Sean Patrick Maloney: “I rise in support of the Morella-Danny Davis amendment to protect federal workers. As a New Yorker, I care deeply about…”

“I rise in support of the Morella-Danny Davis amendment to protect federal workers. As a New Yorker, I care deeply about homeland security. On September 11th, we should remember that the first responders who rushed to the World Trade Center were civil servants--wonderful, selfless civil servants. More than 10 months after September 11, the pain from that day has not begun to fade for my constituents in New York. While we have cleaned up the site and begun to focus on rebuilding, no New Yorker can walk past a firehouse or see a police car race across the city without being reminded of the incredible herorism displayed by the 343 firefighters, 37 Port Authority Police and 23 New York City Police who gave their lives to save others that day. In my own district 25 different fire stations lost people in the terror attacks. One firehouse in my district--the Roosevelt Island based Special--Operations unit lost 10 men. The loss was so great from this facility because a duty change was in progress. Men who were finishing their shift grabbed their equipment and headed to the scene. As a result, twice as many perished as would have otherwise. These men and women didn't hesitate to respond. So I ask you, in the event of a future homeland security crisis, do we really believe that any federal worker at the new Department of Homeland Security would abandon their posts when the clock strikes five?”