Jim Baird: “Yesterday our Nation and this House paid a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, to the heroic…”

“Yesterday our Nation and this House paid a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives on September 11, to the heroic rescuers, and to their families. Today, I would like to take just a moment to honor another group of people who serve this Nation in a less dramatic way, but who are heroes in their own right and in their own quiet ways. Last year, just 1 day after our Nation came under attack, and this very building was among the targets, the men and women who work here in this building, in our offices and in countless other government offices throughout this land, came right back in to work to serve this great Nation. When they came in to work on that September 12 morning, they knew then and they have known each and every day since then that they work in a potential target. Scarcely a month later, they then faced a new challenge when anthrax entered our buildings, and for some of our staff, entered their bodies. The Capitol Police, the janitors and maintenance workers, the grounds crews, the people who serve food, the secretaries, the Parliamentarians, the clerks, the young pages, our legislative and our committee staff, our field and caseworkers, and all the other dedicated and courageous people who make this place and our government run all deserve our thanks and our praise. With tears in their eyes, with sadness and with fear in their hearts, but with indomitable courage they came right back to work to serve this country we all love.”