Chris Smith: “this amendment is a friendly amendment that I offer to the Roemer amendment. It modifies the makeup of the blue ribbon…”

“this amendment is a friendly amendment that I offer to the Roemer amendment. It modifies the makeup of the blue ribbon commission to ensure that at least two members of the commission are family members of those who lost their lives because of the murderous attacks on September 11. This idea came out of meetings that I had and my staff had with specific widows, Kristen Breitweiser, who lost her husband Ronald, Patty Casazza, who lost her husband John, Mindi Kleinberg, who lost her husband Alan, and Lorie Van Auken, who lost her husband Kenneth. They have asked, as have other family members, to be included, to be a part of this investigation. Why wait until conference, or some later time that may or may not materialize. The families should be included right at the passage of this legislation. They are part of this and should not be left on the outside. They feel, frankly, after numerous meetings, that they have been neglected, that their concerns have not been adequately addressed. That is why I am offering this amendment.”