and 219 children who lost at least one parent. These, too, are victims of this horrific act. In total, 850 people were physically injured by the bombing. In addition to the human loss, there was damage to over 300 buildings. This damage caused over 7,000 Oklahomans to be left without a place to work and left 462 residents homeless. With this in mind, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to all the families in my State of Oklahoma and around the Nation who suffered a loss during this tragedy. I tell my colleagues that during the 10 years since the bombing, the healing process has been taking place in Oklahoma City, and the scars are healing in a remarkable fashion. The healing is attributable to the people of the city and the State who have shown their strong will and perseverance over the past decade by rebuilding. Out of the rubble and the heartbreak, they have built a beautiful memorial for all to visit. Rather than allowing fear to keep them away from the downtown area, the people of Oklahoma City have continued the city's growth beyond the memorial. The area surrounding the memorial is now flourishing with businesses, restaurants and family entertainment. Oklahoma City and the State of Oklahoma could have given up during this tragedy, but instead, they became emboldened as they faced the difficult challenges placed before them. This growth in Oklahoma City shows the strength that can be accomplished through the power of hope. My colleague, the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Istook) mentioned that earlier. It shows Oklahomans' hope for a safe place to work, our hope for a safe place to take our families, and above all, our hope for normalcy after such a tragic event. The great accomplishments that have been demonstrated by my fellow Oklahomans since April 19, 1995, should be an example to all those in our Nation and around the world who face adversity in their own lives. The people of Oklahoma City deserve the recognition and remembrance that this resolution provides them. I am honored to give my support to this resolution which recognizes a National Week of Hope and commemoration of not only the loss in Oklahoma City, but the resilience of its residents.