Senator Bob Smith
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works
Hearing on Biological Remediation
December 4, 2001
Mr. Chairman - Thank
you for holding this hearing. Welcome to Governor Whitman - it is always good
to see you before this Committee. I also want to welcome all of the witnesses
who are here today.
There is no question
that these are difficult times. Beginning on September 11, this nation has
faced many of its worst nightmares - the attacks on the Pentagon and World
Trade Center. And that was soon followed by the quiet horror of biological
attacks.
Since September 18,
several letters containing anthrax have terrorized this nation.
It has been
devastating to our postal employees - and our nation sends our deepest
sympathies to those brave public servants who continue to do their duty in
these very difficult times.
Those who are the
innocent victims of this terror cover the spectrum, from a seven month old
little boy, who was diagnosed with cutaneous anthrax B to a 94 year-old woman, who just recently
died. We send our deepest condolences to families and friends of the victims of
these cowardly attacks.
Of course, we here
in the Senate, have also felt the sting of anthrax. Letters containing anthrax
sent to the Senate have left many up here quite shaken. Most of us have been
tested for anthrax exposure and many continue to take CIPRO as a precaution.
Twenty eight Senate employees have tested positive for exposure, but
fortunately, no infections.
And while it has
been a difficult time, we have been lucky that the difficulties have, thus far,
only been inconveniences. These attacks have also left us with the dilemma of
how to remediate the contamination of the numerous affected buildings.
There is an
uneasiness with many who were in these buildings when the anthrax arrived and
who will be going back into them when the clean up is completed. We are all
more than a little uneasy when dealing with so many unknowns - and I do not
envy you, Governor Whitman, or anyone else involved in the testing and cleanup.
The nation has many
questions, concerns and fears - and the answers are not easy. It is certainly a
daunting task. It is my hope that today, you and the other witnesses, will take
this opportunity to address many of the questions that we all have.
There is much that
has been done over the past few days and we are all certainly anxious to hear how
the remedial activity of the Hart Senate Office Building went over the weekend.
Hart is undoubtedly the testing ground for other anthrax clean ups, so it is
important that the work is done in a deliberate manner. I hope that has been
the case.
Governor, I do want
to take this moment to thank you, Marianne Horinko and all of those at the
Environmental Protection Agency for their tireless work since the events of
September 11. It has been a new world for your Agency - an unquestionable
challenge - and I commend you and the entire agency for your efforts.
Thank you all again
for coming here today and I look forward to your testimony.