Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to join with my colleagues today in supporting this resolution. I want to commend the gentleman from New York (Mr. Grucci) for the leadership he has shown on this issue, as he has shown on so many since he has come to the United States Congress. Mr. Speaker, the great bravery of these men has been detailed by the previous speakers today. I have a particular interest in this matter, because Harry Ford and Brian Fahey are both constituents of mine, Harry Ford from Long Beach and Brian Fahey from East Rockaway. Each left behind a wife and three children. They really epitomize what the New York City Fire Department is all about. Of course, as the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley) said, John Downing grew up in the community of Woodside, where I also grew up, and which is now so ably represented by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Crowley). I say this, I make the personal connection only because I think too often we take for granted that so many of the men and women we know who are firefighters are doing such a courageous job day in and day out, and yet we take it for granted; we assume they are going to do the job. It is only when something as tragic and momentous as this terrible Father's Day incident occurred, that it drives home to us just how brave they are, just how much they put their lives on the line, day in and day out.”