Volume 150, No. 12 covering the of the 108th Congress (2003 - 2004) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE DAY'S EVENTS” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S597 on Feb. 4, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE DAY'S EVENTS
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, we will be closing very shortly but I want to make a couple of remarks on the events of the day. The highlight of the day for me personally was the joint session we had earlier today with the presentation by President Aznar of Spain. His address to Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives very much captured the essence of what makes Spain and the United States of America strong allies and friends in the much broader defense of liberty.
For much longer than many other nations and most other nations, Spain has been a part of United States history and indeed we have been a part of Spain's history. As we look back over the time, that history has been one full of discovery for both sides. It has been an experience rich in harmony and discord.
I was able to talk to the President before as we reviewed that history and after his speech today. It has been a history that has been characterized by wars fought against each other and wars fought alongside each other.
We have had the opportunity to celebrate together the creation of new democracies. We have celebrated together the defense of existing democracies, of old democracies. Together, as we look back over the last several years, we have faced the gravest threats to the security of free people, and through that togetherness and that partnership we have prevailed, advanced, and progressed.
In our hour of need, our response to the acts of terrorism, September 11, 2001, acts that the President referred to--he referred to that day as a terrible day, reflecting, as he did today, that the principles that were attacked that day were the principles Spain had and the United States had, both countries have, and those very principles and values were attacked. I believe he used the words ``brutally attacked.'' In our hour of need, the Spanish people showed us a solidarity, a friendship, and a compassion that very much were the medicine for the soul of our Nation.
Spain--and the President reflects this--has very much been our ally in every sense of the word. It was wonderful for us to be able to welcome him today and to listen to his comments in the Halls of the Capitol of the United States of America.
For me and many others, in the course of the day, as business has progressed on the floor, we have been centered on the response to the ricin attack in the Dirksen Building now a little over 48 hours ago. I am happy to report that everybody is doing fine. A few hours ago I made an announcement that the postal system and that people in the postal system, both inside our buildings and inside our grounds, but also outside, are doing fine, which is very good news. I say that because it is important to realize that this agent ricin is a deadly agent. It is a life-threatening agent and, through exposure, could have hurt many people.
As I said earlier but want to reinforce, we are making great progress in the collection of mail and in examining the Senate office buildings. Officials have moved aggressively. They have moved in an almost symphonic fashion to respond to this insult. As I previously announced, the Russell Office Building will open tomorrow at noon, the Hart Office Building will open Friday at 9 a.m., and the Dirksen Office Building, Monday at 7 a.m. Staff have been patient. Staff have been understanding. Staff have adapted to this terrible incident, working at home and working wherever they can find a space, sometimes in the hallways. I do want to thank my colleagues and the staff for responding in this fashion.
I have previously mentioned that every time I go through the list in my own mind, I leave people out, but all the various people who are working together through the Sergeant at Arms' Office, the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, especially the Capitol Police, the U.S. Marines who are here with us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental Protection Agency, the various law enforcement agencies that have responded, the postal workers, the postal system across the United States of America in what has truly been remarkable when we think of what we have gone through, with anthrax 2\1/2\ years ago and a number of other incidents.
Looking back over the 200-year history of this wonderful celebrated building, probably the most celebrated building in the world, the place has been burned down essentially, has been attacked, has been assaulted again and again, but the institution itself, just like the people who are here, who are working here every day, has responded with a resiliency that is truly remarkable. There is a toughness and an ability to bounce right back.
We have not missed a step in terms of conducting the Nation's business in spite of the really tragic occurrence of the last several days.
I will close on this particular issue, again talking about my own staff who responded so admirably. I have my own staff who are in the mailroom, and when they see something is not quite right, they use procedures that they have been trained in and that we have all focused on very much in terms of our procedures. They immediately responded appropriately and handled that operation in an appropriate way with evaluation of the room, notification of the appropriate personnel, and the appropriate response. Without that, people could have been hurt and could have died.
It is nice to be able to see that and commend the people working in such an environment. Unfortunately, these are the realities we have seen, anthrax 2\1/2\ years ago, ricin today, Capitol Police officers assaulted in this building and killed not too long ago. The resiliency is truly remarkable in this great institution.
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