Political Quotes

“I rise tonight with a great deal of sorrow and concern because yesterday an explosion and fire occurred at Phillips Petroleum Company plant in Pasadena, Texas, which is part of the district that I represent. This tragedy resulted in the death of one worker and the injury of 71 others. According to the Houston Chronicle, at least three of the injured were listed in critical condition, and six were listed in serious condition. Our thoughts and our prayers are with the men and women of the Phillips plant and their families. The cause of this accident has not been determined. In fact, just today were they allowed to go back into the plant except for the suppression personnel. About 850 Phillips employees and about 100 subcontractors work at the Pasadena plant complex. Phillips Petroleum officials said about 600 workers were on duty when the explosion occurred yesterday afternoon about 1 p.m. As a result of the fire and smoke, 23 campuses in the Pasadena Independent School District and 8 campuses in the Galena Park Independent School District were forced to turn off their air conditioning and close their doors and windows and keep the children inside. According to Phillips, the chemicals that burned in the fire could irritate one's eyes and nose and throat if inhaled in high concentrations, but the air monitors that were around the plant and in the community found no signs that anyone outside the plant was exposed to these toxic chemicals.”